EpiGen Ethiopia: Building Scalable Pathogen Genomic Epidemiology for Ethiopia

The 21st century witnessed an increased incidence of epidemics (Zika, dengue, Ebola, SARS),with the latest highlight being COVID-19. Following the outbreak of several infectiousdiseases during the last few decades, the need for generating real-time pathogen genomicdata for public health action has become more important than ever. In the African context,infrastructure, human resource capability, data analysis, including bioinformatics, lack oflinkage between clinical, epidemiological, and pathogen genomic data as well as theinteraction between clinicians, researchers, and decision-makersare some of the majorchallenges.

EpiGen project’s multi-disciplinary consortium is drawn from several institutions from Ethiopia engaged in National Public Health Programs, and EU partners. Overall, the model approach proposed by EpiGen will enhance Ethiopia’s national effort in mitigating the threat of infectious diseases. The implementation of a national genomic-informed surveillance for infectious diseases will play a significant public health role in contributing to disease prevention and control programs in Ethiopia and beyond.

The aim of the EpiGen project is to build capacity for an integrated pathogen genomic surveillance system that can then inform public health decisions. The specific overarching objectives include strengthening the collection and analysis of clinical and epidemiological data, enhancing the capacity and capability for pathogen genomic sequencing, including strengthening the laboratory infrastructure, human workforce, pathogen genomic data analysis, and the integration of metadata with genomic data, developing and implementing innovative digital diagnostic platforms, creating mobile phone applications which update in semi-real time for policy decisions, and promoting communities of practice and knowledge exchange through fostering African collaboration and networking in the domain of pathogen genomic surveillance for infectious diseases.

EpiGen Ethiopia has 10 work packages:

1. Ethics Requiremenrs
2. Project Management and Overall Communication
3. Setting Up Networks for Collecting of Metadata
4. Enhance Capacity for Pathogen Genomics
5. Digitalization and Implementation Support of IDSR and (RDT) Diagnostics
6. Creating and Using Mobile Phone Dashboards for Policy Decisions
7. Landscaping and Connection to DHIS-2.
8. Linkage to Global Health Research Networks
9. Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication.
10. Collaboration Activities for Genomic Epidemiology in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Project details

Epidemiology
Genetics and Genomics
Health Workforce
Surveillance

Jun 2023 — May 2028

$5.87M

Ethiopia