Frank Cobelens, Professor of Global Health at Amsterdam UMC and former program leader of APH Global Health, will deliver his farewell lecture on October 30, 2026, to mark his transition to emeritus status. After a distinguished career largely devoted to combating infectious diseases worldwide, he will guide the audience once more through the key developments and milestones in his work.
Career path
Frank Cobelens studied Medicine at the University of Amsterdam, followed by a postgraduate Master’s degree in Infectious Disease Epidemiology in London, and obtained his PhD at the University of Amsterdam on infectious diseases in travelers. He has worked in a broad range of global health roles, from research consultant in Africa and Asia to director of the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
Over the years, he has become a key figure in global health at Amsterdam UMC and beyond. He has held the position of Professor by Special Appointment in Epidemiology and Control of Poverty-Related Infectious Diseases and, since 2016, the position of Professor of Global Health at Amsterdam UMC. In addition, he chaired the board of AIGHD and headed the Department of Global Health until March 2023, and co-founded and co-directed the Amsterdam Tuberculosis Center, while contributing to several global health initiatives and international expert and advisory committees in the field of tuberculosis and global health.
Involvement within APH
Cobelens has made a major contribution to global health within the Amsterdam Public Health (APH) research institute. APH Global Health is one of the nine research programs of APH and aims to contribute to health for all in a global context. As program leader of APH Global Health from 2017 to 2025, Cobelens helped shape a strong global health research community across departments and disciplines, and strengthened support for global health as a scientific endeavor within APH, the Amsterdam UMC and its affiliated institutions, as well as at national and European level.
Research
Cobelens’s research has focused on major poverty-related infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis, the leading infectious cause of premature death globally, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. His work has centered on the public health implementation of innovations such as new treatments for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, improved diagnostics, preventive therapies and better vaccines, in close collaboration with clinicians, microbiologists, immunologists, health economists, anthropologists, diagnostics developers and regulatory experts.
Following his retirement, he will continue several research and advisory activities on a voluntary basis, particularly in the development of next-generation tuberculosis vaccines, with many ideas still to pursue.
Farewell lecture
The farewell lecture “'s Mensdoms Trage Schandvlek" by Frank Cobelens will take place on Friday, October 30, 16:30, in the Aula of the University of Amsterdam, followed by a reception. The lecture will be delivered in Dutch. It will also be possible to follow the farewell lecture via a live stream.
Find more information about the farewell lecture on the UvA website (in Dutch).