Eric D’Ortenzio, MD, MPH, is a physician, epidemiologist and scientific leader with more than 25 years of experience at the interface of biomedical research, public health and global health policy.
He currently serves as Scientific Director of the Health & Societies Department at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), where he leads a portfolio of research units working on infectious diseases, health systems and the social sciences of health, with a strong focus on equitable international research partnerships.
He also serves as Scientific Coordinator of AFROSCREEN, a genomic surveillance capacity-building initiative across 13 African countries.
His research focuses on emerging infectious diseases, epidemic preparedness and outbreak response, with particular expertise in arboviral diseases, haemorrhagic fevers and respiratory viruses. His work bridges global research partnerships and the translation of scientific evidence into public health strategies.
His career spans leadership roles across academia, public health agencies and humanitarian organizations. He previously headed the Strategy and Partnerships Department at ANRS Maladies infectieuses émergentes (Inserm), where he led the agency’s international and European portfolios and directed France’s research response to emerging infectious diseases and epidemic preparedness. He also coordinated REACTing-Inserm, served as Scientific Director of Solthis, Head of the Epidemiology Research Unit at Institut Pasteur New Caledonia, epidemiologist at Santé publique France, and field coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières in Africa.
He received his MD from Aix-Marseille University and holds a Master’s Research degree in Epidemiology from Sorbonne University. He has authored or co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and was named Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 2021 in recognition of his contribution to France’s research response to the COVID-19 pandemic.