Portraits of UM

Karim Majzoub heads the "RNA Viruses and Host Factors" research team at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Montpellier (IGMM). Winner of the Atip-Avenir – MUSE 2020 award, he has been awarded a €1.5 million grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to conduct his research on delta viruses. A virus responsible for hepatitis D in humans, but recently found in a large number of animal species.

Rocio Semino is a researcher at the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute. Last December, she was awarded a €1.35 million grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to conduct her research on metal-organic networks. Portrait of a chemist who masters the art of synthesis... without a test tube!

On the recommendation of Patrick Caron, Vice President for International Relations, the University of Montpellier awarded Professor Tawana Kupe an honorary doctorate last October. A native of Zimbabwe, this media specialist has enjoyed a brilliant career in South Africa, culminating in his current position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria.

It was on the recommendation of Montpellier professor Philippe Vande Perre that the University of Montpellier awarded an honorary doctorate to Zambian pediatrician Chipepo Kankasa last October. Unanimously recognized for her research on mother-to-child transmission of HIV, she is also the initiator of access to antiretroviral treatment for African children and prevention strategies in Zambia to combat HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

Winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his fight against mass rape and sexual violence against women in his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the man many call "the man who repairs women" has once again called for changes to international criminal law and for gender equality.

A specialist in brain tumors, Alexandra Garancher is continuing her research in immunotherapy at the Montpellier Cancer Research Institute (IRCM) thanks to funding from Muse.