Paul Brey was the founding director general of Institut Pasteur of Laos (IPL) in Vientiane, Laos since its inception in 2008 until 2023. IPL is a Lao national institute, for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease research and training. Prior to establishing IPL, Dr Brey served as Regional Coordinator for the Pasteur Network in the Asia Pacific Region from 2005-2008 based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Foregoing his 18 years of work in Asia, Dr. Brey was director of the Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology research unit at Institut Pasteur in Paris for 12 years. Dr. Brey spent his entire career working for Institut Pasteur from 1979-2023, with experience both in the lab and the field.
Dr. Brey has a PhD. in medical entomology with an initial research focus on insect innate immunity and mosquito genomics. Since his tenure in Laos, his research focus shifted to emerging and re-emerging infectious viruses in insects, ticks and in bats. He has published over a hundred and thirty peer-reviewed scientific papers, including papers in Nature, Science, Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia. He also served on several scientific advisory boards at Institut Pasteur, at the World Health Organization, and the French Ministry of Science and Technology.
Paul Brey was decorated « Chevalier de la Légion of Honneur » in 2002 by the French Government. In 2011, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam awarded Dr. Brey the People’s Health Medal for his service and contributions to infectious disease research and public health in Viet Nam. In 2023, The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg bestowed upon Dr. Brey the honorific distinction of Officer de l’Ordre de Mérite for his work in Laos. In 2024, Dr. Brey received the Cross of Labor from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for his essential role in the establishment and consolidation of Institut Pasteur du Laos.
