Letter sent to all CERI and SACEMA employees and students on important updates regarding the financial landscape that impacts research groups, centers, universities, and NGOs across South Africa.

Dr. Houriiyah Tegally, Head of Data Science at CERI, is a leader in epidemic response, with over 70 publications, including 40 during her PhD. She specializes in integrating AI and climate data into infectious disease modeling, shaping global health strategies. Her work, from tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants to forecasting emerging epidemics, highlights the power of data-driven public health.

Nikita Sitharam, PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University and CERI, is advancing viral genomics research in Africa. She recently received the prestigious Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Postgraduate Scholarship, securing full funding for her PhD. Her work emphasizes the importance of mentorship and early preparation in securing research funding.

the gem is a monthly magazine produced by CERI, SACEMA and the Data School at Stellenbosch University and KRISP at UKZN. The objective is to provide stories of world class African science that impact lives and train the next generation of scientists in Africa.

Africa’s DeepTech and HealthTech sectors are on the rise, but many promising startups struggle to access the right mentorship, investment, and strategic guidance to scale globally.

Dr. Houriiyah Tegally from the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University, has been awarded a significant grant by the Global Science Summit Programme of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Are you a scientist working in virus evolution, bioinformatics, or genomic surveillance? Don’t miss your chance to apply for the Virus Evolution & Molecular Epidemiology (VEME) 2025 workshop, one of the world’s most advanced training programmes in genomics and bioinformatics.

Here, we present some of our recent videos and TV appearances highlighting the important aspect of science communication to the general public.

Top Genomics Labs partner with UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to strengthen surveillance of respiratory pathogens

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal) invite applications for the Advanced Translational Training (ATT) Fellowship under the African STARS Fellowship Programme.

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal) invite applications for the Young Professional Programme (YPP) Fellowship under the African STARS Fellowship Programme

CERI is participating in the 47th Cape Town Cycle Tour as part of the #Move4Maties campaign to support students at Stellenbosch University facing financial hardships. This initiative aims to raise funds and awareness to ensure that no student has to abandon their education due to financial constraints. Join us by donating, spreading the word, or supporting the ride to make education accessible for all.

VEME2025 will be organized in Dakar, Senegal, during August 4–8, 2025. The workshop comprises 6 full days of theoretical lectures, practical sessions and keynote presentations. VEME2025 will accept 150 participants in 4 modules.

On Wednesday, 26 February 2025 (12:00-13:00 SAST), the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University will host a scientific seminar on the Genital Inflammation Test (GIFT), a pioneering diagnostic tool for women's health. Led by Professor Jo-Ann Passmore (NHLS, UCT), the session will explore how GIFT improves the detection of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis while addressing its role in HIV risk assessment. The event will be held at BMRI Room 3073, SU Tygerberg Campus, with an online streaming option.

A new paper in Nature demonstrates how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform infectious disease research and pandemic preparedness by enhancing predictive modeling, outbreak tracking, and healthcare responses. Co-authored by a global network of scientists, the study emphasizes AI’s potential to save lives by identifying high-risk areas, accelerating vaccine development, and improving pathogen analysis. Experts from CERI at Stellenbosch University played a key role in this research, contributing advanced AI methodologies to epidemiology and public health. While AI presents remarkable opportunities, the authors stress the need for transparency, collaboration, and safety measures to ensure responsible implementation.

Join the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University! We're seeking a postdoc to help bridge academic innovation and industry by developing commercialisation pathways for biotech startups. Key areas include genetic engineering, recombinant protein production, and entrepreneurship training.

Join the cutting-edge research team at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), Stellenbosch University! We are offering three postdoctoral fellowships in pathogen phylodynamics, disease ecological modeling, and machine learning for infectious diseases. Collaborate with top scientists, analyze large-scale genomic datasets, and develop innovative solutions to tackle infectious diseases at the intersection of genomics, epidemiology, and data science. This competitive, tax-free fellowship is based in South Africa, with opportunities for international collaborations.

the gem is a monthly magazine produced by CERI, SACEMA and the Data School at Stellenbosch University and KRISP at UKZN. The objective is to provide stories of world class African science that impact lives and train the next generation of scientists in Africa. In this first issue of 2025, we partner with the Mastercard Foundation and the Institute Pasteur de Dakar to launch the African STARS Fellowship.

The MBA is developed in collaboration with the Stellenbosch Business School. The MBA will be a 24-month programme and has modules focused on business, finance and management geared for health care leadership.

The 2-year MSc program offers a vigorous coursework component followed by a research project mentored by world-class infectious disease researchers in Stellenbosch University.

Summary of a news piece in Science on an alternative for Twitter for scientific researchers quoting Prof Tulio de Oliveira view on the use of X and Bluesky.

By Prof Tulio de Oliveira - New York Times, 19 Nov 2024. As a virus scientist in South Africa, I’ve been watching with dread as H5N1 bird flu spreads among animals in the United States.

Released at COP29 in the WHO Pavillion. Baku, Azerbaijan. On the final day of COP29, an international team of over 100 scientists and policymakers released the 2024 edition of the Climate Change and Epidemics report at the WHO Pavilion.

Roche Diagnostics and the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) hosted a two-day training on advanced DNA Library Preparation at Stellenbosch University's Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI).

UKZN 2024 Research Awards Dinner: Celebrating Excellence in Research. This much-anticipated occasion highlights UKZN's unwavering commitment to fostering research excellence and its profound impact on local and global communities.

Members of the KRISP (KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform) team recently had the privilege of hosting undergraduate students from UKZN and the University of Limpopo as part of the HIV Cure Workshop.

The first CERI-SACEMA Research Days, held from November 27-29, 2024, brought together students, researchers, and staff for three days of scientific exchange and learning. Opening keynotes by Prof. Francesco Petruccione and Prof. Thulani Makhalanyane set the collaborative tone, emphasizing how different scientific disciplines can work together to address complex health challenges.

The project will officially launch on February 6, 2025 with a signing event involving the UK High Commissioner of South Africa and the Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University medical campus in Tygerberg, Cape Town. At the event representatives from CERI, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, key stakeholders, and UK and SA government leaders will outline their vision for transforming disease surveillance and collaborate on global health, security and science.

Africa is home to the fastest-growing young population globally. African STARS Fellowship Programme to capacitate African scientists on epidemic and pandemic response be launched with an award of US$ 9 million (ZAR ZAR 165 million) from the Mastercard Foundation. First phase of the programme will fund 131 fellows over three years. Media invited to attend the launch of the programme at 13:00 at CERI at SU’s Tygerberg Campus on 15 January

Short overview of the hMPV and its impact in South Africa. By Prof Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI & KRISP & Dr. Richard Lessells, Senior ID specialist, KRISP.