It is with great sadness that I share the news that Professor Ogobara Doumbo, a colleague and friend to many of us at the School, died on 9 June 2018. Prof Doumbo was Director of the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC) in Bamako, which he co-founded in 1992 to increase understanding of malaria and to ensure health policy decisions in Mali are based on high quality scientific evidence. Under his leadership, the MRTC has become a world-renowned centre of excellence in malaria research. Known to the malaria community as Ogo, Prof Doumbo was widely respected as an inspirational teacher and scientist. He fostered the careers of talented Malian researchers, many of whom trained abroad and had the opportunity of working abroad, but were inspired by him to return to work in their home country at MRTC and a large number of these well trained scientists are now leading international collaborations. Many staff at LSHTM had the privilege of working with Prof Doumbo on studies of malaria vaccines, on capacity strengthening projects and on the efficacy of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in children, a malaria control tool which he championed and which, having, received a WHO policy recommendation, has been introduced throughout Mali and other west African countries, saving thousands of children’s lives.

Prof Doumbo has built up an internationally recognised, well-respected research unit at MRTC with an exceptionally talented team of individuals and this will be a lasting legacy that will remind people for many years to come of his enormous contributions to Mali and to malaria worldwide.

He will be greatly missed by the scientific community.

Professor Doumbo will be honoured with a State funeral in Bamako, 16 June at 10am. Please send any personal messages to Dr Paul Milligan (Paul.milligan@lshtm.ac.uk) and we will ensure they are passed on.