The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), the world’s leading organization for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, has elected Prof. Dr. Nader Rifai from the United States as its new President. The distinguished Harvard professor and Director of Clinical Chemistry at Boston Children’s Hospital assumes office starting January 2026.
Rifai, 62, has been a pivotal figure within the IFCC for decades. As Chair of the Education and Management Division (EMD), he has significantly advanced continuing education programs and management standards.
Who is Nader Rifai?
- Academic Career: Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, holder of the Louis Joseph Gay-Lussac Chair in Laboratory Medicine.
- Clinical Role: Director of Clinical Chemistry at Boston Children’s Hospital, one of the world’s leading pediatric institutions.
- IFCC Engagement: Chair of the Visiting Lectureship Program since 2015; member of the EMD since 2018. He launched online courses now used in over 50 countries.
- Research: Over 300 publications, including the standard textbook Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (7th edition, 2023).
Challenges and Goals
Under Rifai’s leadership, the IFCC plans to:
- Digitalization: Expand the “IFCC Academy” with AI-based simulation courses.
- Harmonization: Establish global reference laboratories for rare diseases.
- Sustainability: Reduce the carbon footprint of laboratories by 30% by 2030.
- Talent Development: Provide scholarships for 500 young laboratory professionals from emerging economies.
Outlook
With Nader Rifai at the helm, the IFCC enters an era of innovation. Amid pandemics, aging populations, and climate change, laboratory medicine remains system-critical. Rifai’s motto: “From Bench to Bedside—Faster, Smarter, Fairer.”
Sources: IFCC Executive Board minutes, WorldLab Dubai 2025; Prof. Rifai biography (Harvard Medical School); IFCC eNews 11/2025.
