Dr Vibol Iem

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Dr. Vibol IEM is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Start4All and LIGHT consortia, with a background in clinical sciences and public health, particularly in Tuberculosis (TB). He holds a doctoral degree in clinical sciences from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), as well as Master's degrees in public health and business administration from the University Claude Bernard (Lyon, France), and the Lyon School of Management at University Jean-Moulin (Lyon, France).

With over a decade of experience in resource-limited settings, particularly in Lao PDR, Vibol has played a key role in strengthening healthcare systems for underserved populations. His work has involved enhancing laboratory networks, revising TB diagnostic algorithms, and supporting efforts to improve TB diagnosis and care. As a consultant with the WHO country office, Vibol provided technical support to the TB and HIV National Programs in Lao PDR, helping to improve access to primary healthcare services, especially for vulnerable communities.

Vibol's research focuses on improving access to TB diagnosis and treatment in low-resource settings, with a particular emphasis on addressing social determinants of health and health inequities. He is especially interested in how factors such as gender and social context influence access to healthcare. His work aims to make TB services more accessible and equitable while improving the quality and effectiveness of diagnostic and treatment systems. In Start4All, Vibol plays a key role in coordinating the implementation and operational aspects of TB diagnostic initiatives, ensuring the successful execution of trials and strategies in this multi-country, multi-disciplinary project. Within the LIGHT Consortium, he explores how social determinants and gender influence access to TB services, helping to shape strategies that enhance healthcare delivery.

Vibol remains committed to advancing global health efforts by focusing on practical solutions that improve healthcare systems and make diagnostic services more accessible for vulnerable populations.

Selected publications

  • Andrew James Codlin, Luan Nguyen Quang Vo, Tushar Garg, Sayera Banu, Shahriar Ahmed, Stephen John, Suraj Abdulkarim, Monde Muyoyeta, Nsala Sanjase, Tom Wingfield, Vibol Iem, Bertie Squire, Jacob Creswell. Expanding molecular diagnostic coverage for tuberculosis by combining computer-aided chest radiography and sputum specimen pooling: a modeling study from four high-burden countries. BMC Global Public Health, 2024. 2(1): p. 52.

    Vibol Iem, John S. Bimba, Victor S. Santos, Jose Dominguez, Jacob Creswell, Silaphet Somphavong, Tom Wingfield, Jahangir A. M. Khan and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling sputum testing to diagnose tuberculosis using Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert ultra: a cost-effectiveness analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases 2023: 23(1): 341.

    John S. Bimba, Toyosi Adeke, Vibol Iem, Timan T. Eliya, Ize Osagie, Konstantina Kontogianni, Thomas Edwards, James Dodd, S. Bertel Squire, Jacob Creswell and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling sputum samples for Xpert® MTB/RIF and Xpert® Ultra testing for TB diagnosis. Public Health Action 2023: 13(1): 12-16.

    Vibol Iem, Phonepadith Xangsayarath, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Phimpha Paboriboune, Silaphet Somphavong, Kontogianni Konstantina, Jahangir A. M. Khan, Thomas Edwards, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell, Jose Dominguez and Luis E. Cuevas. Pooling samples to increase testing capacity with Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. PLOS ONE 2022: 17(9): e0275294.

    Vibol Iem, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Silaphet Somphavong, Konstantina Kontogianni, James Dodd, Jahangir Akber Mahmud Khan, Jose Dominguez, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell and Luis Eduardo Cuevas. Pooling sputum for Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert Ultra testing during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. PLOS Global Public Health 2022: 2(4): e0000116.

    Vibol Iem, Phonenaly Chittamany, Sakhone Suthepmany, Souvimone Siphanthong, Phitsada Siphanthong, Silaphet Somphavong, Konstantina Kontogianni, James Dodd, Jahangir AM Khan, Jose Dominguez, Tom Wingfield, Jacob Creswell and Luis E Cuevas. Pooled testing of sputum with Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert Ultra during tuberculosis active case finding campaigns in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. BMJ Global Health 2022: 7(2): e007592.

    Luis E Cuevas, Victor S Santos, Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida Lima, Konstantina Kontogianni, John S Bimba, Vibol Iem, Jose Dominguez, Emily Adams, Ana Cubas Atienzar, Thomas Edwards, S Bertel Squire, Patricia J Hall and Jacob Creswell. Systematic Review of Pooling Sputum as an Efficient Method for Xpert MTB/RIF Tuberculosis Testing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Emerging Infectious Disease journal 2021: 27(3): 719.

    Silaphet Somphavong, Jean-Luc Berland, Marie Gauthier, Thi Thuong Vu, Quang Huy Nguyen, Vibol Iem, Phouvang Vongvichit, Donekham Inthavong, Vanthala Akkhavong, Phetsavanh Chanthavilay, Sengaloun Soundala, Inthalaphone Keovichit, Glaucia Paranhos-Baccalà, Phimpha Paboriboune, Thi Van Anh Nguyen and Anne-Laure Bañuls. First insights into the genetic characteristics and drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis population collected during the first national tuberculosis prevalence survey of Lao PDR (2010–2011). BMC Infectious Diseases 2019: 19(1): 851.

    Vibol Iem, Anna Dean, Matteo Zignol, Phouvang Vongvichit, Donekham Inthavong, Souvimone Siphanthong, Theppouthone Sorsavanh, Sang Jae Kim, Soyoun Shin, Jacques Sébert and Phonenaly Chittamany. Low prevalence of MDR-TB in Lao PDR: results from the first national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey. Trop Med Int Health 2019: 24(4): 421-431.

    Irwin Law, Phannasinh Sylavanh, Soth Bounmala, Fulgence Nzabintwali, Phimpha Paboriboune, Vibol Iem, Silaphet Somphavong, Sang Jae Kim, Charalambos Sismanidis , Ikushi Onozaki and Jacques Sebert. The first national tuberculosis prevalence survey of Lao PDR (2010–2011). Tropical Medicine & International Health 2015: 20(9): 1146-1154.

    Vibol Iem, Silaphet Somphavong, Yves Buisson, Nicolas Steenkeste, Franck Breysse, Monique Chomarat, Phannasinh Sylavanh, Phouratsamy Nanthavong, Alain Rajoharison, Jean-Luc Berland, and Phimpha Paboriboune. Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antibiotics in Lao PDR: first multicentric study conducted in 3 hospitals. BMC Infect Dis 2013: 13: 275.