Emmanuel Kimaru, Author at The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative

SHARPER Project Features in Capacity Building Training for Early-Career Researchers at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Posted on June 11, 2026June 12, 2026 by Emmanuel Kimaru

The Strengthening Health Systems Capacity in Africa for Pandemic Equity and Responsiveness (SHARPER) Project featured in a capacity strengthening programme at the University of Ibadan (UI) for approximately 400 newly recruited lecturers. Organized by the Research Management Office (RMO) of the university, the programme was designed to support the professional development and integration of the Early-Career Researchers (ECR) into the university system. It is also a part of efforts to strengthen the institution’s human resource capacity and reinforce its commitment to fulfilling its vision to be a world class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs.

To foster effective facilitator-participant interaction, the workshop was delivered to participants in two batches. While the first batch of participants were trained from 4th to 6th May, the second was held between 1st and 3rd June 2026. During these programmes, several key aspects of academic life and institutional practice were covered. The sessions focused on the social responsibilities of academics, the opportunities and challenges associated with scholarship, promotion guidelines, work-life balance, mentorship and career advancement strategies.

At the training, Prof. Ademola Ajuwon, the Principal Investigator of the SHARPER Project, delivered an insightful lecture on grant writing and research strategies. He provided participants with practical tips on how to search and win grants, developing competitive proposals, and maintaining ethical and professional standards in research.

Speaking on the importance of research grants in academic career development, Prof. Ajuwon introduced participants to the SHARPER Project and the opportunities it offers for ECR. He explained that the project is a six-year socio-behavioural science research initiative focused on strengthening health systems capacity, pandemic preparedness and responsiveness, research benefit-sharing, and the promotion of African values in research ethics.

He highlighted that the SHARPER Project would provide three categories of research support annually across its six partner institutions, namely the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; University of Cape Town, South Africa; Tropical Institute of Community Health, Kenya; Afya na Haki, Uganda; Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi; and the Cameroon Bioethics Initiative, Cameroon. The University of Ibadan serves as the lead institution for the project.

According to Prof. Ajuwon, the project’s Research Innovation Grants will offer up to $40,000, while the Catalyst Awards will provide up to $15,000 in funding. In addition, the Exchange Fellowships valued at up to $10,000 will be available to support collaborative learning and research exposure across partner institutions. He encouraged the participants to monitor the project’s social media platforms, particularly Facebook and LinkedIn, for upcoming Calls for Applications (CFAs). He also emphasised the project’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and equity in research participation, noting that women and applicants under 35 would receive priority consideration during the selection process.

While specific thematic priorities will be detailed in future calls, Prof. Ajuwon explained that the project’s major research areas include pandemic preparedness and responsiveness, research benefit-sharing, and African-centred approaches to research ethics and governance.

The announcement was enthusiastically received by participants, many of whom described the initiative as a important opportunity to strengthen the capacity of ECR expand access to funding opportunities, and improve female representation in research and global health discourse.

SHARPER is supported by the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative. The Collaborative seeks to mentor, nurture, and equip an emerging generation of young African scientists and researchers to address current and future health challenges, contribute to strengthening the continent’s health ecosystem and pandemic preparedness and response capabilities, and to create pathways to dignified and fulfilling careers in pandemic sciences. The Collaborative is a multi-year partnership between the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), the Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI) at the University of Oxford, and the Mastercard Foundation.

As the training session drew to a close, participants engaged actively in discussions, asking questions, seeking clarification, and sharing reflections on the opportunities presented through the SHARPER Project. The interactive session provided Prof. Ademola Ajuwon with an opportunity to further engage the early-career academics on research development, grant competitiveness, and the broader vision of strengthening African-led research systems.

Going forward, the SHARPER Project remains committed to sustained stakeholder engagement through various communication and knowledge-sharing platforms. These efforts are aimed at ensuring wider visibility for the project, deepening awareness of its objectives, and advancing conversations around research benefit-sharing, pandemic preparedness and responsiveness, and ethical, African-centred approaches to research and global health governance.

Written by Adams Adeshola

Four EPSILON Consortia Launch at UCT to Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness in Africa

Posted on May 27, 2026June 25, 2026 by Emmanuel Kimaru

On Thursday, 21 May, the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, hosted the soft launch of four consortia funded by the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative through a partnership between the Science for Africa Foundation, the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, and Mastercard Foundation. Beyond supporting research, this collaboration also invests in strengthening the pandemic sciences ecosystem across the continent.

In total, seven Epidemic and Pandemic Sciences Innovation and Leadership Networks (EPSILONs) have been funded, each led by African scientists and designed to create a network of excellence in epidemic and pandemic sciences. The launch focused on the four consortia in which UCT is either the lead or a partner institution, spanning 11 African countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

Opening remarks were delivered by Professor Wendy Burgers, Deputy Director of IDM, who reflected on the current lack of outbreak preparedness and the unequal global research landscape. Referring to discussions at the World Health Assembly and ongoing outbreaks such as Ebola in the DRC, she highlighted the need for African-led pandemic science and stronger collaboration across the continent.

Christina Pather from the Research Support Enterprise described the launch as “a step towards a stronger, more equitable and more resilient African research ecosystem”, while celebrating UCT’s participation in four of the seven funded projects and the interdisciplinary collaboration this represents.

The first consortium presented was the Consortium for Leadership of Epidemiological-economic Analysis for epidemic Response in Africa (CLEAR-Africa), led by Professor Sheetal Silal. CLEAR-Africa aims to strengthen preparedness for future pandemics by developing models that consider not only disease transmission and health outcomes, but also the social and economic consequences of public health responses. The consortium seeks to address the current modelling skills gap by training African researchers to lead and adapt epidemiological-economic models locally, ensuring that future outbreak responses are informed by both health and economic realities.

Associate Professor Jinal Bhiman then presented Surveillance Platforms and ImmunoLOgy for zoonotic Viruses with pandemic potential in Africa (SPIL-OVA), a consortium working at the human-animal interface to better understand zoonotic threats. SPIL-OVA focuses on identifying viruses with spillover potential circulating in African bat populations, recognised reservoirs of several emerging infections. Through multiple research work packages, the consortium aims to build knowledge about animal viral diversity, strengthen surveillance systems and support diverse leadership and scientific expertise across the continent.

Strengthening Health systems capacity in Africa for Pandemic Equity and Responsiveness (SHARPER) was presented by Professor Leslie London, representing one of the consortium partners. SHARPER seeks to transform how research is conducted and used in Africa by analysing the current policy and research landscape and identifying opportunities for change. The consortium will develop new tools, courses and academic outputs while placing equity, African values and human rights at the centre of pandemic preparedness and response, so as to ensure health research benefits populations and not only participants.

The final consortium presented was Advancing Capacity for Early Phase Trials for Pandemics and Epidemics in Africa (ACCEPT-Africa), presented by Dr Daniel Kiiza and Professor Paolo Denti. ACCEPT-Africa aims to strengthen early-phase clinical trial infrastructure across the continent, enabling trials, protocol development, and pharmacokinetic analysis to be conducted locally. The consortium also focuses on training researchers and laboratory teams so that future clinical research can be led within Africa and better reflect the populations it seeks to serve.

In their closing remarks, Angie Kerubo Mugisha and Dr Linda Murungi from the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative, highlighted the importance of collaboration and thanked the principal investigators for their commitment to strengthening preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics. They reminded the audience that scientific knowledge should not remain within institutions but should reach communities and create impact at individual, institutional and systemic levels.

The launch concluded with a networking reception, bringing together students, researchers, partners, and consortium members. Earlier in the event, Professor Burgers reminded the audience that “Africa doesn’t lack talent; there has been a structural gap that has prevented the continent from working together.” The EPSILON programme seeks to address this gap by strengthening collaboration, leadership and scientific excellence across Africa.

Written by Elizabet Marti Coma-Cros and appeared HERE originally.

PREPARE: Strengthening Africa’s Foundations for Pandemic Preparedness

Posted on May 5, 2026June 16, 2026 by Emmanuel Kimaru

Africa’s experience with COVID-19, Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley Fever, and other infectious disease threats has reinforced a critical lesson: preparedness cannot be outsourced. It must be built, coordinated, and sustained from within.

Across the continent, new efforts are emerging to strengthen how African institutions collaborate, generate evidence, and respond to future health threats. One such effort is the Prevention and Response to Emerging Viruses with Pandemic Potential in Africa Research Epsilon (PREPARE) Network — a multi-country initiative bringing together leading research institutions to advance pandemic preparedness.

PREPARE is one of several Epidemic and Pandemic Sciences Innovation and Leadership Networks (EPSILONs) supported under the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative (the Collaborative). Through these networks, the Collaborative invests in African-led research partnerships that aim to strengthen scientific capacity, enhance collaboration, and support the development of locally driven solutions to emerging health threats.

An African-Led, Collaborative Approach

At its core, PREPARE seeks to strengthen One Health approaches to infectious disease surveillance and diagnosis across South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Côte d’Ivoire. By integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems, the Network is designed to support earlier detection of epidemic- and pandemic-prone pathogens and improve understanding of how such threats emerge and spread.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that effective preparedness depends not only on scientific discovery, but also on strong, coordinated research ecosystems that can respond quickly and collaboratively across borders.

Building a Network for Surveillance and Research

Over its implementation period (2025–2030), PREPARE will support the development of interconnected research and surveillance nodes across multiple regions of Africa. Participating institutions will draw on a combination of retrospective biological samples and expanded prospective surveillance across human, animal, and environmental systems.

The Network is expected to strengthen the use of multi-pathogen diagnostics, genomic sequencing, and other advanced research tools to improve detection and characterization of both known and previously unidentified pathogens. Linking laboratory findings with clinical and epidemiological data will help deepen understanding of how pathogens evolve, transmit, and affect populations.

While still in its early stages, this integrated approach is intended to contribute to closing critical gaps in early warning systems and strengthening the evidence base for public health decision-making.

From Detection to Preparedness

In addition to strengthening surveillance, PREPARE is designed to support research that contributes to future response strategies, including the development of prototype vaccine approaches using emerging technologies.

By investing in research platforms and scientific collaboration ahead of major outbreaks, such efforts aim to position African institutions to contribute more actively to global pandemic response efforts, while also addressing regional priorities.

Strengthening Capacity for the Long Term

A key pillar of the Network is strengthening research capacity across participating institutions. Through linkages with established initiatives such as the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and other academic partners, PREPARE is expected to support the development of early-career researchers in areas such as genomics, surveillance, and advanced research methodologies.

Such efforts contribute to building a pipeline of scientists equipped to lead future epidemic preparedness and response efforts across the continent.

Role of Coordination and Enabling Systems

Beyond the science itself, PREPARE reflects a broader shift in how large-scale research collaborations are being organized across Africa — with increasing emphasis on partnership, shared infrastructure, and coordinated implementation.

The PREPARE Network brings together a consortium of African research institutions, with scientific leadership anchored at the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at the University of the Witwatersrand. APHRC plays a central coordination role, supporting program implementation, fund management, and capacity strengthening across the network.

Partner institutions include Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bouaké (Côte d’Ivoire), Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya) and the Uganda National Health Research Organisation (Uganda). Together, these institutions form a geographically diverse and technically complementary network.

As the Network moves into implementation, its success will depend on sustained collaboration, trust among partners, and effective coordination across institutions and countries.

While still at an early stage, PREPARE offers an important example of how African institutions are working together to build the systems, partnerships, and capabilities needed to strengthen preparedness for future pandemics. In doing so, it reflects a broader shift toward more coordinated, locally driven approaches to addressing global health challenges.

Strengthening Africa’s Capacity to Detect and Respond to Emerging Pandemic Threats

Africa’s experience with COVID-19, Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley Fever, and other infectious threats has reinforced a powerful lesson: preparedness cannot be outsourced. It must be built, led, and sustained from within. In response, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is collaborating on an initiative to strengthen Africa’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging viruses with pandemic potential — the Prevention and Response to Emerging Viruses with Pandemic Potential in Africa Research Epsilon (PREPARE) Network.

One of several Epidemic and Pandemic Sciences Innovation and Leadership Networks (EPSILONs) supported under the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative (The Collaborative), PREPARE represents a decisive shift from reactive crisis response to proactive, science-driven epidemic preparedness. Through EPSILON networks, The Collaborative invests in African-led research consortia that advance pandemic science, strengthen institutional capacity, and nurture the next generation of African scientists working to predict, prevent, and respond to epidemic threats.

An African-Led Vision for Pandemic Preparedness

At the core of PREPARE is a simple but urgent goal: to enhance One Health infectious disease surveillance and diagnosis in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Côte d’Ivoire. This will enable earlier detection of epidemic- and pandemic-prone pathogens and accelerate prototype vaccine development in response to emerging threats.

This work recognizes that robust One Health research networks, integrating human, animal, and environmental health, are essential for detecting and controlling zoonotic, vector-borne, and respiratory viruses before they spiral into regional or global crises.

A Continental Network of Surveillance and Scientific Excellence

Over its implementation period (2025–2030), PREPARE will develop key research and surveillance nodes across South, East, and West Africa. Clinical sites in the five aforementioned countries will leverage:

Retrospectively collected biological samples

Expanded prospective syndromic surveillance in humans, animals, and the environment

Multi-pathogen molecular and serological diagnostics

Rapid diagnostic technologies

Next-generation sequencing platforms

This integrated approach enables detection of both known and previously unidentified pathogens, closing critical gaps in early warning systems.

Linking genomic data with clinical and epidemiological insights, the Network will also analyze how viral variants influence severity, transmissibility, and immune evasion. This genotype-to-phenotype characterization is essential for understanding risk and informing targeted interventions.

From Detection to Vaccine Development

Unlike traditional surveillance initiatives, PREPARE extends beyond detection. Using innovative research platforms, the Network will develop prototype vaccines using mRNA technologies, Viral vector platforms and Recombinant protein approaches.

With the investing in prototype vaccine development ahead of major outbreaks, Africa positions itself not only to respond faster but also to contribute to global vaccine innovation. This represents a new frontier: moving from being a site of clinical trials to becoming a hub of vaccine research and development leadership.

Capacity Strengthening at the Core

A defining feature of PREPARE is its commitment to sustainable capacity development. The Network will train early-career researchers in One Health surveillance, genomics, vaccine development, and advanced research methodologies. This effort is strengthened through collaboration with the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), a pan-African partnership that has trained hundreds of doctoral fellows and helped strengthen research and PhD training capacity across African universities. By linking PREPARE researchers to this established training ecosystem and other leading academic institutions, the initiative helps nurture a new generation of African scientists equipped to lead epidemic preparedness efforts.

Coordinated Leadership for Impact

The PREPARE Network is coordinated by APHRC, which leads overall program implementation, fund management, and capacity strengthening while scientific leadership is provided by the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand. Partner institutions include: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bouaké (Côte d’Ivoire), Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya) and the Uganda National Health Research Organisation (Uganda). Together, these institutions form a geographically diverse, technically robust network capable of responding to evolving health threats.

Positioning Africa for Pandemic Preparedness

Beyond laboratory and clinical innovation, PREPARE is designed to generate evidence that informs public health decision-making. The Network will produce high-quality data on pathogen emergence, transmission patterns, and potential vaccine candidates, enabling governments and regional bodies to make timely, data-driven decisions.

Collaboration among leading African research institutions is central to this effort. Working together, partners across the Network are strengthening the continent’s ability to detect threats earlier, respond more rapidly, and advance locally driven scientific solutions. As emerging viruses continue to test global preparedness systems, initiatives such as PREPARE position Africa not only to respond to future outbreaks but also to contribute meaningfully to global epidemic and pandemic preparedness.

Written by Ann Waithaka and Rita Karoki. This article first appeared on APHRC’s 2026 Newsletter, Issue 1.

Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative

Author: Emmanuel Kimaru