Cameroonian Scientist Adamou Velhima: “Genomics is the future – without it, we will not defeat tuberculosis”
An interview with researcher Adamou Velhima about tuberculosis, genomics and life in Martin. He arrived in Europe from Cameroon to pursue his PhD studies.
He currently works at the Department of Pharmacology at the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine under the supervision of Matúš Dohál, PhD., on tuberculosis research and whole-genome sequencing of samples he brought directly from Africa.
In Cameroon, tuberculosis represents a major public health issue, yet no one has conducted detailed molecular analyses there until now. In this interview, he talks about what led him to science, the challenges he has faced in Slovakia, and why he believes genomics is the science of the future.
What led you to scientific work?
As a young boy, I was fascinated by books about Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. These were stories about discoveries that fundamentally changed medicine. I first became a doctor, but later decided to pursue a scientific career instead.
Why did you choose microbiology, biotechnology, and especially the study of bacterial pathogens?
During my university studies in biomedical sciences, I had to choose whether to continue with biochemistry or with bacteriology and virology. Because biochemistry involves a lot of mathematics—something I’m not particularly strong at—I chose the second option. At the same time, I also studied molecular biology. Although this field is highly developed globally, in Cameroon it is still far from the level it needs to be, and there is much that remains unexplored. That is why I decided to focus on tuberculosis combined with molecular biology.
How did you learn about the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, and why did you choose it for your research stay?
Like many PhD students, I was trying to conduct part of my research outside Cameroon. One reason was the lack of proper laboratory equipment at home. Because I had long been studying tuberculosis, I knew that Dr. Matúš Dohál at the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine is deeply involved in this field. I contacted the Department of Pharmacology and was fortunate—our communication began back in 2023. After all administrative steps were completed, I received a scholarship through the SAIA agency and could travel to Martin.
What are your first impressions of the faculty?
I have a very good impression. This is my very first stay in Europe. Your laboratories seem enormous—incomparable to those in Cameroon. For me, your biomedical center is truly the largest in the world.
Your PhD research focuses on molecular typing of Mycobacterium bovis and drug resistance in tuberculosis. Why is this topic important?
I chose tuberculosis because it remains one of the most dangerous diseases. Even in 2025, it is still the deadliest infectious disease in the world. In Cameroon, we have far more cases and far more deaths than in Europe.
A major issue in my country is also bovine tuberculosis, which can be transmitted to humans—a zoonotic infection.
All previous studies in Cameroon were mostly epidemiological, they gathered numbers of patients and infected cattle, but not information about transmission routes. I am interested in the molecular level, which is why I brought samples here to analyze precisely how the disease spreads between humans and animals.
What exactly will you work on during your stay at the Department of Pharmacology?
We will be working on whole-genome sequencing—one of the most advanced techniques used in tuberculosis research. It allows us to obtain complete DNA information from the bacterial samples I brought from Cameroon. I call it my “little biobank.”
My colleagues are also teaching me additional methods used internationally so I can apply them back home one day, if we manage to equip our laboratories properly.
How do you see the future of genomics and biotechnology in tackling infectious diseases?
Genomics is, in my opinion, the future. Diseases like tuberculos cannot be eradicated without whole-genome sequencing and the data it provides. We need precise information about how transmission occurs, how resistant the bacteria are, and which treatment is most appropriate.
And the potential is broader—genomics will be important across many areas of biology and medicine.
You have worked in hospitals and laboratories across Cameroon. What is the biggest difference compared to Slovakia?
The biggest difference is in laboratory equipment. Diagnostic tools based on molecular biology, which are common here, simply do not exist in most laboratories in Cameroon.
What can international cooperation bring to young researchers?
For me, the biggest benefit is the collaboration I have built here. Together with Matúš Dohál, we plan further projects aimed at helping eradicate tuberculosis in Cameroon. I have learned many molecular techniques here—skills that very few people at home possess. I hope to pass this knowledge on to young scientists and students in Cameroon.
How do you feel about tme city of Martin and Slovakia in general?
People are very respectful, which I appreciate. The biggest challenge is communication—many people don’t speak English. I expected at least basic English to be more common, but in shops or pharmacies I am often not understood at all.
I now live in Vrútky in a dormitory with Slovak students, and I feel very good there. Interestingly, when I spent two weeks in Žilina in a dorm full of foreigners, the atmosphere was not as pleasant. I much prefer living with Slovaks.
What has surprised you the most so far?
The weather, definitely. I came from 35-degree heat—and now it's even 45 back home—straight into winter. The first days were very difficult.
The language barrier, as I mentioned, was also surprising—the further I got from Bratislava, the harder it was to communicate in English. I even once rode past my stop on the train because nobody could understand me.
Finding accommodation was another challenge—several times, when I said I was from Cameroon and needed housing for just three months, people simply hung up.
And honestly, I was shocked that I haven’t seen any Africans here. In Martin, I haven’t met a single one. I even tried to find a Cameroonian community—but apparently, there isn’t one.
What do you miss most about Cameroon?
Definitely the food. And my friends I usually play football with.
Is there something you would like to experience in Slovakia?
I really want to experience a true winter—snow and skiing. We’re planning a trip to the High Tatras, so I hope my wish comes true.