The EpiGen project aims to address the growing public health challenge of infectious diseases in Ethiopia, a country of over 110 million people. With a high burden of epidemic-prone diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is an urgent need for robust genomic surveillance. Recent outbreaks such as COVID-19 have shown the limitations of traditional surveillance and highlighted the potential of genomic epidemiology to transform public health responses. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, the adoption of genomic tools has been hindered by insufficient infrastructure, expertise, and integration between clinical, epidemiological, and genomic data. EpiGen tackles these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach, combining expertise from both European and African institutions to strengthen Ethiopia’s genomic surveillance capacity. Activities include improving data collection, upgrading laboratory infrastructure, training a skilled workforce, and integrating digital diagnostic tools for real-time decision-making. The project promotes collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and public health entities to create a scalable, sustainable model for genomic epidemiology that can be replicated across Africa. Through these efforts, EpiGen aims to enhance Ethiopia’s capacity to detect and respond to infectious diseases, reduce AMR spread, and inform policy decisions with timely, high-quality data. EpiGen also envisions fostering local production of diagnostics, supporting long-term self-sufficiency in healthcare technologies. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes, reduce economic burdens, and build resilience against emerging and re-emerging diseases in Ethiopia and beyond. Objectives of EpiGen: Strengthen the collection and analysis of clinical and epidemiological data, demonstrating the application of genomic epidemiology to inform public health decision-making. Enhance pathogen genomic sequencing capacity in Ethiopia, including strengthening laboratory infrastructure, the workforce, data analysis, and integrating metadata with genomic data. Develop and implement innovative digital diagnostic platforms and mobile applications for real-time public health decisions. Promote African collaboration and knowledge exchange in pathogen genomic surveillance, fostering surveillance and research opportunities.
