Honouring the legacy of tuberculosis pioneer Armand Van Deun with Room Van Deun and scholarship

Armand Van Deun improved the lives of millions worldwide through his pioneering work in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. He developed a shorter and more affordable treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Traditional treatments for MDR-TB lasted 24 months and had only a 50% cure rate. With Dr Van Deun's method, the treatment duration was reduced to 9–11 months, while the cure rate increased to almost 85%. Besides his scientific achievements, he was also a dedicated lecturer.

Dr Bouke de Jong, head of ITM's Mycobacteriology Unit, emphasised: "Armand was a scientist with deep-seated compassion for people. His work combined scientific excellence with an unparalleled sense of justice. These initiatives are a tribute to his dedication."

A space for future talent

On 29 January, the former Room North in Campus Rochus was officially renamed Room Van Deun. This space will serve as a meeting place for students and researchers who, like Armand, are committed to global health.

Investing in the future

The Armand Van Deun Scholarship Initiative offers financial support to international students and clinicians to participate in the course on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis founded by Van Deun. These scholarships continue Armand's life's work: strengthening the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in Belgium and worldwide.

"With the Armand Van Deun Scholarship Initiative, we hope to encourage scientists to dedicate their careers to tuberculosis, as the disease continues to claim many victims. Every year, 10.8 million people worldwide develop tuberculosis, and 1.25 million die from the disease. This is unacceptable," said Alberto Piubello, medical adviser at Damien Foundation. "To confront TB, we need motivated scientists to conduct research into the gaps that still exist in our knowledge," he added.