Christian Happi

Christian Tientcha Happi

Christian Tientcha Happi is a Cameroonian molecular biologist and genomics researcher based at Redeemer's University in Nigeria. He is known for applying pathogen genomics to infectious-disease surveillance and outbreak response, including work on malaria, Ebola virus disease and COVID-19, and for holding academic and continental public-health advisory roles.

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About Christian Happi

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Molecular biologist, Professor of molecular biology and genomics, Genomics researcher · 4 affiliations

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Known for: Infectious-disease genomics; Pathogen genomic surveillance and outbreak response; Malaria genomics and antimalarial drug resistance; Ebola virus disease and SARS-CoV-2 genomic response
Country: Nigeria

Molecular biologist
Professor of molecular biology and genomics
Genomics researcher

At a glance

Happi leads infectious-disease genomics work at Redeemer's University, although current sources use differing names for the center associated with that work.
His laboratory confirmed Nigeria's first Ebola virus disease case during the 2014 West African outbreak.
In 2020, he led the effort to sequence the first full SARS-CoV-2 genome in Africa from Nigeria's first index case.
Africa CDC announced his election in 2026 as chair of its inaugural African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics.

Scientific background

Happi is a Cameroonian scientist whose work spans molecular biology, molecular parasitology and genomics. Institutional biographies state that he earned a PhD in molecular parasitology from the University of Ibadan in 2000 and completed postdoctoral training in molecular biology and genomics at Harvard University from 2000 to 2003. Sources conflict over his undergraduate education, with Redeemer's University identifying the University of Ibadan and WHO describing undergraduate biochemistry study in Cameroon.

Infectious-disease genomics leadership

At Redeemer's University, Happi has helped establish genomics capacity for infectious-disease research and surveillance. NIH reported that a 2013 grant supported the establishment of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, which it described as West Africa's first infectious-disease genomics platform. Recent sources identify Happi with both ACEGID and the Institute of Genomics and Global Health, but do not consistently define whether those names reflect a formal renaming, organizational succession or overlapping arrangements.

Outbreak surveillance and response

Happi's documented research covers malaria, Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, HIV, mpox, yellow fever, COVID-19 and Marburg. His laboratory confirmed Nigeria's first Ebola virus disease case in 2014, and in 2020 he led the sequencing of the first full SARS-CoV-2 genome in Africa from Nigeria's first index case. His wider work includes malaria genomics and the mapping of antimalarial drug resistance.

Public roles and professional recognition

Happi was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine in 2022 and as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2023. He was named to the 2025 TIME100 list and, in May 2026, was elected chair of Africa CDC's inaugural African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics. Africa CDC states that members of the advisory group serve in their personal capacities and provide non-binding recommendations.

Affiliations

Redeemer's University Professor of molecular biology and genomics present
African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases Director present
Institute of Genomics and Global Health present
African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics Chair 2026-05-04–present

Timeline

2000 Completed a PhD in molecular parasitology at the University of Ibadan.
2000 Began postdoctoral research in molecular biology and genomics at Harvard University; institutional biographies date the training to 2000–2003.
2013 An NIH grant supported the establishment of ACEGID at Redeemer's University, described by NIH as the first infectious-disease genomics platform in West Africa.
2014 His laboratory confirmed Nigeria's first Ebola virus disease case during the West African Ebola outbreak.
2020 Led the effort to sequence the first full SARS-CoV-2 genome in Africa from Nigeria's first index case.
2020 Received the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's Bailey K. Ashford Medal.
2022 Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.
2023 Elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.
2025 Named to the 2025 TIME100 list.
2026-05-04 Elected chair of Africa CDC's inaugural African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics.

Additional verified details

Current context

Redeemer's University staff information lists Happi as a professor in Biological Sciences, director of ACEGID and director of the university's Directorate of Research Innovations and Partnerships. The university staff page uses ACEGID terminology; other recent sources use Institute of Genomics and Global Health terminology.
The MacArthur Foundation identifies Happi with the Institute of Genomics and Global Health at Redeemer's University and describes IGH as formerly ACEGID. The source supports an IGH affiliation and a relationship between IGH and ACEGID, but does not fully resolve their precise legal or administrative relationship.
Africa CDC announced that Happi was elected chair of the African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics. Africa CDC says group members serve in their personal capacities and provide non-binding recommendations.

Biographical facts

Happi is a Cameroonian scientist specializing in molecular biology and genomics.
Institutional biographies state that he earned a PhD in molecular parasitology from the University of Ibadan in 2000.
Institutional biographies state that he completed postdoctoral training in molecular biology and genomics at Harvard University from 2000 to 2003.
His documented research interests include human genomics and infectious-disease genomics involving malaria, Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, HIV, mpox, yellow fever, COVID-19 and Marburg.
Happi was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine in 2022.
Happi was elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2023.