Our colleague and friend François Rouet passed away on June 13, 2018 at the age of 53 following a long illness. The Institut Pasteur International Network wishes to pay tribute to this passionate scientist and public health man who has dedicated his career to improving the care of patients in the most disadvantaged countries.
Trained pharmacist, François performs his national service in Cameroon at the Organization for Coordination and Cooperation for the fight against the Great Endemics in Central Africa (OCEAC) from 1992 to 1994. After a short stay in France, he returned to Guadeloupe for 5 years as a Hospital Practitioner at the French Blood Establishment inPointe-à-Pitre University Hospital. In March 2000, he became director of the Center for Diagnosis and Research on AIDS at the University Hospital of Treichville in Côte d'Ivoire. During 4 years, his action will be decisive in the reorganization of this center. He promoted participation in virology research programs as evidenced by numerous articles published in the framework of PAC-CI, the ANRS research site in Côte d'Ivoire. He was one of the first to test and validate the viral load monitoring of HIV-infected patients using Biocentric PCR techniques.
In November 2004, he left Côte d'Ivoire and became a Hospital Practitioner in the virology laboratory of CHU Necker Enfants Malades in Paris. In August 2005, he became director of the virology laboratory at the Muraz Center in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Among other things, he develops PCR techniques and participates in major research projects, including the ANRS-funded Kesho-Bora trial on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In 2008, he defended his virology thesis in Paris on the diversity of HIV.
In 2009, he joined the International Center for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF) in Gabon where he directed the retrovirology unit until 2013. In June of this year, François joined the Institut Pasteur International Network becoming Head of the HIV / Hepatitis Unit at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. He then became heavily involved in research on the genetic variability of HIV viruses as well as hepatitis B, C and E in connection with local epidemiology. His remarkable work has allowed to trace the history of the 2014 iatrogenic HIV and hepatitis C epidemic in Roka, a village in northwestern Cambodia.
A recognized scientist, François was appreciated by his colleagues and partners from different horizons as much for his great professional skills as for his extreme kindness and his attention to others.
The entire Institut Pasteur International Network community sends its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
