Dr Luria Leslie Founou

Dr. Luria Leslie Founou is a translational researcher and visionary leader committed to a future where every woman who gives birth can watch her child grow, and every child has the opportunity to lead a healthy, thriving life. Her work is anchored in this belief, focusing on reducing maternal and child mortality through innovative diagnostics, prevention strategies, and the containment of infectious diseases particularly those fueled by antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

A clinical microbiologist by training, Luria holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Microbiology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and brings over a decade of experience in AMR and infectious disease research. She currently serves as Head of Research at the Centre of Expertise and Biological Diagnostic of Cameroon (www.cedbcam.com), where she leads impactful studies at the intersection of science, health systems, and policy.

Luria is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow and serves as an advisory member for the World Health Organization's Foodborne Diseases Epidemiology Reference Group. She also holds honorary academic positions at the University of St Andrews (UK) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Luria is a Fellow of prestigious societies notably the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists (CAYS), the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), and the Global Young Academy (GYA). Her research has directly benefited thousands of mothers and babies in Cameroon through grant-funded programs she secured as principal investigator. In recognition of her scientific leadership, she has received numerous awards including the RSTMH Emerging Leader Award 2024.

Beyond the laboratory and academia, Luria is the founder of Dare to Dream for Africa (D2Africa), an EdTech and leadership platform aimed at equipping and uplifting one million African researchers to become innovators, changemakers, and global thought leaders. Through coaching, consulting, and immersive learning, D2Africa empowers underrepresented scientists, especially women, to build thriving careers, foster collective impact, and shape sustainable, African-led solutions to global challenges. Luria is also co-founder of the African Women in Science (AWinS), an association promoting equity, empowering and mentoring women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. AWinS vision is to make African role models more visible and lead Africa scientific revolution with women in key positions.

Luria’s work is more than scientific, it is systemic and transformational. She is actively building an ecosystem where knowledge is democratized, leadership is inclusive, and science serves as a catalyst for social progress and transformation. Through every project she leads and every life she touches, she is shaping a future where health, opportunity, and dignity are accessible to all, leaving no one behind.