Consortium meeting in Kigali advances genomic epidemiology in Ethiopia

EpiGen Ethiopia’s second consortium meeting in June 2025 brought together partners from across Ethiopia and Europe to reflect on scientific progress, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and align on strategic priorities.

Building on the momentum of the 2023 kick-off, the meeting highlighted key milestones, including the collection of over 2,000 clinical and environmental samples, support for 17 PhD students, the delivery of 11 national training sessions, and more than €14 million in follow-up funding applications. Discussions covered progress in molecular surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, climate–health modelling, and digital health integration.

The meeting at the Lemigo Hotel in Kigali was specifically scheduled alongside the EDCTP3 Forum since many consortium members would already be in Rwanda. This enabled a productive in-person exchange within a broader context of regional scientific engagement.

PhD students presented research on malaria, measles, cholera, AI-assisted diagnostics, and real-time surveillance systems, demonstrating the consortium’s commitment to both scientific excellence and long-term capacity building.

Strategic reflections emphasised the importance of integration across work packages, stronger engagement of regional institutions, and alignment with national public health priorities. The meeting reaffirmed the shared ambition to build a sustainable, data-driven genomic surveillance platform to inform public health action across Ethiopia.

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