Christian Happi — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2025
Founder and Director of the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH) at Redeemer’s University (since 2024)
Led the team that used genomic sequencing to identify a single point of infection in the West Africa Ebola outbreak
Rapidly sequenced Nigeria’s first Ebola case and the new SARS-CoV-2 in Africa within 48 hours of receiving samples
Member of the Malaria Policy Advisory Group at the World Health Organization (since 2025)
Obtained his PhD from the University of Ibadan (2000) and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University (2000-2003)

Biography

Christian Happi is a Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Founder and Director of the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH) at Redeemer’s University. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard T.H.

Chan School of Public Health. Happi is known for his research focus on infectious diseases, including malaria, Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2.