Dr. Issam Hmila obtained his PhD in biology from the University of Tunis El Manar in 2010. He conducted his research on nanobodies in camels at Pasteur Institute in Tunis in collaboration with Prof. Serge Muyldermans from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium). His work focused on the construction of combinatory library and phage display screening and engineering of nanobodies against the toxins of scorpions. In 2012, he secured the position of Scientist in the Pasteur Institute and worked in the laboratory of epidemiology and veterinary microbiology, where he developed new tools for the detection and diagnosis of viruses. A multiplex oligonucleotide suspension microarray (Luminex microsphere system) was developed for the rapid detection of avian respiratory viruses of major clinical importance. In addition, he developed a panel of specific ssDNA aptamers against H9N2 viruses and a sensitive method for detection of viruses, in collaboration with Prof. Srinand Srivatsan, Univresity of Minnesota, USA.