At an African STARS seminar, biotechnology entrepreneur Dominic Nicholas shared Immobazyme's journey towards commercial production and the lessons learned along the way.

Drawing on experiences in Brazil and Africa, a new publication offers ten practical rules for making genomics part of routine laboratory practice. At its heart is a message about the importance of people, collaboration, and continuous learning in building sustainable scientific capacity.

New genetic research could help identify aggressive prostate cancers more accurately while reducing unnecessary investigations and treatment. Following a seminar hosted by CERI and SACEMA at Stellenbosch University on 8 October 2026, Professor Jyotsna Batra of Bond University, Australia, explains how advances in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) research could improve diagnosis and why African populations must be included in developing better diagnostic tools.

SPARK is strengthening its presence in Africa, helping researchers advance promising scientific discoveries towards practical health solutions. New international partnerships and mentorship opportunities are supporting plans to expand the network in South Africa.

New research reveals how a widespread lineage of Rift Valley fever virus emerged in southern Africa, travelled thousands of kilometres, and continued evolving during the years between major outbreaks.

With a new Wellcome-funded project and a commitment to mentoring younger scientists, Dr Doreen Lugano is taking on greater leadership in African research. As she completes her African STARS Fellowship, she reflects on the opportunities, relationships, and family support that have shaped her career.

CERI at Stellenbosch University invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. The fellow will use human vaginal epithelial cell models to inform the development of vaginal formulations that support mucosal health and meet women’s needs.

African STARS Fellow Grace Bosco is exploring how biotechnology can transform Tanzania's underutilised seaweed into valuable products while creating new opportunities for women in coastal communities.

Dr Emilyn Costa Conceição shares how CERI is contributing to the search for new malaria treatments through genomic surveillance, international collaboration and research capacity development in Africa.

How Lasec Supports Sustainable Healthcare Programmes Across Africa

Making complex cell analysis faster, smarter.

From childhood curiosity to internationally recognised HIV research, Dr Natasha Onalenna Moraka-Mankge’s journey has been shaped by determination, unexpected opportunities, and personal milestones. Now an African STARS Fellow at CERI, she reflects on finding her confidence in science, balancing research with motherhood, and her ambition to advance HIV genomics in Botswana.

Xolani Zulu's Journey of Purpose, Patience and People

How data science and digital experimentation could help healthcare learn what works.

Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation is looking for a Project Administrator to manage finance and procurement across its research projects.

For African STARS Fellow Nicholas Nyabera, a passion for science has led him across borders and into the world of bioinformatics. He reflects on his journey from Kenya to CERI, the power of mentorship and collaboration, and his ambition to strengthen African leadership in pathogen genomics.

Building a Scientific Benchmark for Equine Health

International collaboration is helping researchers better understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread. At a recent conference in Chicago, South African researchers highlighted their contribution to GENOSAR and the importance of African genomic data in tackling this global health challenge.

At a global health discussion during the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dr Monika Moir shared how African scientific expertise, genomic surveillance, and predictive modelling can help countries anticipate outbreaks and build more resilient healthcare systems.

Making clinical research more widely accessible.

Turning complex data into practical solutions.

Transforming indigenous research into commercial solutions.

Emerging infectious diseases do not respect the boundaries between people, animals and the environment. To mark International One Health Day, Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) and the University of Pretoria host a free online webinar on Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 08:50 to 13:00 SAST. Ten speakers will examine how a One Health approach strengthens South Africa’s preparedness. Topics include tuberculosis at the human–wildlife interface, spillover prevention, arbovirus surveillance and Ebola preparedness.

One of the world’s largest ongoing population-based HIV studies shows major declines in new infections over two decades. But from 2019, progress has stalled – and in some cases begun to reverse. A new study identifies where renewed action could help South Africa regain momentum towards epidemic control.

This month, two very different events brought together scientists, innovators, and health leaders with a shared purpose: turning knowledge and innovation into real-world impact. At VEME 2026, scientists explored how genomics, combined with other disciplines and AI, can detect emerging threats earlier.

Powered by the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University, Vergent Biotech is connecting researchers, clinicians, and industry with advanced genomics sequencing and bioinformatics capabilities.

New research involving CERI’s Prof Jo-Ann Passmore provides new insight into antimicrobial resistance and genomic diversity in a key bacterium associated with bacterial vaginosis.

Why does one encounter with an Ebola virus end with a handful of cases, while another becomes a major outbreak? A new publication argues that answering this requires looking beyond the pathogen to the ecological, social, and structural conditions that shape what happens after spillover.

Levi Hosea and Kennedy Mulungu share their innovation journeys.