RESUMO
In 2009, the Franceville International Medical Research Center (CIRMF) celebrated its 30th anniversary, at the same time as the Republic of Gabon celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. The CIRMF went into operation in 1979 when the president of the Republic, M. Omar Bongo Ondimba, decided to establish it in partnership with the Elf-Aquitaine corporation. Three decades later, it was time to assess its work. The day of this 30th anniversary, more than 300 people were working at the Center. To convince the authorities to make a major investment, the Directorate-General of the CIRMF presented the successful results obtained for science, the projects underway and planned, and its international outreach. Mission accomplished: in 2009 a renovation of the CIRMF began. It has worked successfully in the following fields of research: antiretroviral agents, hepatitis viruses, the diversity of plasmodium, emerging viral diseases, and still topics such as neonatal diagnosis of sickle-cell anemia and an exhaustive inventory of the fauna and flora of the tropical forest. The CIRMF has achieved success and can be proud of its 30th anniversary of international biomedical research in the natural environment of Gabon.
