Nkengasong is from Cameroon.[2] He became interested in biology, chemistry and mathematics whilst he was at high school.[3]
Nkengasong earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Yaoundé I.[3] During his undergraduate degree he met Peter Piot, who encouraged him to visit Antwerp as a graduate student in virology. He ended up studying biomedical sciences at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp.[4] After completing his second degree, he moved to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where he earned a master's degree in medical sciences.[4] After earning his master's degree, Nkengasong then joined the research group of Guido van der Groen and Piot,[2] eventually earning a doctorate degree in medical sciences (virology) from Vrije Universiteit Brusse.[5] His doctoral research was the first to characterize all of the genetic subtypes of HIVinAfrica.[3] He later completed a management qualification at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.[6]
In 2011, Nkengasong helped to establish the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).[10] The ASLM looks to support African researchers in developing their laboratory medicine capabilities and ability to care for patients.[11]
In 2016, Nkengasong joined the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as its inaugural Director.[12][13] At the Africa CDC, Nkengasong oversees the Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Networks (RISLNET) with a focus on empowering local leadership.[11][14][15]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nkengasong was appointed a special envoy to the director general of the World Health Organization.[16] In this capacity, he was responsible for amplifying the messages of the Director General as well as providing strategic advice on preparedness.[16][17] Nkengasong led Africa's response to coronavirus disease, including training a team of young responders; the African Healthcare Volunteer Workforce.[18][19] Protecting the African population from coronavirus disease is complicated by challenges such as difficulties in testing in regions affected by conflicts and issues with social distancing in urban slums.[20]
In the preparations for the Global Health Summit hosted by the European Commission and the G20 in May 2021, Nkengasong co-chaired the event's High-Level Scientific Panel.[21]
On September 27, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Nkengasong to be the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Health Diplomacy and Global AIDS Coordinator in the Department of State. Nkengasong's initial nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2022.[22]
President Biden resent his nomination the following day. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on Nkengasong's nomination on March 15, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination on May 4, 2022. On May 5, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[23][24] He was sworn in on June 13, 2022.[25]
On August 1, 2023, Secretary of StateAntony Blinken chose Nkengasong to lead the newly formed Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), focused on coordinating international responses to infectious diseases.[25]
Wiktor, Stefan Z; Ekpini, Ehounou; Karon, John M; Nkengasong, John; Maurice, Chantal; Severin, Sibailly T; Roels, Thierry H; Kouassi, Moise K; Lackritz, Eve M; Coulibaly, Issa-Malick; Greenberg, Alan E (1999). "Short-course oral zidovudine for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: a randomised trial". The Lancet. 353 (9155): 781–785. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(98)10412-9. ISSN0140-6736. PMID10459958. S2CID30241185.
