The Global Virus Network (GVN), for the first time, it is awarding pandemic preparedness research grants, totaling $160,000, to GVN scientists across four continents. These awards support innovative, investigator-led projects designed to enhance viral surveillance, early detection, and scientific preparedness, particularly in regions vulnerable to emerging and re-emerging viral threats. One of the grant recipients is Victoria Etuk ( a research affiliate at IRCE–IHVN), whose project will establish a wastewater-based early-detection system for emerging pathogens in Nigeria – using metagenomics, AI, and geospatial mapping. Read the full press release here: https://tinyurl.com/mw6c8sk7

Through its Mpox Action Committee and Centers of Excellence, GVN has initiated one of the first coordinated, multi-country evaluations of rapid point-of-care mpox diagnostics, a critical step to prevent resurgence and ensure the world is better prepared for future epidemics. GVN’s coordinated effort spans four countries and includes leading scientists from Emory University (USA), the University of St Andrews (UK), the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, and the University of Health Sciences Otukpo (Nigeria). Teams are comparing rapid diagnostic kits against gold-standard PCR assays, testing their performance on real clinical samples, and analyzing operational feasibility in resource-limited settings. Sophia Osawe, MPH, PhD, head of department research operations and senior research manager at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, a GVN Center of Excellence, is leveraging her team’s biorepository of mpox samples to compare diagnostic kits under ISO-accredited lab conditions. Read more: https://gvn.org/global-virus-network-launches-multi-country-mpox-diagnostic-evaluation-to-close-global-preparedness-gaps/

The INFORM Africa Project, in collaboration with the DSI Africa Coordinating Center, is offering a free virtual training session on Data Lakehouse on the 22nd October 2025 at 1 pm WAT. The Data Lakehouse training session aims to build participants’ understanding and hands-on skills in data management, integration, and analysis using the Data Lakehouse architecture. The session will introduce participants to key tools and workflows that bridge traditional data lakes and data warehouses, enhancing data-driven decision-making capabilities within government institutions. Target Participants Proficiency in the use of programming languages like R and Python is a requirement for participants See the flyer for more details