Dietary and Environmental Mediators of Socio-Economic Inequalities in Child Undernutrition in West Africa

University of Cape Coast
Ghana

Innovative climate-smart agricultural practices and knowledge scaling-up in vulnerable regions of Benin (INNOCSAB).

The project team will investigate to what extend climate-smart agricultural practices and knowledge scaling-up can contribute to building resilience of agro-ecosystems and human systems in West Africa. Studies have shown that most smallholders who rely heavily on agriculture do not always have the knowledge, information and training needed to adopt agroecological measures and sustainable farming systems that support land management. The project will use an innovative approach of scaling the use of climate information through the Participatory and Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA), combining existing CSA technologies to adapt and mitigate climate change effects by training extension services, farmers, NGO, and researchers using Climate Smart Villages and Valleys (CSV) and Rural Resource Centers (RRC). We will then assess improvement of the profitability, productivity and sustainability of smallholder farming, household nutritional security and dietary diversity and income generation through integrated crop, tree, and livestock production systems.

Bonomo’s expertise is in the cellular immunology of tolerance and T cells. She has demonstrated the role of thymic epithelium in central tolerance, the escape of unselected T cells in autoimmunity models, and the supportive function of T cells in bone metastases of breast tumors. Her group currently studies the influence of T cells in metastasis; oral tolerance using a probiotic as an adjuvant therapy to prevent Graft vs. Host disease, and, more recently, neuroimmunology of the developing brain and strategies to regulate neuroinflammation. Bonomo’s team studied select monoclonal antibodies in three human cohorts at the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic: infected patients with household transmission evaluation in health workers and Chagas Disease in COVID-19 patients, looking at humoral, cellular and innate immunity.

The DnaJ-DnaK-GrpE Complex as a Selective Drug Target in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Rhodes University
South Africa

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sigal lab pivoted to SARS-CoV-2 research and was the first to describe the escape of the Omicron variant from previous immunity.

Sigal received his Ph.D. in Systems Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Nobel Laureate David Baltimore at the California Institute of Technology, where he worked on HIV cell-to-cell spread and its effects on antiretroviral therapy.

Ugwu’s research seeks to understand how the immune system modulates the outcome of viral infection. It examines the correlates of protective immune response to viral infections such as Lassa Fever virus, SARS-CoV-2, and other endemic viral diseases in West Africa. Findings will be vital for vaccine and therapeutic design, production of diagnostics, and to inform public health policies. Ugwu has vast experience in setting up, training and supervising standardised immune assays such as binding antibody ELISA, virus pseudo type neutralization assay, ELISpot, Luminex multiplex ELISA, cell culture, flow cytometry, western blot, polymerase chain reaction and single-cell RNA sequencing, and can perform all of these assays in both BSL2 and 3 containment facility. He has published and reviewed scientific journals on the immunology of infectious diseases and published the first Lassa immune correlate data generated in-country, demonstrating that both symptomatic survivors and their asymptomatic contacts produce binding and neutralizing antibody responses and T-cell responses that are cross-reactive across different LASV lineages.

Modelling the Mortality Impact of Treatment Regimens for Antimicrobial-Resistant Neonatal Bloodstream Infections in 7 African Countries

Stellenbosch University
South Africa

Optimizing Child Nutrition Investments for Increased Impact in High-Risk Populations in Kenya

Aga Khan University
Kenya

Scaling-up Uptake and Effective Use of Climate Resilient Innovations to Address Challenges Affecting Youth-led Agribusinesses in the Chicken Value Chain in Uganda and Burundi

Barbara Mugwanya Zawedde of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in Uganda and partners will facilitate increased uptake and effective use of climate resilient innovations to address challenges affecting youth-led agribusinesses in the chicken value chain in Uganda and Burundi. Youth have invested along the chicken value chain as a feasible source of income and employment, however, many are discouraged due to limited output resulting from use of technologies that are not adapted to the ever-changing climate. They will strengthen existing multi-stakeholder innovation platforms use them to identify, co-learn and reprioritize climate resilient innovations for the chicken value chain. They will use a Resilient Innovation Plan Model (RIPM) to optimize and recommend resilient options for different scenarios for the targeted agro-ecological zones. They will produce translated audio-visuals about the prioritized climate resilient innovations, and use digital solutions at Farmers Service Centers to disseminate the information to rural communities

This study investigates the link between climate variations and the dynamics of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in maternity wards in Burkina Faso and Cameroon. By focusing on antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as ESBL-producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the research aims to mitigate their adverse effects on maternal and neonatal health.

Through comprehensive sampling, whole-genome sequencing, and analysis of environmental factors like temperature, humidity and airflow, the study will develop advanced models to predict future ARB dynamics under various climate scenarios. These predictions will inform targeted interventions, including enhanced hygiene practices, antibiotic stewardship, and environmental adjustments, in collaboration with healthcare professionals and local communities. 

The project seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between climate change, drug-resistant bacterial dynamics, maternal and neonates health, leading to effective interventions and evidence-based recommendations for wider implementation.

Brian Turyabagye of MamaOpe Medicals in Uganda will develop an AI-based platform integrated with the MamaOpe screening tool to enhance the diagnosis and management of respiratory illnesses.

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Dr Charles Sande focuses on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, seeking to understand local immune response to the virus in the airway. Secondary interests include vaccinology, serology, and systems immunology. Most recently, Sande’s work has looked at the molecular mechanisms that predict adverse outcomes in African children admitted to the hospital with sepsis and other severe acute infections. He and his team deploy a wide array of systems tools, including proteomics, transcriptomics, and traditional protein microarrays. Their goal is to develop a fuller understanding of why some children have a significantly higher risk of dying shortly after admission to the hospital.

Harnessing Data Science and Analytics to Strengthen Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Monitoring and Eliminate HIV Transmission in Low-Resource Settings

Jembi Health Systems NPC
South Africa

The World Health Organization is urging better tracking of fungal pathogens, which pose serious health risks to people with weakened immune systems, particularly in South Africa. Currently, there is a lack of understanding about how these infections occur and spread in at-risk communities, especially as climate change alters environmental conditions. Our project, supported by the Grand Challenges Africa initiative, aims to address this gap by developing a comprehensive system to monitor and study fungal pathogens in relation to environmental conditions. We plan to engage with local communities to learn how people are exposed to these fungi, especially through water.

We are designing a new tool to monitor river water for harmful fungi and will use the collected data to help public health officials better assess risks and protect communities. By collaborating with community groups, our research will directly support efforts to reduce the spread of harmful fungi, protect vulnerable populations, and adapt to the impacts of climate change on public health.

An expert in HIV and TB prevention, control, and treatment, Daniel has spent the past eighteen years leading public health programs and implementation studies in resource-limited settings in Kenya. He has played a pivotal role in developing and testing new service delivery models to improve access to HIV treatment and has contributed to product redesign efforts for HIV prevention tools, including digital solutions. His experience also includes serving as a frontline healthcare provider in these settings.

Over the last four years, Daniel has transitioned from infectious diseases to planetary health, integrating his implementation science expertise with interdisciplinary approaches to tackle the health impacts of climate change. He holds an MBChB from the University of Nairobi, an MPH from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently pursuing a PhD at Charité University, Berlin. His PhD research focuses on the effects of climate-induced heat stress on the working capacity of Kenyan farmers with HIV. It uses novel technologies like wearables for personal monitoring and environmental sensors to study physiological responses to environmental changes in real-world settings.

Daniel's research interests have expanded to encompass adaptation to various climate-induced hazards affecting vulnerable populations, such as heat stress, climate-sensitive infections, droughts, floods, and storms. He emphasizes co-creating solutions with target populations, ensuring that communities actively participate in improving their well-being, rather than being mere recipients of interventions.

He is currently a co-investigator in a trial testing climate-adaptive housing to reduce malaria and heat stress in rural communities of western and coastal Kenya. His work remains grounded in human-centered design, aiming to improve health outcomes through collaborative, community-driven interventions.

David Kamau of Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital in Kenya will integrate ChatGPT and a medical Large Language Model with the existing health management information systems in Kiambu County, Kenya, to provide clinical decision support for noncommunicable diseases.

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David Kamugundu of eFiche Limited in Rwanda will develop an AI-based platform to support nurses in Rwanda in accurate and efficient diagnosis and patient treatment.

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Dennis Maorwe of DPE Company Limited in Kenya will develop a Large Language Model (LLM) to support the planning and execution of behavior change interventions to improve health outcomes for Kenyans living with SCD.

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Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Rural Communities and Agro-Food Industries along Kilombero River Floodplains Landscape, Tanzania

A Research team at Sokoine University of Agriculture see to generate spatial explicit social, ecological, climatic, and land tenure/cover landscape data for the purpose of developing climate risks and opportunity models. The study will come up with landscape climate risk and vulnerability information with potential to develop early warning indicators, and financial opportunities. They use scenario and spatial modeling approach to develop framework strategies to inform policy decisions at the local landscape scale. In the future will aim to expand to similar systems (small holder/industry farming systems, sugarcane farming and restoration of riparian zones in Eastern/Southern Africa to benefit sustainability of small scale agro-food industries, on farm production (soil retention, resilience to floods and other climate extremes) and biodiversity (microclimate, habitat, connectivity of habitat), taking advantages of technological advancement and unfolding financial resources.

Establishing Multi-Model Agricultural Data Science Hub (MM-ADSH)

Climate change, drought, floods are some of the major challenges that agriculture in Ethiopia goes through. Farmers have always had to cope with variables beyond their control, from the weather to the rate of vegetation. In recent years, however, the growth of data science technology has given farmers a new method to help them make sense of all the information they collect to track weather, predict demand changes, to optimize irrigation systems, to increase crop yields, reduce water usage, improve the quality of their products and etc..Dessalew Yohannes Bogale of Jimma University, Ethiopia will establish a Multi-Model Agricultural Data Science Hub (MM-ADSH) to accelerate the uptake of multi-modal agricultural data integration, facilitate knowledge creation and technology development that will enable data-driven solutions for climate adaptation. It is to increase capacities of researchers and innovators through training, and guidance with a particular focus on agricultural data utilization. Moreover, the project team will facilitate networking, engagement and collaboration between stakeholders.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) like malaria and dengue pose significant public health challenges in Tanzania, exacerbated by climate change. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall enable disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive in new areas, putting vulnerable communities at greater risk. To tackle this growing threat, Dr. Devotha Nyambo of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) is leading a groundbreaking study that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance disease surveillance and prediction. However, for AI models to be truly effective, they must incorporate real-world data from the communities affected. Dr. Nyambo’s team will work with local populations in Morogoro, Manyara, and Dar es Salaam, engaging particularly with women, to gather on-the-ground data on mosquito breeding sites and disease cases. This community-driven approach will improve the accuracy of AI predictions and foster a robust early warning system for timely public health interventions.

Ultimately, this AI-powered initiative aims to enhance disease prediction, empower communities, and build resilience against climate-driven health threats. Dr Nyambo's vision of combining AI with community engagement could revolutionize the fight against VBDs in Tanzania and beyond.

While over 90% of schistosomiasis cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, challenges remain in moving from disease control to elimination. This study, conducted in Kisumu District, a schistosomiasis-endemic region of Kenya, aims to reduce the disease burden by empowering women through a community health information system. The project will explore the critical role of women’s empowerment in ensuring access to schistosomiasis treatment for themselves and their families. This project will use household surveys to assess the impact of women’s empowerment on schistosomiasis management and will analyze climate data to create a disease risk model

By leveraging the climate sensitivity of schistosomiasis, we will develop an innovative climate risk information system tailored to women and their households, improving the timing and effectiveness of treatments.  The project will culminate in the co-creation of a community health system with stakeholders, providing locally relevant public health information and

An intelligent decision support for breeding future climate change resistant millet varieties in Senegal

Diariétou Sambakhe of the Regional Center of Excellence for dry cereals research (CERAAS) in Senegal will co-design an open-acces platform for knowledge sharing of annual ideotype maps of climate change resilient millet varieties in Senegal. The adaptation of crop varieties to their growing environment is the key factor supporting their performance. Regardless of genetic progress, the performance of major varieties still varies according to climatic conditions, crop management and pest pressure in the local environment. Knowledge of the interactions between variety traits, the environment and 'farmers' is needed to improve the performance of these varieties. They will redefine more precisely the millet growing areas in Senegal by considering the environmental conditions, crop management and pest pressure to predict their response to future climate conditions. They will identify better combinations of agro-morphological and genetic traits adapted to climate change. They will design an open access platform for knowledge sharing with stakeholders.

Identification of Plasmodium Falciparum Transmission Blocking Compounds

Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB)
South Africa

Targeting Protein Kinases for the Development of Novel Drugs for Trematode Infections

Technical University of Kenya

Kenya

Identification of Novel Synthetic and Natural Product Semi-Synthetic Derivatives Targeting Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis Spectinomycin and Rifampicin Efflux Pumps

CREATES Strathmore University
Kenya

Research and Development of a Non-Hormonal Natural Product Based Female Contraceptive

Elizabeth V. M. Kigondu of the Center for Traditional Medicine & Drug Research (CTMDR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is going to be exploring extracts and compounds from plants used traditionally in Kenya and reported to have a contraceptive effect, for further development of a non-hormonal natural product based female contraceptive. In some parts of Kenya, some communities use seeds or other plant parts as antifertility agents and some of these plants have been proven scientifically to have an antifertility effect in various animal models. In a small study carried out by Elizabeth’s team at KEMRI, they were able to demonstrate that one of our indigenous plants has an antifertility effect in mice. This study has formed the basis of the current project recently funded by the Gates Foundation, through the Science for Africa Foundation, where they plan to investigate the plant further, in addition to other selected plants, to establish the safety, the mechanism of action and identify the active components in the active extracts.    

The project will mobilise communities to raise awareness of the need for environmental sanitation and mass trapping, a technique that has already proved promise and is suitable for insecticide-resistant outdoor Aedes in Kinshasa. The intervention will be evaluated based on a randomized controlled before and after study in two health zones of Kinshasa. A baseline serosurvey will be performed to document the prevalence of arbovirus risk in the community. Entomological and process-based indicators will be collected to assess the impact of the intervention. 

The community-based approach aims to enable community groups to act as agents of change to minimize the effects of climate change on the health risk posed by Aedes mosquitoes. The approach aim to: (i) reduce larval habitats while breaking the cycle in which humans create a favourable environment for Aedes mosquitoes, (ii) increase community knowledge and skills in Aedes vector control, and (iii) to foster community ownership of Aedes vector control strategies. 

The immediate expected result will be a diminished nuisance of Aedes and other mosquitoes in the selected communities, which will be the incentive for the target groups to continue the efforts and involve new participants.

Countering Anti-Microbial Resistance Through Chemical Manipulation of the Pathogen-Host Interaction

Stellenbosch University
South Africa

Discovery of New Drug Candidates Against Malaria, Leishmaniasis and Trypanosomiasis Through Screening of Chemical Libraries

Université de Yaoundé 1

Cameroon

Identification of Novel Inhibitors Against Malarial and Trypanosomal Hsp90

North West University
South Africa

Francis Kombe of EthiXPERT NPC in South Africa will develop an AI-based platform to support African research ethics committees and clinical trial decision-making. It will build on their cloud-based, online review system RHInnO Ethics.

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Fred Kaggwa of Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda will develop an LLM for answering questions related to prenatal and postpartum care in Uganda in three languages: Swahili, Runyankore-Rukiga, and Luganda.

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Utilization of Pathway-Selective Sensitized Mycobacterial CRISPRi Mutants to Generate High Quality Hits from Plant-Derived Natural Product Libraries

Stellenbosch University
South Africa 

Applying Supervised Machine Learning to Develop an Adaptive Risk-Scoring Tool to Predict Maternal Morbidity and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Broad Reach
Kenya

Chemogenomic-Guided Identification and Optimization of Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Heat Shock Proteins (PfHSPs) as Potential Anti-Malarial Drugs

Midlands State University
Zimbabwe

Novel Arf GTPase Assays for Antimalarial Drug Discovery

Rhodes University
South Africa

In response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, she built on her immunology experience to measure humoral (ELISA and multiplex MagPix Bead-based assays) and cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. She also built capacity to isolate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for vaccine and diagnostic development (a GIISER collaboration funded by BMGF). Her focus now is on how to turn R&D program data into impactful public health measures and strategies.  Since June 2023, Vigan-Womas has been Coordinator of the CEPI centralized Laboratory at Institut Pasteur de Dakar, focusing on serosurveillance of endemic and epidemic prone diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, SARS-CoV-2, vaccine preventable diseases andhemorrhagic fever diseases.) She is also a passionate advocate for increasing scientific capacity in Africa and supporting young African scientists

Anti-Adhesins with Therapeutic Potential for Enteroaggregative Escherichia Coli Diarrhoea

University of Ibadan, Ibadan
Nigeria

A 3D Clinostat-Based Bioreactor Model of Liver-Stage Plasmodium falciparum and its Applications in Parasite Biochemistry and Anti-Malarial Drug Discovery

North-West University
South Africa

Under the GIISER-India portfolio, Dr Jayanta Bhattacharya leads the group at THSTI isolating and characterizing human monoclonal antibodies by antigen-specific B cell cloning, antigenic characterization of evolving variants and vaccine effectiveness in hybrid and non-hybrid immunity settings. He supervises several undergraduate and PhD students, as well as Principal, Senior and Junior Scientists and technical associates.

Serwanga's leadership in immune profiling and monoclonal antibody discovery, funded by GIISER, has led to the identification of biomarkers of protection and the development of robust virus-specific antibody assays. Her work with 10x Genomics has revolutionized the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning immune response, and her contributions to COVID-19 vaccine research have positioned UVRI as a central hub for epidemic preparedness. She is dedicated to the mentorship of emerging scientists and fostering international collaborations in the fight against global epidemics and viral diseases.

Jesse Gitaka of Mount Kenya University in Kenya will develop the GPT-4 AI model to support healthcare providers with up-to-date medical information for improved clinical decision-making and neonatal care.

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The Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER) site in South Africa aims to establish immunological surveillance and develop immuno-diagnostics for locally and regionally relevant pathogens, with an additional focus on training and capacity augmentation within the GIISER network. Bhiman co-leads, with Prof. Penny L. Moore, the Global Immunology, and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response in South Africa (GIISER-SA) at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Improving Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Data Capture and Quality in Household Surveys: Big-Data Interdisciplinary Advances Using the Every Newborn-Indepth Multi-Country Survey Database

Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Uganda

Kevin Korir of Visortech Solutions in Kenya in partnership with Yemaya Health Advisory will develop an LLM to map the process of health policy creation and approval, serving as a tool for quicker translation of new evidence into policies.

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Kwadwo Danso-Mensah and the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) aim to investigate the critical role of climate change adaptation inventions in mitigating climate change impacts on Africa's agricultural sector.

They intend providing a comprehensive overview of existing studies and evidence on the theme to enable policy makers and researchers to make evidence-based decisions regarding climate change adaptation strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa. They will produce an Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) by systematically searching for and categorizing studies from diverse sources of published and unpublished studies across regions, thematic areas, and outcomes that related to climate change adaptation. Studies meeting the eligibility criteria defined by a predetermined Population, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes, and Study design (PICOS) framework will be included in the EGM.  Findings of this EGM will be crucial for resource optimisation and strategic planning for policy makers and practitioners in the realm of agricultural relevant climate adaptation in Africa

Identification of Compounds Targeting Specifically Plasmodium malariae Malaria for its Elimination Along with Plasmodium falciparum

Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB)
Mali

Novel Approaches for Modelling Gestational Weight Gain Trajectories Using the Super Imposition Translation and Rotation Growth Model for Predicting Neonatal Outcomes

Kenya Paediatric Association
Kenya

Development of Targeted Transmission-Blocking Agents Against Malaria

University of Pretoria
South Africa

The cervical mucus barrier as a target for artificial neural network inspired novel blends of electrospun scaffolds.

Margaret Ilomuanya of the University of Lagos in Nigeria will develop a non-hormonal approach to contraception in women focussing on the interaction of mucoadhesive electrospun scaffold with cervical mucus. Studies have shown that unintended pregnancies occur due to perceived dissatisfaction, or unpalatable side effect profiles, arising frommodern hormonal contraceptive use. This has necessitated a need for more effective optionsin non-hormonal contraception to be made available to women. They will develop a novel blend of biodegradable electrospun scaffolds whose properties will be optimized using artificial neural networks aided surface response aided design to facilitate non-hormonal contraception via interaction with cervical mucus. They will evaluate the surface characteristics, mucoadhesive nature and safety of the developed scaffolds to demonstrate the potential of the developed electrospun scaffolds as a delivery platform for contraception.

Climate change is already happening in Ghana and pregnant women and their newborns are a particularly vulnerable population to its effects. Data on climate indicators and maternal health outcomes exist in Ghana but need to be brought together and put in the hands of healthcare workers and community members, who could use it to prepare for climate change in real time. In this pilot project, we are working to bring together data collected by GMet and DHIMS2. Using artificial intelligence and a human-centred design approach to create a climate and health early warning tracking system that will be useful and user-friendly to health care workers providing maternal care in communities in Ghana.

Mihaja Raberahona of Equipe de Recherche Clinique en Maladies Infectieuses in Madagascar will develop an AI-based triage tool to identify patients likely to have pulmonary TB based on combining physiological data from wearable devices, cough acoustics, and anthropometric data.

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Characterization of herbal bioactive for the development of spermicides for female contraception

The use of fertility-regulating plants as method of contraception continue to play a significant role in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies despite the popularity of modern contraceptives. Mutiat Bolanle Ibrahim of the University of Lagos, Nigeria and her team will identify and characterize the non-hormonal contraceptive activity of selected fertility-regulating plant extracts for the development into vaginal herbal contraceptive products with no irritations to the vagina and cervical mucosa. The team will screen crude plant extracts for sperm immobilization and sperm migration inhibition activity. They will carry out sperm function tests on plant extracts and evaluate the vaginal contraceptive activity of the extracts in female rabbits. The team willinvestigate the safety of contraceptive plant extract on cervical and vaginal mucosa epithelia via in vitro and in vivo models. They will identify the chemical constituents of the vaginal contraceptive plant extract that elicits the non-hormonal contraceptive effect.

Building the Evidence Between Gender-Based Violence and Maternal and Perinatal Health: A South African Bio-Behavioural Longitudinal Study

South African Medical Research Council
South Africa

Obed Brew of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana will explore applying a combination of AI-based analytical approaches to clinical data for early detection of preeclampsia in pregnancy to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

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The aim of Dr Sy’s project is to develop and improve mathematical and artificial intelligence (AI) models to estimate the impact of current and future climate change on the abundance, seasonal activity, vector capacity and population dynamics of Anopheles gambiae s.l.. These mosquitoes are mainly responsible for residual malaria transmission in northern and central Senegal. Climate change is thought to contribute to the persistence of residual malaria transmission in Senegal by supporting vector populations. To assess the risks associated with transmission, morbidity and mortality, it is necessary to combine biological models and climate scenarios using new technological approaches such as artificial intelligence and mathematical modelling.

By analysing data over two decades (2000 to 2023), it will be possible to adapt strategies and make predictions. The risks of a malaria epidemic can be identified at an early stage. This will ensure that the gains of the NMCP are not lost. It will also allow us to continue on the path towards the elimination of this disease, which is still possible in Senegal.

SNPs, Allosteric Modulations, Dynamic Residue Networks: Combined Approaches Towards Modern Computational Drug Discovery

Rhodes University
South Africa

Paul Macharia of the University of Nairobi in Kenya will develop an LLM-based platform to give healthcare providers real-time access to comprehensive, up-to-date, adolescent HIV information for enhanced decision-making and better patient health outcomes.

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She holds a joint appointment as Honorary Senior Scientist at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research (CAPRISA), University of Kwazulu-Natal. Moore directs a team of more than 20 scientists, three post-docs and 14 postgraduate students working in HIV and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine discovery, combining virology, immunology, and bioinformatics. The team has expanded its scope to include Ebola, Influenza, Cytomegalovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Moore focuses on mentorship and capacity development, having supervised 18 Honors students, 27 MSc students and 13 PhD students in her lab and at other African institutes. She has published more than 180 papers, predominantly on HIV and SARS-CoV-2 antibody response and viral escape. She has an H-factor of 47 and hold a South African National Research Foundation B1 rating. Moore has made key findings to defining how broadly neutralizing antibodies develop, which contributed to the development of HIV vaccine design. She has also made significant additions to understanding viral sensitivity and escape from broadly neutralizing antibodies. Moore and her team have built on their work studying SARS-CoV-2 binding antibodies, neutralizing antibodies and Fc effector function in convalescent and vaccine sera with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 variants to COVID-19.  

Research Summary  

GIISER-SA aims to establish immunological surveillance and develop immunodiagnostics for locally and regionally relevant pathogens, with an additional focus on training and capacity augmentation within the GIISER network. 

Dr. Peter Kojo Quashie is the Deputy Director (Research) at WACCBIP, managing research operations, partnerships, student training, workshops, and staff. He led most of WACCBIP’s well-publicized research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quashie’s group is currently studying the impact of endemic comorbidity on West African HIV response. It leads the WACCBIP long-term HIV Infection CoHort Study -- recruiting, sampling, and characterizing HIV infection in 1000 newly diagnosed Ghanaians. Its research has focused on the West African immune system's response to SARS-Cov-2 infection and vaccination, and the role of endemic malaria.

Polly Okello of Medbook Kenya Limited in Kenya will develop a set of LLMs to support frontline healthcare workers in rural areas and among marginalized populations in Kenya.

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Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER) is envisioned as a collection of geographically distinct sites that can pair their local pathogen sequencing surveillance and clinical epidemiology with local immunological understanding and tools. Prof Kaleebu studies the characterization of circulating SARS CoV-2 variants to inform timely public health responses; these include the molecular, antigenic, and immune profiling and response to vaccines. His work has been applied to other emerging infections, such as Ebola virus infection and Rift Valley Fever. The project has contributed to scientific studies of B-cell receptor analyses and monoclonal antibody generation at UVRI and has been used in training and collaborations.

Prince Adjei of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana will develop an AI-based tool to support clinicians and patients in managing complications and comorbidities in pregnancies, focusing on pre-gestational and gestational diabetes.

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Medicinal Chemistry Progression of Hits Identified from the MMV Pathogen Box for Malaria and Tuberculosis

University of Ghana (UG)

Uganda

Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Each initiative is an experiment in the use of challenges to focus innovation on making an impact. Individual challenges address some of the same problems, but from differing perspectives.

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Rose Nakasi of Makerere University in Uganda will develop an AI-based platform to support diagnosis and management of cervical cancer in Uganda.

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Kenya Health Information Systems and Confidential Enquiry Datasets to Analyse Facility-Based Maternal Mortality and Develop Models to Improve Quality Childbirth Care

Aga Khan University
Kenya

Steven Wanyee of IntelliSOFT Consulting Limited in Kenya will develop an AI-based framework for analysis of cervical cancer registry data to identify epidemiological trends and improve surveillance and prevention efforts.

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Enhancing Local Level Climate Adaptation Systems in Musanze District, Rwanda

GanzAfrica takes a systems level intervention to strengthen local adaptation capacities through a bottom-up, locally driven, multi-sectoral and youth centered approach. Climate adaptation initiatives in many countries are largely top-down, where decisions are made at central level due to limited local capacity of local actors. We deploy young adaptation champions in local departments of agriculture, land, and environment, to facilitate and coordinate adaptation initiatives. They will consult stakeholders and gather local perspectives, create inventories of data and evidence including documenting local knowledge and practices, setting up a demo plot to showcase adaptation practices, develop stakeholder collaboration and coordination frameworks, train local champions, set up community climate information, and community peer-learning systems. In the process, we create a platform for communities, sectors, and partners to collaborate, co-learn, co-create, test and co-implement evidence informed, context specific adaptation measures. Lessons drawn are harnessed to scale adaptation approaches and inform national policy.

Diversifying Gambian diets for health and Environmental Sustainability (DiGES)

 Zakari Ali of the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM in The Gambia will identify and promote the consumption and production of underutilized crops that are more resilient to climate change, reduce environmental impacts, and have positive health attributes. Studies have investigated different ways to produce enough food under climate change – with diverse evidence of success. This project will examine how populations can demand and consume foods that are more climate resilient. The project uses population diet as the entry point to agricultural adaption to climate change by identifying the barriers and opportunities for populations to demand and consume locally available and climate resilient foods. They will model different food system scenarios under climate change – engage food system stakeholders, policymakers and local farmers, and use social behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategies to promote the demand, consumption, and production of climate resilient crops.