Dr. Byron Martina, Professor of Virology and Immunology

Biography

Dr. Byron Martina is the CEO of Artemis Bioservices in the Netherlands and Head of the Curaçao Biomedical & Health Research Institute (CBHRI). From 2008 to 2021, he led the “Exotic Viruses” group at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, where he also served as Head of the WHO Reference Centre for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fevers. Throughout his career, Dr. Martina has focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying viral diseases and translating this knowledge into effective intervention strategies. He was one of the leading virologists in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A passionate advocate for education, Dr. Martina played a key role in developing the Master’s program in Infection and Immunity at Erasmus University. He is the author of over 120 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, with scholarly interests in microbiology, immunology, curriculum design, program evaluation, and the One Health approach. His professional ethos is reflected in his belief: “I know it is a long way to go for diseases like AIDS, but the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in man’s determination.