PROF. NICOLAS BARRO represents Burkina Faso on the WASCAL Governing Board. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry-Microbiology/Virology, master’s degrees in Biochemistry-Microbiology/Virology and Biochemistry-Microbiology, a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, a diploma in Plant Biotechnology from FUSAGx (Belgium), and certificates in Microbial Biotechnology and Genetic Manipulation from CNRS Marseille (France) and Public Health Management from IANPHI Helsinki (Finland).

Currently, he is the Director General of the National Biosafety Agency of Burkina Faso and a Professor at CAMES Universities. Previously, he served as President of Norbert ZONGO University, Vice-president for teaching and pedagogical innovation at Joseph KI-ZERBO University, and Deputy Director of the UFR Life and Earth Sciences at Joseph KI-ZERBO University. He also chaired the Steering Committee of the Research Network on Diseases with Epidemic Potential in Africa (REMENTA).

Prof. Barro has chaired the Board of Directors of Université Norbert ZONGO and directed the Laboratory for Epidemiology and Surveillance of Viruses and Bacteria Transmissible through Water and Food (LabESTA). He has held various academic positions in Biochemistry-Microbiology/Virology at CAMES Universities and Université Ouaga I Pr Joseph KI-ZERBO, Burkina Faso.

His international contributions include memberships in the FAO group of experts on food hygiene, the Global Foodborne Network (GFN-WHO), and the WHO-AGISAR Group on zoonoses and antibacterial resistance. He has served as an expert for the EU, NEPAD, and NGOs, and held evaluative roles for the International Science Foundation (ISF) and the CDC Atlanta. Prof. Barro is fluent in French and English.