Professor Asrat Hailu, an immunoparasitologist by training, obtained his PhD from the University of Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV/AIDS, and is a senior researcher currently serving at the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University. Prof Asrat started his research career at the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, where he worked for 22 years (1982–2005) and developed an interest in leishmaniasis and other neglected parasitic diseases.

He has co-authored several scientific articles and has thus far co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, the majority of which focus on leishmaniasis. He reviews articles for many international journals and serves on grant review panels. He is a member of several learned societies, including the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences.

He has played an important role in the establishment of LEAP (Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform) and CDT-Africa (Centre of Excellence for Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials in Africa) at Addis Ababa University.

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