FZB NeuesLogo 2017 Deutsch

News 2025

Teilnehmende des PANGenS-Konsortiums-Meeting in Windhoek, Namibia
Participants of the PANGenS consortium meeting in Windhoek, Namibia

17.02.2025

PANGenS-Consortium Meeting in Windhoek, Namibia: Advancing TB and Malaria Sequencing Technology Across 12 African Countries

Scientists from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in Ghana, the Research Center Borstel Leibniz Lung Center (RCB) in Germany, and partner institutions from across Africa and Europe gathered in Windhoek, Namibia, for the second annual meeting of the „Pan-African Network for Genomic Surveillance of Poverty Related Disease and Emerging Pathogens (PANGenS)“ consortium to discuss advancements in the capacity building strategy of this Global Health EDCTP3 funded initiative.

The PANGenS-consortium, coordinated by both Prof Dorothy Yeboah-Manu from NMIR in Ghana and Prof. Stefan Niemann from RCB in Germany, is expanding south-south and north-south research collaborations, is training the next generation of African scientists with cutting-edge techniques, and advancing disease surveillance by pathogen sequencing. This initiative contributes to the African Union Agenda, which strives for a high standard of living, quality of life, and well-being by promoting education, health, and nutrition, among other key goals. The main purpose of this project is to increase Africa’s capacity in genomic epidemiology and to conduct genomic surveillance of drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria across 12 African countries. The meeting marked a significant milestone in a collaborative effort spanning one and a half years, during which partners have been organizing workshops, hands on training units and driving the implementation of sequencing technologies in their respective countries. The conference in Windhoek served as a vital platform for exchanging experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in sequencing Mycobacterium tuberculosis and malaria pathogens. Participants shared their progress and challenges, highlighting the impact of workshops conducted over the past 18 months to strengthen local capacity and integrate sequencing technologies into national public health systems.

African partners engaged in discussions with colleagues from the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, fostering cross-regional collaboration. Project leaders from African countries presented their achievements and challenges, contributing to a dynamic and insightful exchange of knowledge.

Highlights of the Consortium Meeting:

  • Experience Sharing: Representatives presented outcomes from their workshops, highlighting successful training programs, collaborative research initiatives, and the development of local expertise in sequencing technologies.
  • Implementation Insights: Discussions focused on integrating sequencing tools into national health systems, overcoming barriers such as resource limitations, and ensuring sustainability.
  • Innovation and Collaboration: The partners shared their experiences in improving tuberculosis and malaria surveillance through the use of modern sequencing technologies, focusing on the generation of valid data, data and quality assurance and data sharing.

Kontakt

Stefan Niemann

Prof. Dr. Stefan Niemann

T +49 4537 / 188-7620
F +49 4537 / 188-2091
sniemann@fz-borstel.de


 

„This meeting represents a crucial step forward in our mission to harness sequencing technology for better disease control,“ said Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana. „By coming together, we are not only sharing knowledge but also building a collective vision for a future where sequencing plays a central role in combating TB and malaria.“

The consortium reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the adoption of sequencing technology, with plans to scale up workshops and technology implementation in the coming years. The discussions in Windhoek laid the groundwork for the next phase of the project, aiming to address implementation challenges and broaden the impact of sequencing technologies in public health. Prof. Stefan Nieman said at the end of the conference: „I am truly impressed by the remarkable progress the PANGenS consortium has achieved over the past year and a half in introducing DNA sequencing technology. This collaboration has fostered strong partnerships and developed innovative strategies to further contain the spread of tuberculosis effectively in the future. In the case of malaria, we will intensify our efforts to use modern diagnostic methods to better understand the disease and thus successfully combat it“.

About the Consortium: The PAN-AFRICA NETWORK FOR GENOMIC SURVEILLANCE OF POVERTY RELATED DISEASE AND EMERGING PATHOGENS (PANGenS) is part of the EDCTP3 programme supported by the European Union. The Institutions involves in the project are: Research Center Borstel, Germany (Coordinator); University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana (Co-Coordinator); KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV), The Netherlands; Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Mozambique; Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Tanzania; University of Namibia (UNAM), Namibia; National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Nigeria; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Gabon; Laboratoire des Fièvres Virales Hémorragiques (LFVH)/ Ministère de la Santé du Bénin, Benin; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (LSHTM-MRCG), The Gambia; German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH (DSMZ) Germany; Centre for Tuberculosis and WHO TB Supranational Reference Laboratory/ National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South-Africa; Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Sierra Leone; Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire-Virologie, Institut National d’Hygiène (INH-Togo), Togo; National Public Health Reference Laboratory-National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Charlesville, Margibi County (PHIL), Liberia; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Switzerland (Associated Partner)

2025           2024           2023           2022