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Full First Name(s)
Arriel
Title (honorific)
Dr
Academic Qualifications
Postdoctoral Fellow (2025, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo); Specialist Diploma in Internal Medicine/Nephrology (2021, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo); Diploma of Specialized Medical Training – DFMS in Nephrology (2021, University of Paris, France); University Diploma in Extra-Renal Purification Techniques – DUTER (2021, University of Strasbourg, France); Interuniversity Diploma in Geriatric Nephrology (2021, University of Paris, France); Interuniversity Diploma in Organ Transplantation (2020, University of Paris, France); Interuniversity Diploma in Nephropathology (2022–ongoing, Sorbonne University, France); Interuniversity Diploma in Arterial Hypertension and Cardiorenal Risks (2022–ongoing, University of Strasbourg, France); Doctor of Medicine (2014, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Sciences (2009, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Research Discipline(s)
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Brief Biography (English)

Dr Arriel Makembi Bunkete is a Congolese nephrologist and researcher specialising in internal medicine, nephrology, dialysis, and transplantation. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree and a Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Sciences from University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He later pursued advanced specialisation in Internal Medicine and Nephrology (2015–2019, University Clinics of Kinshasa), earning a Specialist Diploma in Internal Medicine/Nephrology (2021).

To further strengthen his expertise, Dr. Makembi completed a Diploma of Specialised Medical Training (DFMS) in Nephrology at the University of Paris (2021), alongside several interuniversity diplomas in France. These include Geriatric Nephrology (2021, University of Paris), Organ Transplantation (2020, University of Paris), and Extra-Renal Purification Techniques – DUTER (2021, University of Strasbourg). Since 2022, he has been undertaking additional training in Nephropathology (Sorbonne University, France) and in Arterial Hypertension and Cardiorenal Risks (University of Strasbourg, France). In 2025, he was appointed Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Kinshasa.

Professionally, Dr. Makembi has served as a nephrologist in the Nephrology and Dialysis Department at the University Clinics of Kinshasa. He has also trained and worked in prestigious institutions in France, including CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière (Sorbonne University), FOCH Hospital (Suresnes), and the AURA Association in Paris. His clinical and academic work focuses on dialysis, kidney transplantation, chronic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, sickle cell nephropathy, and hypertension-related kidney damage.

Dr. Makembi is an active researcher with numerous peer-reviewed publications and international conference presentations. His research contributions span a wide range of nephrology topics, including hemodialysis outcomes, pediatric nephrology, onconephrology, and renal complications of COVID-19. He has published in leading journals such as Kidney International Reports, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Open Journal of Nephrology, and Nephrologie & Thérapeutique.

Beyond research, Dr. Makembi holds several memberships in international scientific societies, including the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the European Renal Association (ERA), and the Francophone Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation (SFNDT). He currently serves as the National Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Young Nephrologists Platform (YNP) of the ERA, where he actively promotes capacity building, mentorship, and international collaboration among early-career nephrologists. Through his work, Dr. Makembi is committed to advancing kidney health in Africa and globally, bridging clinical practice, academic training, and research to improve patient outcomes.

Brief Biography (Alternative language)

Le Dr Arriel Makembi Bunkete est un néphrologue et chercheur congolais, spécialisé en médecine interne, néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation. Il est titulaire d’un diplôme de Docteur en médecine (2014, Université de Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo) et d’un Diplôme de Graduat en sciences biomédicales (2009, Université de Kinshasa). Il a ensuite poursuivi une spécialisation approfondie en Médecine interne et Néphrologie (2015–2019, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa), obtenant un Diplôme de Spécialiste en Médecine interne/Néphrologie (2021).

Afin de renforcer son expertise, le Dr Makembi a suivi une formation spécialisée (DFMS) en Néphrologie à l’Université de Paris (2021), ainsi que plusieurs diplômes interuniversitaires en France : Néphrologie gériatrique (2021, Université de Paris), Transplantation d’organes (2020, Université de Paris), et Techniques d’épuration extrarénale – DUTER (2021, Université de Strasbourg). Depuis 2022, il poursuit des formations complémentaires en Néphropathologie (Sorbonne Université, France) et en Hypertension artérielle et Risques cardiorénaux (Université de Strasbourg, France). En 2025, il a été nommé Postdoctorant à l’Université de Kinshasa.

Sur le plan professionnel, le Dr Makembi exerce comme néphrologue au sein du service de Néphrologie et Dialyse des Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa. Il a également été formé et a exercé dans des institutions prestigieuses en France, notamment au CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière (Sorbonne Université), à l’Hôpital FOCH (Suresnes) et à l’Association AURA à Paris. Ses travaux cliniques et académiques portent sur la dialyse, la transplantation rénale, l’insuffisance rénale chronique, le lupus néphritique, la néphropathie drépanocytaire et les atteintes rénales liées à l’hypertension.

Chercheur actif, le Dr Makembi est auteur de nombreuses publications scientifiques et communications internationales. Ses recherches couvrent divers domaines de la néphrologie, notamment les résultats de l’hémodialyse, la néphrologie pédiatrique, l’onconéphrologie et les complications rénales du COVID-19. Il a publié dans des revues de renom telles que Kidney International Reports, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Open Journal of Nephrology et Néphrologie & Thérapeutique.

En parallèle de ses activités de recherche, le Dr Makembi est membre de plusieurs sociétés savantes internationales, dont l’International Society of Nephrology (ISN), l’American Society of Nephrology (ASN), l’European Renal Association (ERA) et la Société Francophone de Néphrologie, Dialyse et Transplantation (SFNDT). Il est actuellement le Représentant national de la République Démocratique du Congo auprès de la Young Nephrologists Platform (YNP) de l’ERA, où il s’engage activement dans le développement des compétences, le mentorat et la coopération internationale entre jeunes néphrologues.

À travers son parcours, le Dr Makembi œuvre pour l’amélioration de la santé rénale en Afrique et dans le monde, en reliant pratique clinique, formation académique et recherche afin d’optimiser la prise en charge des patients.

ORCiD Profile
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9651-437X
Google Scholar Profile
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IwKGer8AAAAJ&hl=fr
ResearchGate Profile
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Makembi-Arriel
Job Title
Physician–Nephrologist, Researcher
Primary Organisation
University of Kinshasa
Website Address for Primary Organisation
https://www.unikin.ac.cd/faculte-de-medecine/
African Country
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
African Region
Central Africa
Non-African country/countries of residing and working (present & past)
French Guiana

Profile Photo