Dr Vibol IEM

Dr Vibol IEM joins the LIGHT Consortium and Start4All as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with a wealth experience in the field of Public Health, particularly Tuberculosis (TB). He holds a doctoral degree in clinical sciences from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), as well as two Master degrees; one in Sciences, Technologies and Public Health from the University Claude Bernard (Lyon, France), and one in Business and Administration from the Lyon School of Management at University Jean-Moulin (Lyon, France). His dual expertise in the scientific and management fields is an added value to the team.

Vibol is passionate about public health and has a strong commitment to protect and improve the health of people including improving access to diagnosis and treatment specifically amongst the most vulnerable populations. His extensive working experience in Lao PDR, since 2010, equipped him with profound knowledge and insights relating to the diagnosis and management of diseases prevalent in impoverished communities, such as TB.

In 2019, Vibol worked with the WHO as an international consultant providing technical assistance and supporting the TB and HIV National Programme in Lao PDR with the aim of strengthening the quality of primary health care at the grass root level for early detection, referral, and care, especially amongst vulnerable populations. This was achieved through investigating and addressing key social determinants of health and their impact on health equities, healthcare access, and provision. He was also in charge of the optimisation of the laboratory network environment for public health issues and revising TB diagnostic algorithms.

Vibol continues to play a vital role in advancing global health research, applying his expertise to create meaningful impact and contribute to the collective efforts to ending TB. His role within LIGHT will primarily focus on examining the interaction of social determinants and gender on TB access to services as well as providing support across the Consortium on social determinants.

 

List of publications:

  1. Vibol Iem, Silaphet Somphavong, Yves Buisson, Nicolas Steenkeste, Franck Breysse, Monique Chomarat, Phannasinh Sylavanh, Phouratsamy Nanthavong, Alain Rajoharison, Jean-Luc Berland, and Phimpha Paboriboune. Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antibiotics in Lao PDR: first multicentric study conducted in 3 hospitals. BMC Infect Dis 2013: 13: 275.
  2. Irwin Law, Phannasinh Sylavanh, Soth Bounmala, Fulgence Nzabintwali, Phimpha Paboriboune, Vibol Iem, Silaphet Somphavong, Sang Jae Kim, Charalambos Sismanidis , Ikushi Onozaki and Jacques Sebert. The first national tuberculosis prevalence survey of Lao PDR (2010–2011). Tropical Medicine & International Health 2015: 20(9): 1146-1154.
  3. Vibol Iem, Anna Dean, Matteo Zignol, Phouvang Vongvichit, Donekham Inthavong, Souvimone Siphanthong, Theppouthone Sorsavanh, Sang Jae Kim, Soyoun Shin, Jacques Sébert and Phonenaly Chittamany. Low prevalence of MDR-TB in Lao PDR: results from the first national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey. Trop Med Int Health 2019: 24(4): 421-431.
  4. Silaphet Somphavong, Jean-Luc Berland, Marie Gauthier, Thi Thuong Vu, Quang Huy Nguyen, Vibol Iem, Phouvang Vongvichit, Donekham Inthavong, Vanthala Akkhavong, Phetsavanh Chanthavilay, Sengaloun Soundala, Inthalaphone Keovichit, Glaucia Paranhos-Baccalà, Phimpha Paboriboune, Thi Van Anh Nguyen and Anne-Laure Bañuls. First insights into the genetic characteristics and drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis population collected during the first national tuberculosis prevalence survey of Lao PDR (2010–2011). BMC Infectious Diseases 2019: 19(1): 851.
  5. Luis E Cuevas, Victor S Santos, Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida Lima, Konstantina Kontogianni, John S Bimba, Vibol Iem, Jose Dominguez, Emily Adams, Ana Cubas Atienzar, Thomas Edwards, S Bertel Squire, Patricia J Hall and Jacob Creswell. Systematic Review of Pooling Sputum as an Efficient Method for Xpert MTB/RIF Tuberculosis Testing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Emerging Infectious Disease journal 2021: 27(3): 719.
  6. Vibol Iem, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Phitsada Siphanthong, Silaphet Somphavong, Konstantina Kontogianni, James Dodd, Jahangir AM Khan, Jose Dominguez, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell and Luis E Cuevas. Pooled testing of sputum with Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert Ultra during tuberculosis active case finding campaigns in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. BMJ Global Health 2022: 7(2): e007592.
  7. Vibol Iem, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Silaphet Somphavong, Konstantina Kontogianni, James Dodd, Jahangir Akber Mahmud Khan, Jose Dominguez, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell and Luis Eduardo Cuevas. Pooling sputum for Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert Ultra testing during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. PLOS Global Public Health 2022: 2(4): e0000116.
  8. Vibol Iem, Phonepadith Xangsayarath, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Phimpha Paboriboune, Silaphet Somphavong, Kontogianni Konstantina, Jahangir A. M. Khan, Thomas Edwards, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell, Jose Dominguez and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling samples to increase testing capacity with Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. PLOS ONE 2022: 17(9): e0275294.
  9. John S. Bimba, Toyosi Adeke, Vibol Iem, Timan T. Eliya, Ize Osagie, Konstantina Kontogianni, Thomas Edwards, James Dodd, S. Bertel Squire, Jacob Creswell and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling sputum samples for Xpert® MTB/RIF and Xpert® Ultra testing for TB diagnosis. Public Health Action 2023: 13(1): 12-16.
  10. Vibol Iem, John S. Bimba, Victor S. Santos, Jose Dominguez, Jacob Creswell, Silaphet Somphavong, Tom Wingfield, Jahangir A. M. Khan and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling sputum testing to diagnose tuberculosis using Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert ultra: a cost-effectiveness analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases 2023: 23(1).