Prime Minister Samdech Mohaborvor Thipadei Hun Manet and First Lady H.E. Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet presided over the ceremony.
The celebration also marked the inauguration of two new eight-story academic buildings and the graduation of 2,240 students across 44 fields of study, highlighting UHS’s continued contribution to Cambodia’s health workforce.
More than two decades of partnership
Since 2001, the Mérieux Foundation and UHS have worked together to strengthen health education, laboratory capacity and infectious disease research in Cambodia.
One of their earliest achievements was the construction of the Faculty of Pharmacy building, which the Mérieux Foundation and Fondation Pierre Fabre jointly financed and oversaw. Completed in 2003, the fully equipped, 2,200-square-meter facility continues to support pharmaceutical education at UHS.
In 2005, the Mérieux Foundation established the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory within the Faculty of Pharmacy to strengthen infectious disease research, train Cambodian scientists and foster international scientific collaboration.
Over the years, the Foundation has continued to invest in the laboratory’s infrastructure, equipment, quality management systems, and scientific capacity. In December 2023, the laboratory achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, marking an important milestone in its commitment to quality management and continuous improvement.
Advancing research and scientific expertise
The partnership has expanded beyond infrastructure to support infectious disease research and scientific training. The Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory contributes to research on major public health challenges in Cambodia including viral hepatitis, HIV, respiratory infections and emerging infectious diseases. As a member of the Mérieux Foundation’s international GABRIEL network, the laboratory also connects Cambodian researchers with scientific partners worldwide; fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for professional development.
As UHS celebrates its 80th anniversary, the Mérieux Foundation looks forward to building on this longstanding partnership to advance infectious disease research, strengthen laboratory systems and support the next generation of Cambodian scientists.
