the gem
African STARS
Launch of the African STARS Fellowship Program
Climate & Epidemics
CLIMADE launch a global report at COP29
Opinion in NY Times
The World Is Watching the U.S. Deal With Bird Flu, and It’s Scary
10 06 summary
Launch of the African STARS
The Mastercard Foundation, CERI and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) have announced the launch of the African STARS Fellowship Programme
Advanced Translational Training
The Advanced and Translational Training (ATT) Fellowships will enable hands-on and immersive training for 4-6 months
MBA in Health Care Leadership
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) developed in collaboration with the Stellenbosch Business School will be a 24-month programme of the African STARS Fellowship
the gem: Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) & South African Centre for Epidemiology and Modelling Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University & KwaZulu-Natal Research, Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), UKZN, Durban; director: Tulio de Oliveira; editors: Cheryl Baxter, Maambele Khosa ; art director: Victor Hugo Szortyka; graphic designers: Maam bele Khosa, Ronison Guimaraes, Tulio de Oliveira; websites: https://ceri.org.za/ https://www.krisp.org.za/, https://www.sacema.org/
Bird Flu, and It’s Scary
The World Is Watching the U.S. Deal With Bird Flu, and It’s Scary Opinion piece by Prof Tulio de Oliveira at the New York Times on a potential new pandemic
Climate Change & Epidemics Report
Baku, Azerbaijan — On the final day of COP29, an international team of over 100 scientists of CLIMADE released the 2024 edition of the report at the WHO Pavilion
Team Building in the wild
The KRISP team recently embarked on their much-anticipated annual retreat, fondly known as the Genome Jamboree, at the picturesque Ghost Mountain in Mkuze
editorial
The year of 2025 has started with a BANG! A good one, at least for us, in South Africa and Senegal, as we partner with the Mastercard Foundation and the Institute Pasteur de Dakar to launch the African STARS Fellowship. The African STARS fellowship will now take training in Africa to the next level by creating structured programmes and providing up to 2 years training and fostering partnership with big industry and biotechnology innovation hubs with the ultimate objective to create jobs that will retain and attract talented scientists to the African continent.
Why a high-level fellowship in Africa? Africa is home to the fastest-growing young population globally, projected to comprise nearly half of the world’s youth by 2100. However, the continent is grappling with the challenge of training sufficient scientists while also facing a disproportionate burden of health crises due to frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases. In 2023 alone, over 150 disease outbreaks were reported across Africa, escalating the need for knowledgeable leaders who can engage effectively in public health efforts and can create companies and research institutes that advance discovery and manufacturing of medical countermeasures in Africa.
Another major development from our team was the release at COP29 of the Climate Change & Epidemics Report, a global report that highlights the contributions of the CLIMADE consortium. In a difficult year, with multiple changes in governments in the world, we need to keep focus to make a positive difference in a more divisive and aggressive world.
text: Tulio de Oliveira
African STARS
Launch of the African STARS Fellowship
text: Tulio de Oliveira & Maambele Khosa video: Stellenbosch Media
Africa is home to the fastest-growing young population globally. African STARS Fellowship Programme to capacitate African scientists on epidemic and pandemic response has been launched with an award of US$ 9 million (ZAR 170 million) from the Mastercard Foundation. The first phase of the programme will fund 131 fellows over three years.
In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the landscape of healthcare innovation in Africa, the Mastercard Foundation, the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) have announced the launch of the African STARS Fellowship Programme.
This programme has been designed with the core aim of nurturing the continent’s new healthcare research leaders and creating a skilled workforce in genomics, diagnostics, vaccine design and production in Africa. Africa is home to the fastest-growing young population
globally, projected to comprise nearly half of the world’s youth by 2100. However, the continent is grappling with the challenge of training sufficient scientists while also facing a disproportionate burden of health crises due to frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, Marburg, Mpox and Turberculosis. In 2023 alone, over 150 disease outbreaks were reported across Africa, escalating the need for knowledgeable leaders who can engage effectively in public health efforts and can create companies and research institutes that advance discovery and manufacturing of medical countermeasures in Africa.
The African STARS Fellowship Programme was launched in an effort to counter these pressing challenges. In addition, this initiative will leverage previous investments in fellowship programmes at CERI in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank, the European Commission and the GIZ. Together, these programmes have already trained 600 fellows towards strengthening African capacity in critical areas of genomics and bioinformatics.
The African STARS fellowship will now take training in Africa to the next level by creating structured programmes and providing up to 2 years training and fostering partnership with big industry and biotechnology innovation hubs with the ultimate objective to create jobs that will retain and attract talented scientists to the African continent.
‘The African STARS Fellowship Programme is an embodiment of our commitment to empower the next generation of science leaders,’ said Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI. ‘By focusing on the skills development of young African scientific leaders, we can ensure that they are equipped to lead in addressing emerging health crises. In the last ten years, we have experienced extensive investment in science and technology in Africa, allowing access to some of the best laboratories in the world, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic with African scientists leading the world in the discovery of Omicron. Now, we need to invest in the research and development eco-system to create our
own diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics’.
The first phase of the programme will fund 131 fellows over three years, with an emphasis on inclusivity and equitable representation across all African regions. The initiative aims to ensure that 60% of trainees are young women, addressing the gender disparities prevalent in the science and technology fields.
‘As we embark on this ambitious journey, we are focused on cultivating a new generation of talented scientists, policymakers, and healthcare leaders who can propel Africa towards self-sufficiency in addressing health challenges. The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) is a leading research institution active in the fields of pandemic preparedness, epidemic investigation and training. Through our Center for Africa’s Resilience to Epidemics (CARE) program and its laboratories, we train and support African countries in epidemic preparedness and early detection, to build local capacity and ensure rapid response. We are thrilled and excited to partner with Mastercard Foundation and the University of Stel-
Stellenbosch to deliver this initiative,’added Prof Amadou Sall, CEO of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.(CCA)
The programme will include two structured masters programmes of 2 years, including a Master in Business Administration (MBA) on Health Care Leadership and a structured Masters on Pathogen Genomics and Bioinformatics. The programme will also have two short term fellowships, (i) the advanced and translational training (ATT) programme, which is 4-6 months and will focus on intense training on advanced genomics for public health analysis, genomic diagnostic design, and/or aspects around vaccine manufacturing and (ii) the Young Professional Program (YPP), which includes 12 months of training focused on biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship and includes placement at commercial companies, industry or innovation hubs.
In order to provide comprehensive support to the Fellows in the African STARS Programme, CERI will collaborate with the Centre for Collaboration in Africa (CCA) at SU International. Fellows will be fully integrated into various activities and programmes at Stellenbosch University through the Internationalisation services offered at SU International, to ensure that the Fellows make the most of their stay at Stellenbosch University.
The primary objective of the African STARS Programme is not only to develop a high-calibre workforce but also to create an ecosystem that promotes innovation and drives economic growth in the biotechnology sector. By leveraging South-South collaboration and
working with private industry, the programme seeks to reduce reliance on the Global North for essential skills and capabilities.
CERI and IPD are respected institutions with a rich history in research and training.
CERI has significantly contributed to the COVID-19 response, identifying two of the five SARS-CoV-2 variants of global concern, including the Omicron variant in addition to helpingto describe the current Mpox strains and leading a programme on climate change and epidemics and building the large genomics facility in Africa.
IPD has over a century of experience in public health research and more than 80 years in vaccine manufacturing. Over the last decade, IPD has supported 40 of the 55 countries in Africa on diagnostic, outbreak investigations, response to epidemics and risk assessments for high consequences pathogens such as Ebola, Marburg, Zika, Covid-19, Rift Valley fever and Mpox.
Together, CERI and IPD will provide comprehensive training across various fellowship opportunities, equipping participants with advanced skills that are otherwise scarce on the continent.
‘The aim of this innovative training platform initially between CERI and IPD is to increase the employability potential of the African youth in jobs where these advanced skills would traditionally only be met by foreign trained professionals. It would also equip the individual to generate
“” African STARS is a game changer in capacity building & innovation in Africa.
Prof Tulio de Oliveira & Prof Amadou Sall
additional employment opportunities in the field with mastery of resource mobilization skills and creating a multiplication effect in employment opportunities for the youth of the continent.’concluded Dr Solomon Zewdu, Senior Executive Resident, Mastercard Foundation.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies from Stellenbosch University, Prof Sibusiso Moyo, added that we are really excited to be part of this tripartite collaboration between IPD, Mastercard Foundation and CERI. The African STARS will contribute to a pipeline of the next generation of African scientific leaders. We are confident that this will attract future partners to help us, together, build the African and the sustainable futures we want for Africa and our World.
For more information about the African STARS Fellowship Programme and application details, please visit: https://starsfellows.africa
Video of the launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-8Namy60iE
Advanced Translational Training (ATT) Fellowship
Hands-on and immersive training for 4-6 months.
African STARS
The Advanced and Translational Training (ATT) Fellowships will enable hands-on and immersive training for 4-6 months. Fellows will participate in one of three tracks: a) Advanced genomics for public health analysis, b) genomic diagnostic design, or, c) aspects around vaccine manufacturing. The purpose of this fellowship is to attract, train and expose post-graduate students and young professionals to cutting edge knowledge/know-how related to life science, innovation, public health or research. In addition to technical aspects, the ATT Fellowships will also include core leadership skills ranging from grants and financial management to team management and leadership. In total, we expect to host 60 ATT fellows. These fellows will also be eligible to apply for the competitive Young Professional Programme (YPP) (described on page 12).
Possible topic included in the ATT Fellowship:
Track I – Advanced genomics for public health: Track II – Molecular and Genomics diagnostic design:
To ensure sustainability and success of the capacity building initiatives, the African STARS Fellowship
Programme will include several mentoring and support mechanisms for the ATT, YPP, MBA and Exchange Fellows. We view a strong mentorship plan to be the core of a successful training program.
Accordingly, each Fellow will have at least two comentors, one based in their host institution and the other based at the implementing partner institutions. The Training Committee will facilitate the matching of each Fellow with appropriate mentors. The host institution mentor will guide the Fellow in the initial selection of a project based on local needs. Based on the project and training site, the Fellow will then be paired with a co-mentor and a written research proposal will be developed in conjunction with the Fellow and both mentors.
OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS IN Q1 2025
More information: https://www.starsfellows.africa/ advanced-translational-training/
Young Professional Program African STARS
12 months entrepreneurship training. Placement at CERI, IPD and/or commercial companies and biotech innovation hubs
These fellowships will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship training and placement at commercial companies, industry or innovation hubs. The YPP fellowships will be highly competitive and will target future leaders in Africa, living in Africa, or from the diaspora to be attracted and offered a 12-month Programme.
The YPP will support placements within leading biotechnology innovation hubs in South Africa and Senegal or commercial entities to develop new skills. This holistic approach will encompass training in critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, grantsmanship, effective communication, and project management. In total, we expect to host 40 YPP fellows.
The YPP training and placement fellowship will consist of:
• A 6 week intensive core training (leadership, research management, public health and research).
• A 6 week innovation and
entrepreneurship training at LaunchLab/BIO-CERI and / or IPD.
One international rotation in a placement institution for up to 4 months. Rotations will focus on visits and exchanges at the commercial, industrial and/or advanced R&D institutions.
The remainder of the fellowship, which will be hosted at CERI or IPD, will focus on the outcome (product, patent, research paper, research grant or job offer) of the programme, which will be presented to a Programme committee (or mentors) and should directly or indirectly lead to a job opportunity and/or a catalyst grant.
OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS IN Q1 2025
More information: https://www.starsfellows.africa/ young-professional-programme/
African STARS
Masters of Business Administration
The MBA is developed in collaboration with the Stellenbosch Business School. The MBA will be a 24-month programme and has modules focused on business, finance and management geared for health care leadership.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Care Leadership (MBA HCL) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
The MBA project is done in collaboration with CERI and IPD on health care leadership and innovation that can help to advance high-level employment in Africa.
The MBA is developed in collaboration with the Stellenbosch Business School, which is among the top three business schools in Africa. The MBA will be a 24-month programme and has modules focused on business, finance and management geared for health care leadership. The knowledge and skills acquired through this MBA training can be applied in the public and private health care industry.
The MBA will entail course work, including functional areas of management, the policy landscape and health systems and the challenges of finance and funding in health care, taking cognizance of the limited-resource context in Africa and a research assignment. In total, we expect to host 14 MBA fellows.
The MBA training and placement fellowship will consist of:
• Five blocks of MBA teaching of 6 weeks of training, including business, finance and leadership modules.
• A 12-weeks research project on health and biotechnology innovation.
• A thesis production and open defense presentation on the research project to the African STARS Programme leadership.
OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS IN Q3 2025
More information: https://www.starsfellows.africa/ Master-Business-Administration/
African STARS
Master’s degree in Bioinformatics of Infec Diseases
The 2-year MSc program offers a vigorous coursework component followed by a research project mentored by world-class infectious disease researchers in Stellenbosch University.
The MSc program includes a 9-month lecture block, including a compulsory Statistics and Bioinformatics module, followed by selected modules for Infectious Disease or Pathogen Genomics. The modules allow for flexibility and introduction of new focused topics should the need arise. Following the lecture block, trainees are embedded within the SU host laboratory for 2 months, followed by a visit to the laboratory of a USbased host, and they will carry out a bioinformatics research project.
The program incorporates career development activities for trainees. The program aims to produce MSc graduates equipped with
bioinformatics and research skills to position them as future innovators and leaders in infectious disease research. Customized workshops are also offered to strengthen research, supervisory and mentoring capacity. This will help empower Low to Middle Income (LMIC) faculty and create an enabling environment, to encourage trainees to return to their home institutions and develop and retain regional capacity.
To ensure sustainability and success of the capacity building initiatives, the African STARS Fellowship Programme will include several mentoring and support mechanisms. We view a strong mentorship plan to be the core of a successful training program. Accordingly, each Fellow will have at least two co-mentors, one
based in their host institution and the other based at the implementing partner institutions. Based on the project and training site, the Fellow will then be paired with a co-mentor and a written research proposal will be developed in conjunction with the Fellow and both mentors. Although each Fellow will have a minimum of two mentors, Fellows will be encouraged to engage other, less formal mentors based on the expertise needed for their training.
OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS IN Q3 2025
More information: https:// www.starsfellows.africa/MasterBioinformatics-Infectious-Disease/
Previous Fellows
Eniafe Gabriel Opeyemi is a graduate researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, where he works on malaria genomic surveillance and bioinformatics. His research focuses on drug resistance markers and therapeutic efficacy in malaria treatment.
The advanced Data Analysis training was hosted in collaboration with Oxford University, KU Leuven and FioCruz.
Chaima Hakimi is a Ph.D. student in Bioinformatics at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, where she focuses on computational methods to predict hostpathogen protein-protein interactions. Chaima is involved in international research projects, aiming to apply machine learning in bioinformatics to advance her field.
The advanced Data Analysis training was hosted in collaboration with Oxford University, KU Leuven and FioCruz.
Betselot Zerihun Ayano is a Bioinformatics Analyst at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). He works on genomic analysis, particularly on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium species, contributing to public health genomics in Ethiopia.
The advanced Data Analysis training was hosted in collaboration with Oxford University, KU Leuven and FioCruz.
Eniafe Gabriel Opeyemi
Betselot Zerihun Ayano
Chaima Hakimi
Felix Maingi is a Molecular Scientist and Bioinformatician at Connect Afya Medlynks in Nairobi, Kenya. With a Master’s degree, he works in the lab’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) division, supporting research in oncology for Kenya and East Africa. Felix is keen to attend training to enhance his DNA library preparation skills, which will improve his ability to generate high-quality genomic data for cancer research. He plans to share the skills learned during the training with his colleagues to strengthen the lab’s capabilities in oncology diagnostics and research.
This training was hosted in collaboration with Roche Diagnostics.
Beatrice Njoga
Beatrice Njoga is a Laboratory Technologist at Aga Khan University Hospital in Kenya. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and is preparing to expand her expertise as the hospital plans to implement gene sequencing testing. Beatrice aims to enhance her knowledge of genetics through training, which will support the hospital’s upcoming genetic testing initiatives and contribute to the success of their new molecular diagnostics program.
This training was hosted in collaboration with Roche Diagnostics.
Joyce Ngoi is the Director of Technical Services at Yemaachi Biotech, based in Ghana. She holds a Master’s degree and specializes in clinical research. Joyce expressed her intent to attend the training to expand her knowledge of efficient library preparation protocols, particularly in oncology. Her lab, which focuses on advancing cancer genomics research in Africa, is working on critical projects aimed at identifying key biomarkers for diagnostic tool development and drug discovery. By attending the training, Joyce aimed to enhance her team’s capabilities in generating accurate data using appropriate library preparation kits and workflows. She also saw this opportunity as a chance to network and explore potential collaborations with other teams and institutions.
Felix Maingi
Joyce Ngoi
LIKE ‘OLD TWITTER’
Summary of a newspiece in Science on an alternative for Twitter for scientific researchers.
text:
BY KAI KUPFERSCHMIDT
photo: Science Magazine
Social Media
Adam Kucharski asked his Twitter followers: What platform do you think you will be spending the most time on a year from now? Like many scientists on Twitter, Kucharski, a mathematical modeler of infectious diseases, was increasingly frustrated with changes to the platform since Elon Musk bought it in October 2022. But of the more than 1300 people who responded to his poll, the vast majority expected to keep posting on Twitter, which was renamed X just 2 weeks later. About one-quarter were banking on Threads, Meta’s Twitter rival. Only about 7% chose Bluesky.
Now, that has changed, in a big way. Although academics mostly stuck with X in the year after the poll, Bluesky has rapidly emerged as the new online gathering place for researchers, Kucharski among them. They are drawn by its Twitterlike feel, welcoming features, and, increasingly, the critical mass of scientists in many fields who have already made the move. “The majority has spoken, and researchers are moving en masse” to Bluesky, says De-Shaine Murray, a neuroscientist at Yale University who has also migrated to Bluesky.
Bluesky started as a research project at Twitter, but after Musk’s takeover it severed all ties with the company and launched as a social app in February 2023. At first, it could only be joined by invitation and growth was slow. When it opened to the public this February, Bluesky had
3 million users. But by 5 November, the day of the U.S. elections, the platform had nearly 14 million users. Two weeks later it has passed 20 million. (X has more than 500 million.)
For scientists the network is starting to look like home. Academic institutions, scientific journals and conferences, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization have established a presence there in recent days. The platform has become so popular that on Monday, Altmetric, a company that tracks where published research is mentioned online, urged publishers to implement a “share to Bluesky” button like those to share content to Facebook, X, or LinkedIn that many websites feature.
“Old Twitter” refers to the platform’s earlier role as a hub where scientists could talk to one another, distribute and discuss preprints and published papers, post job openings and conference invitations, and communicate their research to the public. “I could go on there for 15 minutes and I would know what the trending papers in infectious diseases and virology were just by looking at the timeline,” says Emory University virologist Boghuma Titanji.
Some early adopters of the platform also laid the groundwork for specific communities to thrive, Murray says. One user, Rudy Fraser, started blacksky, a collection of Black-centered feeds that uses volunteer and automated moderation to filter out racist posts, for instance, and neuropharmacologist Monica Javidnia helped build the
Not everyone supports the flight to bluer skies. “Some people feel like we’re ceding ground to disinformation and we’re abandoning the people that need to have voices countering misinformation,” Schwartz says. Tulio de Oliveira, an infectious disease researcher based in South Africa, is staying put. “I am staying on X, because I believe that it is important to still have scientific views and information on the platform.”
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a particle physicist and writer at the University of New Hampshire, understands that concern. “I do see why some people focused on public health and the environment might feel they have to stay and try,” she says. But with X’s changing algorithms, “It is pretty difficult to challenge disinformation and get in front of the eyes of people who are susceptible to it.”
Most researchers leaving X are keeping their accounts there for now, in part to keep their usernames from being taken up by others and used to spread more misinformation. Hayhoe says she occasionally logs into X, mostly to invite some remaining colleagues to move to Bluesky. The last time she checked, half her messages were from people saying they had abandoned ship, she says. “It’s a ghost town.”
Read full article: https://www.science.org/content/article/old-twitter-scientificcommunity-finds-new-home-bluesky
neuroscience community on Bluesky.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING THE U.S. DEAL WITH BIRD FLU, AND IT’S SCARY
By Prof Tulio de Oliveira
New York Times, 19 Nov 2024
As a virus scientist in South Africa, I’ve been watching with dread as H5N1 bird flu spreads among animals in the United States. The pathogen poses a serious pandemic threat and has been detected in over 500 dairy herds in 15 states — which is probably an undercount. And yet the U.S. response appears inadequate and slow, with too few genomic sequences of H5N1 cases in farm animals made publicly available for scientific review.
Failure to control H5N1 among American livestock could have global consequences, and this demands urgent attention. The United States has done little to reassure the world that it has the outbreak contained.
The recent infection of a pig at a farm in Oregon is especially concerning, as pigs are known to be mixing bowls for influenza viruses. Pigs can be infected by both avian and human influenza viruses, creating a risk for the viruses to exchange genetic material and potentially speed up adaptation for human transmission. The H1N1 pandemic in 2009 was created and spread initially by pigs.
The United States should learn from how the global south responds to infectious diseases. Those of us working in the region have a good track record of responding to epidemics and emerging pandemics and can help the United States identify new virus strains and
offer insights into how to control H5N1. This knowledge has not come easily or without suffering; it has developed from decades of dealing with deadly diseases. We’ve learned one simple lesson: You need to learn your enemy as quickly as possible in order to fight it.
We did this during Covid. In November 2021, my colleagues and I and others in Botswana discovered the Omicron variant. We quickly and publicly warned the world that it could rapidly spread. This kind of transparency is not always easy because it can come at a large economic cost. For example, after we shared our Omicron discovery, countries around the world imposed travel bans on South Africa ahead of the December holidays, spurring backlash. Our team received death threats, and we needed security for our labs. One estimate suggests South Africa lost $63 million in canceled bookings from December to March.
But it was the right thing to do. That’s why it’s so frustrating that genomic sequences of H5N1 animal cases in the United States are not quickly made available. Sharing genomes of virus samples immediately is crucial for understanding the threat and giving the world time to prepare, including developing antivirals and vaccines. Rwanda, for example, was recently bold enough to go public with the detection of the deadly Marburg virus. a pandemic.
Read the full article at the New York Times (NY Times): https://www. nytimes.com/2024/11/19/opinion/birdflu-disease-outbreak.html
CLIMADE
CLIMATE CHANGE & EPIDEMICS REPORT 2024
Annual Climate Change & Epidemics Report
Released at COP29 in the WHO Pavillion
Baku, Azerbaijan — On the final day of COP29, an international team of over 100 scientists and policymakers released the 2024 edition of the Climate Change and Epidemics report at the WHO Pavilion.
This comprehensive report highlights the growing intersection of climate change and infectious disease outbreaks, with 2024 marking a record year for new and amplified epidemics.
The report underscores the alarming acceleration of pathogen spread, driven by climate change. This year alone, the world witnessed the highest number of dengue virus cases ever recorded, with over 13 million diagnosed cases globally.
Additionally, 2024 saw an unprecedented spread of the West Nile virus, with 19 European countries reporting cases. In East Africa, alarming spikes in antimicrobial resistance related to Malaria have been observed, while a new pathogen, Oropouche, emerged.
The report identifies three primary factors through which climate change
is exacerbating the spread of infectious diseases:
1. Gradual Temperature Rise: The continuous increase in global temperatures is creating more hospitable environments for disease vectors, including mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks.
2. Extreme Climate Events: More frequent and severe extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts are further driving the spread of disease.
3. Climate Migration: Shifting patterns of temperature and rainfall are affecting food and water availability, which, in turn, forces population displacement, creating new vectors for disease transmission.
In response to these accelerating threats, the Climate Change and Epidemics 2024 report outlines actionable recommendations for governments, public health organizations, and the private sector.
Access Report Online: https://climade.health/ climade-cop29-report/
Climate Change & Epidemics 2024 Report
Prof Tulio de Oliveira and Prof Luiz Alcantara release annual report on the WHO COP29 Health Pavillion
SCIENTISTS ON VIDEO
Here, we present some of our Videos and TV appearances
Roche-CERI Training
Roche Diagnostics and the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) hosted a two-day training on advanced DNA Library Preparation at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI). The training, which brought together 10 participants from laboratories across Africa, focused on equipping scientists with cutting-edge skills in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Genetics and Oncology.
Access full video: https://youtu.be/6NRNGjlkWXs
African STARS Intro
In this video, Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University introduces the Mastercard Foundation, Stellenbosch University and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar unveil African STARS Fellowship Programme to empower the next generation of health leaders in Africa
Access full video: https://youtu.be/i0CkDkLi5bM
Dr. Constancia Mavodza
Dr. Constancia Mavodza, PhD, Program Lead for Health Initiatives at the Mastercard Foundation, during the launch of the #AfricanSTARSFellowship. She emphasizes on the fact that what makes this program truly unique is its ability to go beyond exceptional scientific training and layer on essential leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Access full video: https://youtu.be/Y7pCrKj8L5I
African STARS Launch
The African STARS Fellowship Program launch event highlights a transformative initiative aimed at empowering Africa’s next generation of scientists and leaders in health and innovation. Watch as leaders from Stellenbosch University, the Mastercard Foundation, and other key partners discuss the program’s impact, the importance of collaboration, and the opportunities it offers for advancing research in Africa. Featuring a keynote address, expert panel discussions, and the launch of the program’s website, this event marks a pivotal moment in shaping Africa’s future in health and science.
Access full video: https://youtu.be/H-8Namy60iE
IPSN Global Partners Forum in Bangkok Thailand.
Dr. Houriiyah Tegally and Dr. Monika Moir attended the International Pathogen Survellance Network (IPSN) meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Houriiyah was a panelist during the session entitled: “Role of pathogen genomics surveillance in emergency response”, and provided insights the genomic surveillance response, capacity, and considerations from South Africa, commenting on the success of the Network for Genomic Surveillance (NGS-SA) in the country, established during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
During the meeting, the IPSN announced the first recipients of the catalytic grant fund awards to understand diseases threats and build genomic surveillance capacity. Monika Moir is the co-recipient of one of these awards along with colleagues from Rwanda and the University of Wisconsin.
Roche partnership with CERI to Train African Scientists
Roche Diagnostics and the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) hosted a two-day training on advanced DNA Library Preparation at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI). The training, which brought together 10 participants from laboratories across Africa, focused on equipping scientists with cutting-edge skills in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Genetics and Oncology.
Speaking about the significance of the training, Dr. Yeshnee Naidoo, CERI’s NGS Training Lead, remarked: “This programme addressed a critical need for accessible and practical training in advanced genomic techniques. By empowering African researchers with these skills, we are fostering a future where genomic innovation can directly improve healthcare outcomes across the continent.”
Roche Diagnostics, a leader in sequencing solutions, played a pivotal role in the initiative. Dr. Leendert Vermeulen, Roche’s Field Application Specialist, emphasized the importance of capacity-building: “Africa faces unique challenges in healthcare and genomics, with many laboratories citing limited training as a major obstacle. This initiative equips scientists with the tools and confidence to apply NGS technologies in transformative ways.”
Participants from Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria shared how the training would enhance their research and laboratory capabilities. “This training is about more than just skill development; it’s about building a network of genomic leaders across Africa. Together, we’re unlocking the potential of genomics to tackle the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges.”
Youtube video: https://youtu.be/6NRNGjlkWXs?si=qiRIiLyRjVR0HQjH
Top 10 Young Researcher Award: Dr Jennifer Giandhari
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) hosted its prestigious 2024 Research Awards Dinner, an annual event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional achievements of its researchers. This much-anticipated occasion highlights UKZN’s unwavering commitment to fostering research excellence and its profound impact on local and global communities. A standout moment of the evening was the recognition of Dr. Jennifer Giandhari, who was honored with the UKZN Top 10 Young Researcher Award. This accolade celebrates her significant contributions to her field, reflecting her dedication, innovation, and the high standards of research upheld by the university.
Left: Dr Jennifer Giandhari receives her UKZN Top 10 Young Researcher Award from Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Busisiwe Ncama (Photo CreditAlbert Hirasena, UKZN)
‘We need to be ready for a new world’: scientists globally react to Trump election win
Scientists around the world expressed disappointment and alarm as Republican Donald Trump won the final votes needed to secure the US presidency in the early hours of 6 November. On account of Trump’s anti-science rhetoric and actions during his previous term in office, many are now bracing for four years of attacks on scientists, both in and outside the government.
“In my long life of 82 years ... there has hardly been a day when I felt
more sad,” says Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel laureate who left the United States last year and is now a member of the chemistry department at the University of Hong Kong. “I’ve witnessed something that I feel is extremely bad, not just for the United States, but for all of us in the world.”
Responses geared towards that sentiment have come swiftly in the wake of Trump’s win. Tulio de Oliveira, a prominent virologist in South Africa,
posted on X (the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter): “With the changes around the world, you may want to relocate to one of the best Universities in [South Africa] in one of the world’s most beautiful region!” He also posted a link to job advertisements for postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowships at the university.
Read full article: https://www.nature. com/articles/d41586-024-03635-4
Strengthening Global Health Collaboration: Visit from Lord Collins, FCDO Minister for Africa
We were honored to welcome Lord Collins, the FCDO Minister for Africa, the UN, Commonwealth & Human Rights, to CERI. During his visit, he toured our labs and engaged with experts in genomics and public health, learning how our work advances global health security.
He emphasized the significance of our partnership with the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU), highlighting it as a model of North-South collaboration that deepens our understanding of global disease dynamics.
KRISP Team Building
KRISP Annual Retreat: Genome Jamboree at Ghost Mountain Inn, KZN, SA.
text: Paul Harris
photos: Paul Harris
The KRISP team recently embarked on their much-anticipated annual retreat, fondly known as the Genome Jamboree, at the picturesque Ghost Mountain Inn in Mkuze.
This getaway provided a refreshing opportunity for team members to step away from their daily routines, recalibrate, and reflect on the incredible achievements of 2024, while setting new goals and strategies for 2025.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of northern KZN, the retreat offered a perfect mix of relaxation, reflection, and team-building activities. Highlights included a morning
boat cruise on Lake Jozini, where the team enjoyed stunning views and wildlife sightings, and an exciting game drive in the Mkuze Game Reserve, immersing them in the rich biodiversity of the region.
Beyond the sight-seeing, the retreat fostered camaraderie and strengthened bonds among colleagues, creating a renewed sense of purpose and teamwork. Dr Jennifer Giandhari, Head of Laboratory at KRISP, felt that the idyllic setting and shared experiences provided a rejuvenating opportunity for collaboration and forward planning.
“The retreat at Ghost Mountain gave us the perfect opportunity to strengthen our bonds, unwind with nature and build relationships that
will drive us forward. When we come together we achieve great things,” Dr Jennifer Giandhari, said.
The team hopes to make this Genome Jamboree an annual event and cornerstone of KRISP’s culture, celebrating accomplishments, building connections, and motivating the team to tackle new challenges with energy and enthusiasm.
Photo: Game drive in the Mkuze nature reserve. (Photo Credit - Paul Harris, KRISP)
Photo on next page: KRISP team members enjoying the cruise around Lake Jozini while watching elephants swim in the lake. (Photo Credit - Paul Harris, KRISP)
SCIENTISTS ON BUSINESS
Here, we present some of ourparticipation in conferences and scientific visits
DSI-Africa
The CERI team and represntatives from the INFORM Africa Research Hub, including Joicy Xavier, Houriiyah Tegally and Cheryl Baxter, attended the 4th DSI-Africa Consortium Meeting, which was held in Mauritius (16-22 November). The meeting began with a Data Bootcamp that focused on cancer data, following by the core meeting over 4 days. Houriiyah Tegallypresented in the plenary session on nurturing the next generation of data science leaders for African health sector and shared her experiences in building a career in data science.
TIA
Members of the KRISP (KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform) and CERI (Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation) team visited the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in Pretoria to review and discuss ongoing collaborative projects. This important engagement highlighted the impactful work being done at KRISP within the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and its alignment with TIA’s vision of fostering innovation and technological development in South Africa. The discussions focused on advancing genomics research and its practical applications in enhancing the country’s bioeconomy so that South Africa can remain at the forefront of global genomic advancements.
GAPSYM17
Africa at the intersection of Climate, Migration & Health challenges Conference in Ghent, Belgium Houriiyah Tegally was a keynote speaker at this conference, which she shared with Prof Guy Midgley from the Climate School at Stellenbosch University. Their keynote speech was entitled “Human/ecological perspectives on climate change impacts, adaptation, and infectious diseases in Africa” during which Houriiyah presented the work done by her team and CLIMADE on climate-induced migrations on infectious diseases, satellite tracking of population movements, and phylogeography of infectious diseases in Africa. The highlight of this conference for her was the link between qualitative and quantitative research on climate migrations, and the focus on raising awareness through art. The conference included a pertinent public conversation and photo exhibit from South African photojournalist and social justice activist Gulshan Khan
HIV Cure
Members of the KRISP (KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform) team recently had the privilege of hosting undergraduate students from UKZN and the University of Limpopo as part of the HIV Cure Workshop. This exciting engagement offered students a unique opportunity to tour KRISP’s state-of-the-art genomic laboratory and gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge field of genomic sequencing.
During the tour, students were introduced to the pivotal role genomic sequencing plays in genomic surveillance, particularly in tracking and understanding the dynamics of HIV and other pathogens. They were able to learn about the technology, methodologies, and research applications that KRISP employs to address global health challenges
Young Scientists
RESEARCH DAYS
Cultivating Scientific Excellence: CERI-SACEMA’s Research Days Harnesses the Power of Interdisciplinary Science
text: Maambele Khosa
photo: Maambele Khosa
The first CERI-SACEMA Research Days, held from November 27-29, 2024, brought together students, researchers, and staff for three days of scientific exchange and learning. Opening keynotes by Prof. Francesco Petruccione and Prof. Thulani Makhalanyane set the collaborative tone, emphasizing how different scientific disciplines can work together to address complex health challenges. Day one centered on professional development through targeted workshops covering media engagement, social media personal branding, artificial intelligence research tools, and project management. These sessions equipped participants with practical skills essential for modern scientific careers.
The presentations both oral and posters showcased the breadth of research happening across CERI-SACEMA research groups. Viral surveillance emerged as one of the themes, with studies ranging from modified COVIDSeq techniques for influenza monitoring to SARS-CoV-2 disease burden analysis in South Africa. Related work examined dengue and West Nile virus genomics across Africa, highlighting the importance of continental disease surveillance.
HIV research featured prominently, with presentations exploring viral suppression patterns, the impact of dolutegravir treatment, and the changing face of HIV in rural African communities. A particularly interesting study examined how HIV affects gut microbiota in postpartum women, bridging clinical and microbiome research.
Environmental health research demonstrated the interconnection between human wellbeing and ecological systems. Studies explored microbiota in various housing
environments, from informal settlements to urban areas, while others examined microbial processes in marine and desert ecosystems. work emphasized how environmental factors influence public health outcomes.
The African Microbiome Project presented findings that could inform continental policy, while studies of antimicrobial resistance in urban wastewater highlighted emerging public health challenges. Research on climate-amplified diseases demonstrated how environmental changes affect disease patterns, emphasizing the need for adaptive health strategies.
Two-minute poster pitches challenged presenters to communicate complex ideas concisely, sparking discussions that continued between sessions. These interactions often revealed unexpected connections between different research areas, from molecular studies to population health interventions.
The meeting concluded with a debate on interdisciplinary science in health research, where participants shared experiences in bridging scientific fields. The conversation underscored how combining perspectives from various disciplines leads to more comprehensive public health solutions.
For many students, the Research Days offered their first opportunity to present to a broad scientific audience. The supportive environment encouraged feedback and discussion, while workshops provided practical skills for their research careers.
As the inaugural Research Days drew to a close, it was clear that CERI-SACEMA had created more than just a meeting - they had fostered an environment where scientific collaboration could flourish. The event demonstrated how bringing together diverse research approaches can drive innovation in health research, setting a strong foundation for future gatherings.
