Consortium showcases research achievements at national summit, gathers for annual meeting

The EpiGen Ethiopia consortium successfully showcased its achievements in pathogen genomic epidemiology research at the Evidence-Informed Decision Making (EIDM) summit.

The consortium also convened its annual consortium meeting on 26 June 2026 at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), bringing together consortium members, researchers, and PhD students to review progress and strengthen collaboration.

At the EIDM Summit, held from 23–25 June 2026 at the Adwa Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, the team delivered an oral presentation and exhibited seven scientific posters highlighting ongoing research in pathogen genomics, bioinformatics, workforce development, and evidence generation for public health. The presentations demonstrated the consortium's growing contribution to strengthening Ethiopia's capacity to apply genomic science in public health research and policy.

EPHI’s director-general, Dr Mesay Hailu, opened the consortium meeting. He described EpiGen Ethiopia as an impactful and transformative initiative that is helping to build Ethiopia's capacity for precision public health. Hailu emphasised that the project has made significant contributions to strengthening pathogen genomic sequencing and bioinformatics capabilities, which are fundamental to advancing precision medicine and precision public health. He further noted that EpiGen Ethiopia is supporting the development of tailored public health interventions while investing in the country's scientific workforce – the cornerstone of a sustainable precision public health system.

The consortium meeting provided an opportunity to review the project's achievements and discuss future priorities. Key agenda items included presentations on EpiGen Ethiopia’s research priorities – drug-resistant TB, cholera, antimicrobial resistance, rabies, malaria, Shigella, typhoidal salmonella, measles, and rotavirus and other enteric viruses – as well as research progress updates from 13 PhD students and a scientific presentation by Prof. Tobias on invisible migrants. Consortium members then had a productive discussion. The meeting reinforced the consortium's shared commitment to scientific excellence, capacity building, and collaborative research.

The successful organisation of both events reflects the strong partnership among EPHI, Ethiopian and international academic institutions, researchers, and students working together through the EpiGen Ethiopia consortium. As the project continues to strengthen national capacity in genomics and bioinformatics, it is playing an increasingly important role in supporting evidence-informed decision-making and advancing precision public health in Ethiopia.

The EpiGen Ethiopia Consortium remains committed to generating high-quality scientific evidence, developing the next generation of researchers, and translating genomic innovations into improved health outcomes for the Ethiopian population.