About the grantee

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.