Project description
A new approach to pathogen surveillance in Ethiopia
From Zika and dengue to Ebola and COVID-19, the urgency for real-time pathogen genomic data has reached a crescendo. Africa, facing unique challenges in infrastructure, data integration, and collaboration, stands at a critical juncture in its public health efforts. With this in mind, the EU-funded EpiGen Ethiopia project seeks to fortify the nation’s response to infectious diseases. The project will seamlessly integrate clinical, epidemiological and pathogen genomic data, and foster collaborative networks for a resilient and informed public health landscape. This collaborative effort, uniting Ethiopian institutions and EU partners, signals a transformative leap in Ethiopia’s fight against infectious diseases. EpiGen’s model promises local resilience and a contribution to global health security.
Objective
The 21st century witnesses increased incidence of epidemics (Zika, dengue, Ebola, SARS), with as latest highlight the recent COVID-19. Following the outbreak of several infectious diseases during the last few decade, the need for generating real-time pathogen genomic data for public health action has become more important than ever. In the African context, infrastructure, human resource capability, data analysis, including bioinformatics, lack of linkage between clinical, epidemiological, and pathogen genomic data as well the interaction between clinicians, researchers and decision makers are some of the major challenges. The aim of the EpiGen project is to build a capacity for integrated pathogen genomic surveillance for informed public health decision process. The overarching specific objectives include strengthening collection and analysis of clinical and epidemiological data, enhancing the capacity and capability for pathogen genomic sequencing, including strengthening the laboratory infrastructure, human work force, pathogen genomic data analysis, and the integration of metadata with genomic data, developing and implementing innovative digital diagnostic platforms, creating semi-real time mobile phone applications for policy decisions, and promoting communities of practice and knowledge exchange through fostering African collaboration and networking in the domain of pathogen genomic surveillance for infectious diseases. EpiGen project’s multi-disciplinary consortium is drawn from several institutions from Ethiopia engaged in National Public Health Programs, and EU partners (The Netherlands, Spain and Germany). Overall, the model approach proposed by EpiGen will enhance Ethiopia’s national effort in mitigating the threat of infectious diseases. The implementation of a national genomic-informed surveillance for infectious diseases will play significant public health role towards contributing to disease prevention and control programmes in Ethiopia and beyond.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesebola
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.1 - Health Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
1105 BP Amsterdam
Netherlands