Dr. Momar Ndao received the Montreal Palace of Ambassadors Award Department of Medicine

Dr. Momar Ndao recently received the Montreal Ambassador Award for organizing the 2026 International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA) in Montreal. This award is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the city's reputation as a leading venue for international conferences and events. “This award not only celebrates my success in winning the ICOPA 2026 bid, but also places me among more than 350 outstanding individuals from the scientific, academic and research sectors who have already been recognized for their contributions,” says Dr. Ndao.

What are the reasons for doing such work?

As a dedicated member of the parasitology community, my vision for hosting the 2026 International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA) in Montreal is to advance scientific research and encourage global collaboration. This congress will be a platform to showcase cutting-edge discoveries, discuss innovative treatment strategies, and bring together experts from diverse backgrounds to address pressing issues in parasitology. By bringing together leading scientists, we will i) accelerate the development of effective interventions against parasitic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide, ii) inspire students and early career scientists by providing them with invaluable exposure to the latest industry advances and networking opportunities, iii) advance parasitology research and creating an enabling environment that encourages innovation and iv) building partnerships between academia, industry and public health sectors to achieve a common goal: eradication of parasitic diseases.

What does this award mean to you?

The Montreal Palace of Ambassadors Award is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the city's reputation as a leading venue for international conferences and events. As an ambassador, you will be honored to be actively involved in promoting Montreal and attracting large gatherings to the city, which in turn will bring significant economic and intellectual benefits to the province of Quebec. This recognizes my commitment to the development of business tourism and the exchange of knowledge and experience across borders. It is a testament to my leadership and commitment to advancing the field of parasitology and fostering a spirit of collaboration within the global community.

About Dr. Momar Ndao

Dr. Momar Ndao completed his veterinary studies in Senegal, a diploma in tropical medicine, an MSc in international health and tropical diseases, and a PhD at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. Currently, he is a docent of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. He has served as the Director of the Canadian National Center for Parasitology (NRCP) since 2002. He is co-director of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4). He was Chair of the Institute for Research Animal Care Committee (FACC) at the McGill University Health Center's Glen site. Selected as a member of the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines Expert Working Group and co-chair of the Food and Environmental Parasitology Network (Health Canada). He has been the vice-president of the World Federation of Parasitologists since 2022, a member of the executive board of the International Federation of Tropical Medicine since 2017, a member of the Scientific Committee of the Pasteur Institute since 2016, etc.