Nimâ Valèrie Machouf (born March 24, 1965) is a Canadian–Iranian epidemiologist and politician. She holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Montreal and specializes in international health and infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS.
Early life and education Born in France, Nimâ Machouf lived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as a child until her parents completed their studies there. In 1973, the family moved to live in Iran. There, Machouf became an activist against government practices and fought in left-wing student movements. In 1982, following Iranian political repression, she returned to Montreal at age 18.
Career Machouf completed her bachelor's, master's and doctorate at the University of Montreal before pursuing post-doctorate studies in clinical epidemiology at McGill University. She teaches at the University of Montreal School of Public Health.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Machouf encouraged young people to get the vaccine, saying "while younger adults are less likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19, it’s important that they get vaccinated in order to prevent the transmission of the virus, especially because they tend to have a lot of contacts."
Activism As a university student in Quebec, Machouf became involved in feminist and political movements and participated in the Marche du Pain et des Roses (Walk of Bread and Roses).
She has also maintained involvement in Montreal's Iranian community. Machouf sat for 8 years on the board of directors of Médecins du Monde.
Machouf has also participated in missions in many countries in Africa and Central America. Among other things, she joined the international observation mission for the Mexican elections held in the summer of 2018.
Politics Through her activism in student associations promoting international solidarity, she contributed to the creation of the Union of Progressive Forces in 2002.
Machouf is a member of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) and has run in the Quebec riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie in the 2019, 2021, and 2025 federal elections. She makes climate change a central theme in her campaigns. She has also run in the 2005 and 2009 Montreal municipal elections under Projet Montréal. In 2026, Machouf endorsed Avi Lewis in that year's federal NDP leadership race. She is the party's candidate in the pending Laurier—Sainte-Marie federal by-election.
Personal life Machouf married Canadian politician and infectious disease physician Amir Khadir in 1988. They have three daughters.
Selected works Machouf, Nima, Réjean Thomas, Vinh-Kim Nguyen, B. Trottier, M. R. Boulassel, M. A. Wainberg, and J. P. Routy. "Effects of drug resistance on viral load in patients failing antiretroviral therapy." Journal of medical virology 78, no. 5 (2006): 608-613. Aboubacrine, S. Ag, Pascal Niamba, Catherine Boileau, Maria-Victoria Zunzunegui, Nima Machouf, Vinh-Kim Nguyen, and Sélim Rashed. "Inadequate adherence to antiretroviral treatment and prevention in hospital and community sites in Burkina Faso and Mali: a study by the ATARAO group." International journal of STD & AIDS 18, no. 11 (2007): 741-747. Talbot, Annie, Nima Machouf, Réjean Thomas, Suzanne Marcotte, Rachel Therrien, Bernard Lessard, Serge Dufresne, and Richard Lalonde. "Switch from enfuvirtide to raltegravir in patients with undetectable viral load: efficacy and safety at 24 weeks in a Montreal cohort." Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 51, no. 3 (2009): 362-364.
Electoral record
References