Colleagues and friends of Dr Johannes Sommerfeld are sad to announce his passing in February 2025 in Heidelberg, Germany. As a scientist at TDR between 2000 and 2017, Johannes was responsible for significant advances TDR made in social science research, a central element in the fight against diseases of poverty. He managed a Steering Committee on Social, Economic and Behavioural Research and led several research programmes that generated evidence on the importance of the social determinants of health. He headed the “eco-bio-social” research programme, demonstrating with his in-country research teams the interaction between ecological, biological and social factors that shape disease transmission and control efforts. He also played a crucial role in bringing malaria primary care to peoples’ homes to bridge the accessibility gap of health services in rural environments. Implementation research to improve living conditions of the poor was his priority. Johannes was a dedicated social scientist who also cared deeply about making gender equality a reality in research and scientific careers.
Beyond his academic achievements, Johannes was a wonderful colleague who built successful collaborations across TDR and WHO. He was a compassionate person and always made time to support others in spite of his busy schedule. He was a kind and loyal friend and had a passion for cycling, promoting biking as an accelerator for sustainable development.
May Johannes rest in peace; he deserves it as a colleague and empathetic friend. Lieber Johannes, we miss you deeply.