Libreville, Gabon –
A new partnership between West Virginia University (WVU) and Gabon’s premier scientific research institute has opened access to global academic resources for a leading Gabonese scientist, marking a milestone for the new, long-term State Partnership Program (SPP) between Gabon and the West Virginia National Guard.
On July 28, WVU’s School of Medicine officially appointed Dr. Chimène Nze Nkogue, Senior Researcher of the Institute for Research in Tropical Ecology (IRET) at Gabon’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CENAREST), as an adjunct professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. This designation allows Dr. Nze Nkogue – and by extension, CENAREST – access to WVU’s rich online library of scientific databases and academic journals.
The collaboration stems from a 2024 visit to Libreville by a delegation from the West Virginia National Guard and West Virginia University, following the launch of the State Partnership Program between West Virginia and Gabon. During a visit to CENAREST, researchers highlighted the challenges of accessing current research due to budget constraints. In response, West Virginia University proposed a creative solution: appointing a Gabonese scientist as an adjunct faculty member to unlock university resources for Gabonese research.
“While the State Partnership Program traditionally focuses on military collaboration, in areas like natural disaster response, this outcome shows its broader potential,” said U.S. Ambassador Vernell FitzPatrick. “This civil-scientific exchange is an innovative response to a real-world challenge, and it reflects the kind of dynamic, long-term cooperation that the SPP is designed to foster.”
Dr. Nze Nkogue, an alumna of the prestigious U.S. Department of State’s Humphrey Fellowship Program, is a virologist and accomplished researcher with experience in Japan, France, the United States, and Gabon. In addition to gaining access to academic resources, she will deliver virtual guest lectures for WVU students and faculty to discuss her research. The university is also exploring student and faculty exchanges with Gabon, further deepening the partnership.