Never Change a Winning Team

Founded in 1887, the Institut Pasteur in Paris is an internationally renowned research institution that stands out in many disciplines. It is named after its illustrious founder, Louis Pasteur, and owes much to this scientific genius. And so do we! Louis Pasteur’s scientific discoveries revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today. Yet the story of the Institut Pasteur is also linked to the lives and discoveries of many other scientists whose scientific breakthroughs have benefited people’s health worldwide. It was the first to isolate the HIV virus in 1983, and, through research, enabled science to tackle major diseases or health threats such as ebola, tuberculosis, yellow fever, and plague. No less than ten Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded a Nobel Prize since the early twentieth century.

You might wonder why we are telling you all of this?

The Open Medical Institute is tremendously appreciative of its partnership with the Institut Pasteur in Paris, which began in 2017 and ever since brings together scientists, researchers, and medical doctors to share their knowledge and expertise on global health concerns. In 2023, with the launch of the OMI Vietnam chapter, this partnership became even more significant as it allowed the inclusion of healthcare professionals from Southeast Asia in this unique global health network.

For the second time, another outstanding group of experts traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to teach a seminar dealing with viruses, liver and cancers. The seminar took place from November 24 to 28, 2024, at the Institut Pasteur of Ho Chi Minh City, where we were once again warmly welcomed by its director, Dr. Vu Trung Nguyen.

Liver cancer remains a global health challenge, accounting for more than 800,000 deaths each year. Viral hepatitis infection is the most common risk factor for liver cancer. Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

During the four-day seminar, the expert faculty took the 30 fellows on a comprehensive journey through the world of hepatitis viruses and hepatocellular carcinoma. Outlining the course topics, a special focus was laid on the virology, epidemiology, natural history, and treatment of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as new therapeutic strategies against HBV and HCV. Additionally, the faculty covered genomic aspects of viral hepatocarcinogenesis, the medical and surgical treatment of HCC, cholangiocarcinoma and liver flukes, and the effects of immune responses in infections and cancer. Furthermore, fellows got valuable insights into the medical system and patient follow-up in Vietnamese hospitals.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Vartanian, Director of the Department of Virology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, was the perfect course director for this endeavor with his remarkable expertise in the field. Along with his colleagues, he has served the OMI twice in Salzburg, once in Mexico City, and this week in Ho Chi Minh City.

Sharing a bit of his personal experience leading the seminar with a very diverse group of fellows and, for the first time, in Southeast Asia, our course director states: “I had the privilege to organize the course “Virus, Liver and Cancers” in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The experience was made truly exceptional, thanks to an outstanding team whose dedication and efficiency ensured the seamless organization and preparation of each lecture. The course brought together talented participants from Vietnam, Laos, China, and Iran. Their impressive expertise was evident throughout the event, particularly during the dynamic round-table discussions, where their insights and knowledge illuminated the conversations.”

Dr. Vartanian was joined by no less than expert immunologist Dr. Vincenzo Barnaba from the Institut Pasteur in Rome, Italy, Dr. Dominique Franco, a liver surgeon from Paris, France, who was on the team that launched liver transplantation in France in 1974, and dedicated his surgical career to liver surgery, particularly to the surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as Dr. Pascal Pineau, research director at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, who focuses his research on cancer genetics and molecular virology.

Interesting fact: Albert Calmette, who was sent to Saigon to set up the first Institut Pasteur outside mainland France in 1891, was the grand-grand uncle of our faculty member Dr. Dominique Franco.

Local expertise was brought in by Dr. Somphou Sayasone from the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute in Vientiane, Dr. Thong Duy Vo, a gastroenterologist from the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, and Dr. Nguyen Hoang Quy, a medical oncologist from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City.

The 30 enthusiastic participants were drawn from all across Vietnam, Laos, China (Hong Kong), Pakistan, and Iran. Background-wise, the fellow cohort was quite heterogeneous, including infectiologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, general practitioners, pediatricians, public health experts, as well as PhD students nominated by the Pasteur Network, an alliance of 32 institutes spanning 25 countries across five continents, fostering a dynamic and diverse community of knowledge and expertise.

To capture the essence of such a significantly diverse group and the interdisciplinary characteristic of the topic, the faculty brilliantly scheduled four interactive round tables, one for each seminar day after the didactic lectures. This allowed faculty and fellows to have open discussions on the days’ topics, and exchange experiences from their countries and institutions.

With the conclusion of our third OMI Vietnam seminar in 2024, we would like to thank our faculty, fellows, and local partners for their enormous effort in making these three courses such memorable and successful events. With each seminar, the OMI network is growing. And with every one of these seminars, we take one step further in advancing healthcare globally.

Goodbye, Vietnam! See you again soon!