Dr Moses Laman (MBBS, BMSc, PGDCH, MMSc, PhD) is a Principle Research Fellow and the current Head of the Vector Borne Diseases Unit at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research. He is a general paediatrician, a Young Affiliate of the Third World Academy of Science and an adjunct senior research fellow at the School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia. He has led multiple studies of malaria, bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, malnutrition, viral encephalopathy, lymphatic filariasis and other childhood and maternal illnesses since 2003. Dr Laman has continuously worked with international donors over the past 12 years and his in-depth understanding of the Melanesian culture, perspectives, relationships and politics has been instrumental to the success of these studies.