Join us for a thought-provoking discussion by world-leading experts on Insights in to viral discovery, One health & big data analysis. Stellenbosch University, 23 August 2023, 5:30pm-7pm. All Wellcome.

This month newsletter’s cover includes a vintage tram on the streets of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, to celebrate the Portuguese President Honoring Prof. Tulio de Oliveira with Order of Merit Medal for Outstanding Scientific Contributions. In recognition of women’s month, we highlight the contributions one of our women scientists who has a passion for capacity building.

In a momentous ceremony Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa presented Prof Tulio de Oliveira with the distinguished Order of Merit Medal.

Zimbabwe, like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces the harsh reality of the HIV epidemic. With a substantial portion of the population affected by the virus, innovative approaches are urgently needed to combat its devastating impact.

Abdualmoniem's life-changing experience in a foreign land became a tale of humanity, generosity, and friendship.

The threat of bat-borne viruses in Southern Africa continues to be a major concern for public health and wildlife conservation. In a bid to shed light on this critical issue, the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) hosted its monthly scientific seminar, featuring esteemed guest speaker Prof. Wanda Markotter, Director of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses at University of Pretoria and a leading expert in zoonotic diseases.

The CERI family is expanding! With the addition of new students and staff, we are excited to showcase our growing team in this month's news and newsletter. Together, we continue to foster an environment of collaboration, innovation, and excellence in research and education. Stay tuned as we eagerly await more talented individuals to join us in the upcoming months!

In a momentous ceremony held at the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave, Durban, on the evening of July 22, 2023, Professor Tulio de Oliveira was bestowed with the prestigious 2023 Discovery Health Lifetime Leadership Award. The distinguished accolade, presented jointly by Discovery and the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare Coalition, recognizes Professor de Oliveira's unparalleled contributions to global thought leadership in the research and scientific fields.

In celebration of Women's Month, we shine a spotlight on an extraordinary woman whose contributions to scientific research and leadership has led to significant breakthroughs in HIV prevention. Meet Dr. Cheryl Baxter, the Head of Scientific Support at CERI.

Time: 12h00 | Wednesday, 26 July 2023, Venue: Room 3073, BMRI, Tygerberg Campus or Online, Presenters: Prof. Wanda Markotter, Director of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria.

Nations with large volumes of outgoing air traffic accounted for a high proportion of variant exports.

In the pursuit of preventing and treating deadly diseases, Derek Tshiabuila, a PhD researcher at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), is delving into the enigmatic realm of viral recombination. With a focus on three highly prevalent viruses in South Africa, Derek's groundbreaking work aims to unravel the secrets of viral evolution, providing invaluable insights into the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies.

[Stellenbosch, June 25, 2023] -The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) proudly announce the launch of the Cluster of Excellence (CoE) named Genomics for Health in Africa, an innovative collaboration aimed at advancing genomics research and improving healthcare outcomes across the African continent. The lead universities for this cluster are Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa, the University of Bern in Switzerland and University of Tübingen in Germany.

Nikita Sitharam, a dedicated bioinformatics Master's student at Stellenbosch University, is revolutionizing epidemic response in Africa through her ground-breaking research on arboviruses genomes. Sitharam's primary focus is the development of innovative dashboards that harness the power of bioinformatics to provide vital information for public health officials and policymakers. Her work has the potential to transform the way arbovirus outbreaks are monitored, analyzed, and combated across the continent.

The Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (SU) hosted a training focused on exomes preparation, aimed at advancing the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases among paediatric patients. By producing Exomes in South Africa in real-time provides medical professionals the ability to diagnose and develop tailored treatment plans for affected children.

As we enter the winter season in South Africa, our focus shifts to the northern hemisphere. In May, we had the privilege of attending the World Health Assembly, WHO, and the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, where we had the opportunity to participate in the launch of the International Public Health Surveillance Network (IPSN). Additionally, Professor Tulio engaged in significant discussions with the Medical Center for International Diseases (MCID) in Bern and the Geneva 2030 Genomics program.

by Prof Frank Tanser, CERI, University of Stellenbosch, Wednesday 31 May 2023 @12h00, BMRI, Tygerberg Campus, Stellenbosch University or virtually

Professor Tulio visited Bern University in Switzerland and met with the team from the MCID (Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases). During his visit, they discussed potential collaborations on topics related to pandemic preparedness and emerging infectious diseases. In addition, discussions focused on how to expand genomics to rare diseases and cancer.

Prof. Tulio de Oliveira had the opportunity to visit the Health 2030 Genomics Center in Geneva on the 22 May 2023, where he was able to present some of the research being undertaken at CERI and KRISP.

WHO and partners are launching a global network to help protect people from infectious disease threats through the power of pathogen genomics. The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) will provide a platform to connect countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analyzing samples, using these data to drive public health decision-making, and sharing that information more broadly.

by Prof Tulio de Oliveiea, CERI, University of Stellenbosch & KRISP, UKZN, Wednesday 16 May 2023 17h00-19h00, BMRI, Tygerberg Campus, Stellenbosch University or virtually

Professor Tulio de Oliveira was invited by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director General WHO) and Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu (Director of WHO pandemic Hub) to take a position on the leadership committee of the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN). Prof de Oliveira will be a panellist on the official launch of IPSN as part of the World Health Assembly on 20 May 2023 in Geneva.

Sophisticated genomic surveillance lab aims to keep one step ahead of outbreaks with effective tests, treatments and vaccines

Welcome to the April/May 2023 edition of our newsletter. April was an incredibly busy and exciting month for CERI and KRISP, centered around the launch of the CLIMADE (Climate Amplified Diseases and Epidemics) consortium and the inauguration of the R1.2 billion Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) at Stellenbosch University. This events brought together leading experts and stakeholders from all over the world to celebrate this momentous occasion and the state-of-the-art facilities that will enable us to lead the way in genomic research.

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence was established in Berlin with the foundational investment of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in September 2021 to support countries, regions, and global actors to avert and manage public health threats more efficiently.

The fellowship is a tailored training opportunity intended to train a pathogen genomics and bioinformatics workforce with expertise to improve outbreak detection and disease surveillance in Africa.

A new coalition, CLIMADE, brings together some of the biggest names in public health to address climate-amplified diseases in Africa and Latin America.

Abbott is joining the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics (CLIMADE) consortium, which will use data science to predict, track and control diseases that may be amplified by climate change

A sustainable global commitment to pandemic preparedness is instrumental to maintaining the upper hand and winning the battle.

Regarded as the pride of Africa, the facility has opened its doors to the continent and the world – offering training and fellowships to those in the field of genomics.