Conference presidents

Prof. Dr. Marylyn Addo, a leading expert in infectious diseases and vaccinology, will serve as one of the Presidents of the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH) in 2025. Prof. Addo is internationally recognized for her ground breaking work in the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies against emerging infectious diseases, including her significant contributions to research on HIV, Ebola, MERS and most recently, COVID-19.

Prof. Addo obtained her medical degree and pursued specialized training in infectious diseases and tropical medicine in Germany, UK and the USA. Her career has been marked by a strong focus on understanding the immunological responses to infectious pathogens and translating these insights into the development of effective vaccines and treatments. Her work has been pivotal in advancing the field of vaccinology, particularly in the context of global health emergencies.

Currently, Prof. Addo serves as the Head of the Infectious Disease Unit and at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Germany. She is the founding Director of the Institute for infection research and vaccine Development (IIRVD) and a professor of medicine at UKE, where she leads a team of researchers dedicated to studying the pathogenesis and treatment of viral infections. Her research has played a crucial role in the development of candidate vaccines for Ebola and MERS, as well as in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof. Addo’s work is distinguished by her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from various fields to tackle some of the most challenging health issues of our time. Her leadership in numerous international research consortia has contributed to significant advancements in the development of vaccines and therapeutic approaches for diseases that disproportionately affect populations in low- and middle-income countries.

In addition to her research, Prof. Addo is a dedicated clinician and educator, mentoring the next generation of infectious disease specialists and contributing to the global health workforce. She has authored numerous influential publications in top-tier scientific journals and has been a key advisor to several international health organizations.

As Co-President of ECTMIH 2025, Prof. Addo will bring her extensive expertise in infectious diseases and vaccinology to the congress, ensuring a strong focus on the latest advancements in vaccine development and global health preparedness. Her leadership will be instrumental in driving discussions on how to better prepare for and respond to emerging infectious threats, particularly in the context of tropical medicine and international health.

Under her guidance, ECTMIH 2025 is set to be a landmark event that highlights the critical importance of vaccines and therapeutics in global health, fostering collaboration and innovation in the fight against infectious diseases worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Betsch, an expert in health communication and behavioural science, will serve as one of the Presidents of the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH) in 2025. Prof. Betsch is recognized for her pioneering research on the psychological and social factors that influence health behaviours, particularly in the context of vaccination and infectious disease prevention.

Prof. Betsch holds a Ph.D. in psychology and focuses on understanding how people make health-related decisions. Her work explores how communication strategies can be optimized to improve public adherence to health recommendations, especially during outbreaks and pandemics. Her research has provided critical insights into the design of effective health communication campaigns and interventions, addressing issues such as vaccine hesitancy and the spread of misinformation.

Currently, Prof. Betsch is a professor of health communication at the University of Erfurt in Germany, where she is the director of the Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour. In addition, she leads the Health Communication research group at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining i.a. psychology, communication studies, medicine and public health, has been instrumental in shaping public health strategies during significant health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, where her research group supported policy and public communication efforts.

Prof. Betsch has published in top-tier scientific journals and has been an advisor to various national and international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO). Her contributions have been recognized with national research awards.

As Co-President of ECTMIH 2025, Prof. Betsch will bring her expertise in health communication and behavioural science to the congress, emphasizing the importance of understanding human behaviour in the fight against infectious diseases. It is important to her to addresses the critical role of communication and public engagement in global health, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that are essential for tackling the complex challenges of tropical medicine and international health.

Prof. Jürgen May is an expert in the field of epidemiology, with a career dedicated to understanding and combating infectious diseases, particularly in tropical and resource-limited settings. He earned his medical degree and completed his doctoral studies in medicine, which laid the foundation for his profound expertise in epidemiology and public health.

After completing his medical training, Jürgen May pursued further specialization in epidemiology, which led him to collaborate on several key research projects focused on infectious diseases in Africa and Asia. His early work involved field studies on malaria and other poverty-related and neglected tropical diseases, where he played a crucial role in identifying transmission patterns and developing strategies for disease control and prevention.

In 2005, Prof. May joined the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg, one of the world's leading centres for research on tropical diseases. At BNITM, he currently heads the Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, where he leads a diverse team of researchers. His research interests include the epidemiology of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, with a particular focus on their social determinants and the impact of health interventions.

Jürgen May has also contributed significantly to the academic community through his role as a professor at the University of Hamburg, where he teaches and mentors the next generation of epidemiologists and public health professionals. He has published extensively in leading scientific journals and has been a key advisor to numerous international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

His work is characterized by a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, combining clinical research, public health, and social science to address the complex challenges posed by infectious diseases. Prof. May's contributions have not only advanced scientific knowledge but also informed public health policies and interventions that have improved the health of populations in low- and middle-income countries.

As the President of ECTMIH 2025, Prof. May will bring his extensive experience and visionary leadership to the congress, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of tropical medicine and international health. His dedication to improving global health through research, education, and policy advocacy continues to make a significant impact on the fight against infectious diseases worldwide.

Prof. Michael Ramharter, a physician-scientist and specialist in internal medicine, tropical medicine and infectious diseases, will serve as one of the Presidents of the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH) in 2025. Prof. Ramharter has more than 25 years of clinical and research experience in the field, particularly in malaria, neglected tropical diseases and viral haemorrhagic fever research. As a clinical trialist he has been actively involved in the clinical development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for licensure.

Prof. Ramharter earned his medical degree and completed advanced training in tropical medicine, which included extensive work in sub-Sahara Africa, where he focused on understanding and combating the health challenges faced by communities in these regions. His early career was marked by groundbreaking research on malaria, where he explored novel therapeutic approaches and contributed to the clinical development of new antimalarial drugs that have had a significant impact on patient outcomes. In the past ten years, he has built up clinical research programmes on loiasis - the African Eyeworm - in Gabon and on Lassa fever in Nigeria that include multidisciplinary teams of African and European researchers working on these high priority diseases in the most highly endemic regions.

Currently, Prof. Ramharter holds a dual appointment as Head of the Department of Tropical Medicine at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg, Germany, and the clinical division of Tropical Medicine at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf. He is member of the Board of the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Gabon, where he has worked for the past 25 years. His research portfolio is diverse, encompassing clinical trials, field studies, and translational research aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.

Prof. Ramharter's work is characterized by a strong commitment to integrating clinical practice with research, ensuring that scientific advancements translate into tangible health benefits for those most affected by tropical diseases. His leadership in numerous international research collaborations has significantly advanced global health initiatives, particularly in the fight against malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and emerging viral infections.

In addition to his research and clinical work, Prof. Ramharter is a dedicated educator and mentor, playing a key role in training the next generation of tropical medicine specialists. He has published extensively in leading medical journals and has been a key figure in shaping global health policies through his advisory roles with organizations such as the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership and other international bodies.

As Co-President of ECTMIH 2025, Prof. Ramharter will bring his deep clinical expertise and research acumen to the congress, ensuring a focus on the latest advancements in tropical medicine and the ongoing challenges in the field. His leadership will be instrumental in fostering a multidisciplinary approach to global health, emphasizing the importance of translating research into practice to improve health outcomes in tropical and low-resource settings.

Under his guidance, ECTMIH 2025 will serve as a critical platform for advancing knowledge and collaboration in tropical medicine and international health, highlighting innovative research and effective interventions to address the pressing health issues of our time.