Prof Issiaka Sombie

Professor Issiaka Sombie (MBChB, PhD) is a senior research officer with more than 25 years' experience in research in West Africa. His areas of interest are maternal and child health, research development, clinical trials, as well as the development of research policy and research ethics. In 2008, he joined the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and was the head of the unit promoting research in West Africa. He led the implementation of WAHO's research programme and helped to set up the regional research networks of research centres and national health research ethics committees in West Africa.

Prof. Sombie supported countries in developing their national research policy and strategic plan and coordinated the development of WAHO's regional strategic plan for strengthening health research in West Africa and developing the concept note of the West African Health Observatory. He also coordinated the implementation of regional projects to strengthen the national health research system, develop and share information in the health research area and support the use of evidence in policy and practice and knowledge translation.