Dr. Eric Deharo | HKU-Pasteur

Eric Deharo
DPhil, PharmD

Co-Director

Contact Information
Tel: +852 2831 5494

Address: 7/F Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong

Biography

Eric Deharo holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy and a PhD in Parasitology. He has served as a Research Director and representative of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in Laos. His work has focused on promoting biodiversity through its use in traditional medicine for neglected diseases, including the development of laboratory models for detecting bioactive compounds and diagnostic tools for tropical parasitic diseases. Throughout his career, he has worked in Bolivia, French Guiana, Peru, and Laos, where he established laboratories for experimental pharmacology at national universities. He has gained in-depth experience working within health contexts in the Global South.

As an expert for various international organizations, he has participated in numerous scientific committees to define strategies for health programs. He has authored over 130 articles in international journals and serves as a peer reviewer for numerous scientific publications (Malaria Journal, Life Sciences, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Memorias do Oswaldo Cruz, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, International Journal of Green Pharmacy, International Journal of Molecular Sciences). His scientific work in the Global South has been recognized, notably with awards from the Altran Foundation in 2002 and IRD Innovation-South in 2013.

He leads numerous projects on diverse topics, such as: Animal self-medication and human medicinal practices, the European COCLICAN project, nutritional alternatives for impoverished populations, and biodiversity sentinel programs.

He has also initiated the regional One Health project in South Asia and the Nutrilao project. Additionally, he co-created a “One Health” observatory on the outskirts of Nakaï National Park in Laos.

Publications

Selected Publications

Virology

Bobouaka Bonguili, N.C., Mombo, I.M., Lenguiya, L.H., Lattaphasavang, V., Pabouriboune, P., Deharo, E., Fritz, M., Demboux, Lyelet, J.E., Elguero, E., Koukouikila-Koussounda, F., Mayengue, P.I., Leroy, E.M., Niama, R.F., & Locatelli, S. (2025) Etiology and Epidemiology of respiratory infections in community-based influenza-like illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Int J Infect Dis. 25:108079. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.108079. IF: 4.3
Phrasisombath, K., Kubota, S., Elliott, E. M., Horiuchi, S., Ounaphom, P., Phimmachak, L., Souksavanh, O., Vongsouvanh, P., Robinson, D. R., Channavong, S., Deharo, E., Seal, W. R. E., Lo, Y. R. J., & Phoummalaysith, B. (2024). Reaching the unreached through building trust : A mixed-method study on COVID-19 vaccination in rural Lao PDR. BMJ Global Health, 9, e014680 [13 p.]. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014680. IF: 11.4
Sitbounlang, P., Deharo, E., Latthaphasavang, V., Marchio, A., Soukhsakhone, C., Soinxay, V., Mayxay, M., Steenkeste, N., Vincelot, P., Bertani, S., Palamy, S., Paboriboune, P., & Pineau, P. (2022). Estimating the burden of hepatitis B virus infection in Laos between 2020 and 2021 : A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey. eClinicalMedicine, 52, 101582 [12 p.]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101582. IF: 9.6

Social Sciences

Haenssgen, M. J., Angeloff, T., Herse, M. R., Auclair, E., Sunanlikanon, N., Xayavong, T., Dubost, J. M., Radavanh, S., Vongnalath, C., & Deharo, E. (2025). Workshop report : Everyday environmental heritage is key to unlocking the social dimensions of One Health. iScience, 28, 112358 [11 p.]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112358. IF: 8.6

Ethnopharmacology

Dubost, J. M., Lamxay, V., Krief, S., Falshaw, M., Manithip, C., & Deharo, E. (2019). From plant selection by elephants to human and veterinary pharmacopeia of mahouts in Laos. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 244, article 112157 [12 p.]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.112157. IF: 4.9
Deharo, E., Bourdy, G., Quenevo, C., Munoz, V., Ruiz, G., & Sauvain, M. (2001). A search for natural bioactive compounds in Bolivia through a multidisciplinary approach : Part 5. Evaluation of the antimalarial activity of plants used by the Tacana indians. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 77, 91 98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00270-7. IF: 4.9
Weniger, B., Robledo, S., Arango, G. J., Deharo, E., Aragon, R., Munoz, V., Callapa, J., Lobstein, A., & Anton, R. (2001). Antiprotozoal activities of Colombian plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 78, 193 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00346-4. IF: 4.9

Environmental sciences

Honles, J., Clisson, C., Monge, C., Vasquez-Ocmin, P., Cerapio, J. P., Palamy, S., Casavilca-Zambrano, S., Herrera, J., Pineau, P., Deharo, E., Peynet, V., & Bertani, S. (2022). Exposure assessment of 170 pesticide ingredients and derivative metabolites in people from the Central Andes of Peru. Scientific Reports - Nature, 12, 13525 [15 ]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17772-1. IF: 5

Cancer

Bertani, S., Pineau, P., Loli, S., Moura, J., Zimic, M., Deharo, E., & Ruiz, E. (2013). An atypical age-specific pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma in Peru : A threat for Andean populations. Plos One, 8, e67756. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067756

Malaria

Arias, M. H., Quiliano, M., Bourgeade-Delmas, S., Fabing, I., Chantal, I., Berthier, D., Minet, C., Eparvier, V., Sorres, J., Stien, D., Galiano, S., Aldana, I., Valentin, A., Garavito, G., & Deharo, E. (2020). Alsinol, an arylamino alcohol derivative active against Plasmodium, Babesia, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania : Past and new outcomes. Parasitology Research, 119, 3503 3515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06832-y. IF: 2.9

Laboratory Models

Deharo, E., Garcia, R. N., Oporto, P., Gimenez, A., Sauvain, M., Jullian, V., & Ginsburg, H. (2002). A non-radiolabelled ferriprotoporphyrin 9 biomineralisation inhibition test for the high throughput screening of antimalarial compounds. Experimental Parasitology, 100, 252 256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-4894(02)00027-9. IF: 2.1

Publications ED

Eric Deharo DPhil, PharmD

Eric Deharo
DPhil, PharmD