MD at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Guyane, France
Dr. Arriel Makembi Bunkete is a highly qualified nephrologist with advanced expertise in internal medicine, clinical nephrology, dialysis, and renal transplantation, with extensive international clinical and academic experience across mainland France, French Guyana and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He currently serves as Nephrologist and Deputy Renal Transplant Coordinator at the University Hospital Centre of French Guyana (Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni), where he oversees nephrology and transplant care, dialysis programmes, and multidisciplinary team coordination. From 2021 to 2024 he worked at Franck Joly Hospital as Nephrologist and Renal Transplant Coordinator, managing chronic dialysis and transplant pathways. Since 2024 he has also been Deputy Coordinator for scientific research, teaching and innovation at the Guyana University Hospital, strengthening nephrology research capacity. As National Representative of the European Renal Association’s Young Nephrologist Platform since 2023, he contributes to European-level nephrology collaboration and training. In addition, he lectures at the Institut Supérieur des Sciences Infirmières PPPLUS, contributing to the training of healthcare professionals in French Guyana. His clinical background includes advanced internships in nephrology and renal transplantation at Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Hôpital Foch and the AURA network in Paris, along with several years of residency in internal medicine and nephrology at the University Clinics of Kinshasa. Dr. Bunkete has completed a broad range of specialised university diplomas, including nephropathology, hypertension and cardio-renal risks, rare kidney diseases, geriatric nephrology, organ transplantation, non-invasive vascular imaging and extra-renal purification techniques, in addition to his specialist diploma in internal medicine/nephrology. He actively participates in international nephrology congresses, workshops and scientific writing seminars, presenting oral communications and posters at major events including ERA, ISN, ESOT, SFNDT, Swiss Society of Nephrology, and the Antilles-Guyane Nephrology Days. His scientific engagement includes memberships with ISN, ISGD, ESOT, ERA, ERA-YNP, SFNDT, SFT, ASN, AFRAN, SOCONEPH and Fondation Aurore. He is the winner of multiple competitive research grants, including the AIRG-France 2024 Award on APOL-1 variants and several regional clinical research calls focusing on chronic kidney disease epidemiology in French Guyana. He contributes as a reviewer for leading journals such as CJASN, CKJ, NDT and Annales Africaines de Médecine, and is active in hospital governance roles including the Medical Establishment Committee and the Users’ Commission. His academic outputs include peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings, with 4 citations, an h-index of 1, and an i10-index of 0, reflecting his growing scientific impact in nephrology, transplantation and kidney disease epidemiology. Dr. Bunkete remains deeply committed to advancing kidney health, strengthening nephrology services in underserved regions, promoting clinical research, and disseminating medical knowledge to healthcare providers and the wider community.
Featured Publications
Mabiala, T., Muamba, K. A., Ha, V. H. T., Makeya, G., Ngwizani, R., Betukumesu, D., Sita, D. M., & Bunkete, A. M. (2025). Evaluation of the tolerability and efficacy of the main hemodialysis techniques in intensive care. Open Journal of Nephrology, 15(1), Article 1012. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojneph.2025.151012
Mutombo Muamba, J., Claudéon, J., Bunkete Makembi, A., Batcho, J., Dalvius, G., Makulo, J.-R., Kisoka, C. L., Mayamba Nlandu, Y., Sumaili, E. K., Nseka, N. M., et al. (2025). Kidney transplants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the University Hospital of Guadeloupe. Kidney and Dialysis, 5(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/kidneydial5040057
Mutombo, J. M., Claudeon, J., Bunkete Makembi, A., Batcho, J., Dalvius, G., Makulo, J.-R., Lusunsi, C. K., Mayamba, Y. N., Kiswaya, E. S., Mangani, N. N., et al. (2025). Kidney transplants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the University Hospital of Guadeloupe [Preprint]. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202510.1274.v1
Bunkete Makembi, A., Belgrine, M., Sidibe, M., Bellony, S., Davodun, T., Djiconkpode, I., & Gbaguidi, T. F. (2025). Peritoneal dialysis in an infant with severe acute kidney injury: Dialysis performed in-flight during a medical evacuation in French Guiana – A case report. Bulletin de la Dialyse à Domicile, 8(3), Article 87084. https://doi.org/10.25796/bdd.v8i3.87084
Bunkete Makembi, A., Belgrine, M., Sidibe, M., Diallo, M. M., Timem, G. N., Davodoun, T., Djiconkpode, I., & Fantcho, F. S. (2025). Glomérulonéphrites extra-membraneuses en Guyane Française: De la forme primitive aux atypies auto-immunes (à propos de 5 cas). PAMJ Clinical Medicine, 19(5), 48666. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj-cm.2025.19.5.48666
Betukumesu Kabasele, D., Bunkete Makembi, A., Mbayabo, G., Lumbala, P., Matondo, O., Aloni, M., Kazadi, O., Mikobi, T., Mabiala, J. B., Kajingulu, F., et al. (2025). Hydroxyurea and regression of sickle cell nephropathy. Kidney360, 6(8). https://doi.org/10.34067/KID.0000000805
Bunkete Makembi, A. (2025). Home hemodialysis in French Guiana: Transforming logistical challenges into healthcare opportunities. Bulletin de la Dialyse à Domicile, 8(2), Article 87069. https://doi.org/10.25796/bdd.v8i2.87069
Bunkete Makembi, A. (2025). Artificial intelligence as the pacemaker of the future of kidney transplantation in French Guiana. Open Health, 6(1), Article 0081. https://doi.org/10.1515/ohe-2025-0081