the gem - August 2025 Editorial

This past month has been exceptional! We are proud to announce the launch of the African STARS Fellowship programme, a milestone for Africa. Our first call attracted over 3 000 applicants for just 40 fellowships, which was an extraordinary response that highlights Africa’s scientific talent.

A 12-member selection committee from CERI, KRISP, and Institut Pasteur de Dakar carefully reviewed candidates. The first 20 fellows, now in Stellenbosch, have impressed us with their passion and brilliance. This edition of the gem celebrates the program’s launch in South Africa; the next will highlight the fellows starting in Dakar, Senegal.

We also feature our work with communities most affected by climate change, which is a driver of epidemics, displacement, and mental health challenges. Dr Astrid Treffry-Goatley and Dr Gill Black share how digital storytelling workshops in Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique are equipping participants to create and share their own stories. These narratives are helping guide policymakers and public health officials to respond to climate-related health issues.

Capacity building remains central to our mission. KRISP recently hosted the international Ensembl Training Workshop at UKZN, sponsored by DIPLOMICS, to strengthen skills in bioinformatics and genomics. We also joined the UKZN College of Health Sciences Annual Research Symposium, where KRISP postgraduate students presented their innovative work.

Our collaborations extend beyond South Africa. Ugandan PhD researcher Isaac Omara trained at ILRI in Nairobi, gaining expertise in structural biology tools such as AlphaFold, PyMol, and ChimeraX. Together, we are advancing vaccine research for animals and humans to help prevent future pandemics.

Finally, a senior CERI delegation traveled to the U.K., meeting funders, philanthropists, and scientific leaders to expand support for our research, innovation, and training programs.

With spring arriving in South Africa, this month reminds us of the power of growth and renewal, not just in nature, but in science and opportunity. The energy of our fellows, the courage of communities, and the dedication of our teams inspire us every day. We are proud to nurture talent, build capacity, and advance science that will shape a healthier, stronger Africa for generations to come.

text: Tulio de Oliveira