NAIROBI: Aga Khan University has announced a partnership with 12 leading African and European institutions to train the next generation of infectious disease experts. The collaboration aims to enhance health informatics and data sciences skills among African researchers, fostering innovation and resilience within the region’s health systems.
According to Kenya News Agency, the BRIDGE Network program, jointly funded by the European Union and the Global Health EDCTP3, offers 14 doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships and 20 postgraduate certifications. The initiative is led by Ghent University and seeks to establish five Centres of Excellence in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Benin, and South Africa. These centers are envisioned as hubs for groundbreaking research, training, and solutions addressing infectious diseases that persistently impact millions across Africa.
At the launch event in Nairobi, Prof. Pascal Coorevits, Project Coordinator and Professor of Medical Informatics and Statistics at Ghent University, highl
ighted the program’s significance. He described it as a transformative step in infectious disease research on the continent, emphasizing the role of the new generation of experts in addressing local challenges and contributing to global pandemic responses.
Coorevits pointed out that the initiative aims to reduce the skills gap in data-driven research, enhancing the region’s capacity to manage current and emerging health crises. He underscored the combination of advanced academic training with practical experience as a means to develop professionals who can transform public health. The Centres of Excellence are expected to not only train experts but also become enduring centers of research and innovation.
Prof. Marleen Temmerman, Director of Aga Khan University’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa, affirmed the importance of the initiative, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa is at the forefront of the global fight against infectious diseases. She highlighted the empowerment of local rese
archers to lead impactful regional and global solutions.
The BRIDGE Network’s mission extends beyond training, aiming to redefine Africa’s approach to infectious diseases through local innovation, global collaboration, and data-driven strategies. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in building resilient health systems capable of protecting populations from current and future health threats.