Centre d'Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM)

What Centre d'Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM) does

Centre d'Infectiologie Charles Mérieux (CICM) Mali is a non-profit infectious disease research, diagnostic, and training center headquartered in Bamako, Mali, operating under a tripartite public-private governance between the Mali Ministry of Health and Fondation Mérieux. The center occupies approximately 1,400 m² of facilities that include the ISO 15189-accredited Rodolphe Mérieux Medical Analysis Laboratory (the first in Mali to achieve this standard, covering 15 parameters across biochemistry, hematocytology, infectious serology, and bacteriology), a P3 biosafety laboratory for tuberculosis and emerging pathogen research, and a mobile P3 laboratory deployed across G5 Sahel countries. Its product surface spans three integrated lines: clinical diagnostic services (biochemistry, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, hematology, immunology, molecular biology) delivered via walk-in laboratory at the Bamako site; applied research on tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, conducted through the GABRIEL network of 20+ international research units and partnerships with GIZ, the German Bundeswehr Microbiology Institute, and the Chinese Institute of Biological Pathogens; and professional training including a Master of Medical Biology with USTTB and ESTBB (Lyon), the WHO Global Leadership Laboratory Programme, and Bioforce humanitarian courses.

CICM's revenue mechanics are mixed: patient fees for diagnostic analyses at the central laboratory, sample referrals to Eurofins/Biomnis for specialized tests, and a heavy reliance on grants and project funding from Fondation Mérieux, AFD, GIZ, the Islamic Development Bank, Monaco Cooperation, Accordia, and WHO. The center has no app, no public API, no disclosed pricing, and no equity funding. Its customer base is split between walk-in patients and the Mali Ministry of Health (which has designated it as the national reference laboratory for COVID-19), supplemented by peripheral health centers reached through the LABOMEDCAMP network of 17 campaign laboratories in five regions of Mali. Direction is set by Director General Professor Bourema Kouriba (a pharmacist-immunologist appointed in 2020) and a tripartite Board of Directors.

Name

Centre d'Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM)

Legal name

Centre d'infectiologie Charles Mérieux (CICM Mali)

Website

https://cicm-mali.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CICM Mali is a non-profit infectious disease center in Bamako offering ISO 15189-accredited diagnostic testing, P3 biosafety research on tuberculosis and emerging pathogens, and laboratory training programs, serving patients, the Mali Ministry of Health, and international research partners across West Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tuberculosis & Mycobacterial Diseases (HLAKAGAH), Disease-Specific Reference Laboratory Networks (e.g., TB, HIV, Influenza) (HLAJAIAD), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAF), General Infectious Disease (HLAKAGAA)

Keywords

• Medical biology diagnostics
• Infectious disease research
• Biosafety laboratory services
• Healthcare professional training
• Tuberculosis research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bamako

HQ country

Mali

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Diagnostic Services: CICM Mali is a non-profit establishment providing medical biology diagnostic services to patients. Revenue is generated through laboratory analysis fees for biological testing services including biochemistry, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, hematology, immunology, and molecular biology. Some analyses are sent to partner laboratories like Eurofins/Biomnis for specialized testing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CICM Mali is a non-profit infectious disease center that delivers ISO 15189-accredited medical biology diagnostic services through the Laboratoire Rodolphe Mérieux, conducts applied research on tuberculosis, emerging pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance using P3 biosafety laboratories, and runs training programs including a Master of Medical Biology degree. It also extends diagnostic access to peripheral health centers in remote regions through the LABOMEDCAMP network of campaign laboratories.

Product overview

CICM Mali operates as an integrated infectious disease research and diagnostic center offering three interconnected service lines: (1) the Rodolphe Mérieux Medical Analysis Laboratory providing ISO 15189-accredited diagnostic testing across clinical biology disciplines; (2) P3-level research facilities conducting applied research on tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance; and (3) professional training programs including a master's degree in medical biology and short courses on biosafety, quality assurance, and laboratory management. The center also participates in the LABOMEDCAMP network to extend diagnostic access to underserved regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laboratoire Rodolphe Mérieux: A Rodolphe Mérieux laboratory housed within CICM Mali, accredited to ISO 15189 international standards, serving as a reference laboratory for biomedical analyses in Mali.

Products and services

• Laboratoire Rodolphe Mérieux

Quantifiable outcome

• First ISO 15189 accredited medical biology laboratory in Mali (2020)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Fondation MérieuxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary founding partner alongside Mali Ministry of Health. Financed construction and development of CICM facility. Provides ongoing technical and financial support through the Qualité initiative. The foundation supports quality accreditation process and equipment upgrades.
• Ministère de la Santé et de l'Hygiène Publique (Mali)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of CICM Mali alongside Fondation Mérieux. Provides land and access infrastructure. Governs CICM through tripartite Board of Directors with 3 representatives. Designates CICM as reference laboratory for COVID-19 testing.
• Réseau GABRIELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICM Mali has been a member of the GABRIEL network (Global Approach to Biology Research, Infectious diseases, and Epidemics in Low-income countries) since 2008. Network includes over 20 international research units. Enables collaborative research projects on infectious diseases.
• Institut de Microbiologie de la Bundeswehr (IMB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman military microbiology institute collaborating with CICM on tuberculosis and mycobacteria research, contributing to the P3 laboratory capabilities.
• Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBamako university partner for Master of Medical Biology program. Faculty of Pharmacy collaborates on implementing the master's degree curriculum at CICM.
• École Supérieure de Biologie-Biochimie-Biotechnologies (ESTBB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyon-based school partners with CICM and USTTB to deliver the Master of Medical Biology degree. Provides international academic standards and expertise.
• Bioforce DéveloppementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian training organization that delivers Nutrition and WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) qualification programs at CICM. Offers 'Responsible Project Nutrition' and 'Responsible Project Water, Hygiene and Sanitation' courses.
• Santé SudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner supporting healthcare projects and initiatives in Mali.
• AccordiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting CICM activities and development initiatives.
• Institut des Pathogènes Biologiques de la Chine (IPB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese Institute of Biological Pathogens collaborating on infectious disease research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute: Large Swiss research institute with global tropical medicine, parasitology, and public-health laboratory programs. Comparable to CICM as a research and capacity-building institution for infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, though at materially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research: University of Ghana-based medical research institute with diagnostic and surveillance functions for infectious diseases across West Africa. Comparable to CICM as a sub-Saharan African public-health laboratory combining diagnostics, research, and graduate training.
• Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine: German tropical medicine institute with biosafety level 3+ laboratory capabilities and a long-standing international collaboration with CICM on tuberculosis and mycobacteria research. Comparable as a tropical/infectious disease reference lab with similar research and capacity-building mandate.
• Fondation Mérieux: French non-profit foundation and parent/sponsor of CICM that operates Rodolphe Mérieux laboratories in multiple low-income countries and coordinates the GABRIEL network. Directly comparable as the network anchor for infectious disease lab capacity-building in resource-limited settings.
• Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire: IP Côte d'Ivoire operates reference diagnostic and research laboratories for infectious diseases in Abidjan. Comparable to CICM as a Francophone West African reference lab under the Institut Pasteur international network, with overlapping TB, virology, and public-health surveillance mandates.
• Institut Pasteur de Dakar: Senegal-based nonprofit foundation operating a biomedical research and reference public-health laboratory focused on infectious diseases (including yellow fever, measles, polio, and COVID-19). Directly comparable to CICM as a West African Pasteur-style infectious disease reference lab, with manufacturing capability and regional public-health role.
• Centre Pasteur du Cameroun: Yaoundé-based Pasteur-affiliated reference laboratory providing diagnostic services, research, and training for infectious diseases. Comparable to CICM as a Central/West African Pasteur-style reference lab with public-health surveillance and training functions.

Others

• GABRIEL Network: International network of 20+ research laboratories (coordinated by Fondation Mérieux) collaborating on infectious disease epidemiology and laboratory capacity in low-resource countries. CICM is a member since 2008; the network provides CICM's primary research collaboration infrastructure and grant pathways.
• Eurofins Biomnis: Major European clinical reference laboratory to which CICM ships specialized samples. Comparable as a medical-biology specialty reference lab, though commercially oriented; represents both a dependency and a service-extension partner for CICM.

Emerging players

• Africa CDC Reference Laboratories: African Union body coordinating a network of regional reference laboratories for pathogen surveillance and outbreak response. Relevant to CICM as an emerging supra-national coordinator whose regional designation decisions may favor or constrain CICM's G5 Sahel positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-d'infectiologie-charles-merieux-cicm-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre d'Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM)