Dr Nada Melhem

Dr Nada M. Melhem is a tenured Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (Virology and Immunology) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB). She currently serves as Director of the Division of Health Professions and Chair of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

With a background and training in virology, immunology, and epidemiology, Dr Melhem has established a transdisciplinary and translational research program at AUB. Her work focuses on the immunopathogenesis and epidemiology of viruses and their impact on global human health. Her research includes studies on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), viral diarrheal diseases (specifically noroviruses), and COVID-19. Dr Melhem leads the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients in Lebanon. 

In addition to her extensive research, Dr Melhem has made significant contributions through professional service. She is an elected council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases and has served on the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Evolution Technical Advisory Group. Since 2009, she has been a member of Lebanon's National Committee for Communicable Diseases, acting as a scientific advisor to the Minister of Public Health and the Director General of the Ministry of Public Health. She has served as Lebanon’s National Polio Containment Coordinator since 2022. 

Dr Melhem recently joined the External Advisory Board for Wayne State University’s Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (CEID). She is also a member of the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), a global initiative of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Melhem served on Lebanon’s National COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee and the WHO COVID-19 Epidemiology Technical Advisory Group. She also represented low-resource settings on the Rapid Evidence Assessment of Drug Candidates of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition.