Dr. Mariama Sadjo Diallo is a prominent Guinean medical biologist and immunologist, recognized as a pioneer in her field. Holding a State Doctorate in Medicine from Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry (2010), a Master's degree in Immunology from Cheikh Anta Diop University (2012), and a PhD in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the Sorbonne (2022), she became the first Guinean Associate Professor (Maître de Conférence Agrégée) of CAMES in Immunology in 2024.
She has directed the Molecular Biology laboratory at Donka National Hospital for more than ten years, where she also serves as head of the Medical Biology service, while holding the position of Deputy Director General of the Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Africa. A prolific researcher with 37 scientific publications to her credit, she specializes in the study of HIV, hepatitis, meningitis, and connective tissue disorders, while investing in training the new generation of scientists and particularly encouraging young girls to pursue scientific careers.
Introduction
Dr. Mariama Sadjo Diallo has established herself as an emblematic figure in the medical field in Guinea and beyond. A renowned biologist and immunologist, she embodies African scientific excellence with a remarkable career path marked by academic and professional achievements.
Academic Background
With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Dr. Diallo has built an impressive academic foundation. She obtained her State Doctorate in Medicine from Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry in 2010, before pursuing a Master's degree in Immunology and Infection at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar in 2012, which she completed with highest honors.
Her academic excellence did not stop there. In 2022, she crowned her educational journey with a PhD in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris. Committed to continuously improving her skills, she also obtained an inter-university diploma in HIV and emerging north-south infections, as well as a university diploma in pedagogy from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan in 2023.
Career Dedicated to Research and Teaching
Dr. Diallo has directed the Hélène LABROUSSE/Nestor BANGOURA Molecular Biology laboratory, commonly known as the Day Hospital, at Donka National Hospital for over ten years. She has also served as head of the Medical Biology Laboratory service since 2012, testifying to her recognized expertise in the field.
Passionate about knowledge transfer, she has been an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Techniques (FSTS) since 2013, where she teaches Immunology. Since 2020, she has co-directed the Master's program in Microbiology and Immunology, actively participating in training the next generation of health professionals in Guinea.
Her commitment to developing medical research in Africa is also illustrated by her position as Deputy Director General of the Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases (CEA-PCMT) at UGANC, which she has held since 2019.
Prolific Researcher with Diverse Expertise
Dr. Diallo's scientific contribution is impressive, with 37 publications to her credit, totaling more than 6,461 reads and 340 citations, according to her Research Gate profile. Her research covers a wide spectrum of infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis, meningitis, SARS-CoV-2, as well as connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Her skills extend to pathogens, infectious diseases, PCR, molecular microbiology, infections, and pathogenesis, making her an essential reference in these fields in Guinea and West Africa.
Recognition and Distinctions
In November 2024, Dr. Diallo reached a decisive milestone in her career by becoming an Associate Professor of CAMES in Immunology, a distinction that makes her the first Guinean, regardless of gender, to achieve this rank in her discipline.
This achievement, the result of years of hard work and dedication to science, earned her a nomination for the Guineenews Personality of the Year 2024, a well-deserved recognition of her significant impact on medicine and research in Guinea.
Role Model for Women in Science
On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Dr. Diallo was honored for her exemplary career. She actively encourages young girls to pursue scientific careers, emphasizing that "to succeed and overcome prejudices, you need perseverance and courage."
Through her brilliant career, Mariama Sadjo Diallo perfectly embodies female success in a cutting-edge scientific field. She represents a source of inspiration for an entire generation of young Africans, proving that scientific excellence has no borders or gender, but is based on determination and hard work.
