A North-South partnership between the Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU) at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), has received approximately R8,7 million in funding under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO) UK-SA Health System Strengthening Partnership.
This project will leverage genomic surveillance to monitor respiratory viruses, like Influenza, Metapneumovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 in real-time to boost pandemic preparedness in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.
This initiative underscores the vital role of data sharing and international collaboration to create a unified, robust surveillance system for faster, more coordinated responses to emerging global health threats. The project will advance seasonal disease preparedness and build local capacity to address global health challenges.
“This partnership is about building bridges between the northern and southern hemispheres to ensure that both regions are better prepared for future health challenges," said Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI and the lead of the team that discovered SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron variants. “In the age of nationalism and global division, our collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the UK FCDO will not only improve global genomic surveillance capabilities but also create a framework for knowledge exchange, biosecurity and capacity building."
The project will focus on genomic monitoring of respiratory viruses; key culprits behind seasonal infections and potential pandemics. By harnessing advanced genomic techniques, researchers aim to track emerging variants, identify drug and vaccine resistance strains, and provide actionable insights to public health authorities and the development of medical countermeasures.
John Sillitoe, Director of the Genomic Surveillance Unit at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, emphasised the global impact of this endeavour: “Our joint efforts with CERI will enable the development of a robust, integrated surveillance system that will inform public health responses across continents. By combining expertise and infrastructure, we can accelerate the fight against infectious diseases and build capacity to improve global health."
The start of the programme was preceded by a visit of Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the FDCO, and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords in the UK, to CERI on 4 November 2024. During his visit to CERI last year, UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins of Highbury commented: “South Africa is taking a leading role in science and research across the continent, and the UK is proud to be supporting this. Together we are collaborating on global health, security and science for a stronger, more resilient future." (link)
In addition to the research milestones, this initiative sets a precedent for fostering equitable global partnerships in health innovation. It builds on previous investments by the South African and UK governments, the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank and the Wellcome Trust, and other stakeholders, maximising existing infrastructure and human capital to ensure impactful outcomes.
Antony Phillipson, High Commissioner to South Africa stated “Investing in global health is in all our interests and strengthening our cooperation in disease surveillance is key if we are to be better prepared for pandemics and work together on shared global health challenges. I'm excited to see this boost to our bilateral partnership; it is a key part of our programme to support South Africa in health systems strengthening."
“This partnership is a testament to the power of global collaboration in advancing public health. By combining world-class expertise from South Africa and the UK, we are not only strengthening genomic surveillance but also fostering innovation that will enhance pandemic preparedness worldwide. Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 is proud to be at the forefront of this crucial work, ensuring that science serves society by enabling faster, more effective responses to emerging health threats," said Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor.
Key goals of the project include:
- Establishing a shared, multi-pathogen genomic surveillance system for respiratory viruses.
- Facilitating data and knowledge exchange between the UK and South Africa research institutes and national public health laboratories in SA (NICD) and UK (UK Health Security Agency) to inform seasonal disease preparedness.
- Training research fellows to optimise genomic methodologies and build local capacity for epidemic and pandemic response.?
The project also positions South Africa as a leader in genomic surveillance and pandemic preparedness, emphasising the critical role of global data sharing to enhance public health responses. By fostering collaboration between experts in the UK and South Africa, the initiative aims to establish an interconnected system that enables real-time detection, analysis, and action against emerging health threats.?
