Major new funding harnesses AI to combat infectious disease

The University of St Andrews’ School of Medicine is playing a key role in a major new effort to strengthen Africa’s ability to predict and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, following the award of a €1.3 million international grant. 

The funding, provided by Global Health EDCTP3, will support the African Training Network for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Infectious Diseases Modelling (AFRITRAC), a four-year initiative bringing together 14 institutions across Africa and Europe. 

St Andrews is working alongside the EDCTP Association to coordinate the project, with scientific leadership from the Uganda National Institute of Public Health. 

Dr Wilber Sabiiti, Principal Research Fellow at St Andrews’ School of Medicine, said: “The University of St Andrews is proud to have played a critical role in building the consortium that brings Africa together, which showcases the University’s commitment to holistic solutions which help tackle global health challenges.” 

Running from May 2026 to April 2030, AFRITRAC aims to address critical gaps in disease modelling expertise identified by the World Health Organization, particularly in the use of big data, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics.  

At the heart of the initiative is a focus on training. The project will support 28 fellows – 10 at master’s level and 18 specialising in infectious disease modelling – across eight sub-Saharan African countries that are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. By working through a network of universities, AFRITRAC will both deliver existing training programmes and help build new ones, creating a sustainable pipeline of skilled epidemiologists and data scientists. 

Dr Alex Riolexus Ario of the Uganda National Institute of Public Health described the investment as a “pivotal step” in developing the next generation of African experts. 

“At the Uganda National Institute of Public Health, we recognize the value of collaborative, Africa-led approaches to capacity building. By strengthening partnerships such as those advanced through AFRITRAC, we are not only enhancing technical expertise but also building a resilient, self-reliant public health workforce for the continent,” said Alex. 

Beyond technical skills, the programme will also support collaboration across linguistic and regional boundaries, promoting mobility between French- and English-speaking countries and strengthening communication and community engagement skills among participants. 

The AFRITRAC project is closely aligned with the Africa CDC 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, which seeks to address severe workforce shortages, including a deficit of more than 4,000 field epidemiologists across the continent. By investing in Africa’s young professionals, AFRITRAC contributes to the broader African Union Agenda 2063 vision: “The Africa We Want.” 

Dr Debora Bade, Project Officer, EDCTP Association, said: “Through AFRITRAC, the EDCTP Association is proud to work with a diverse group of African and European institutions around a shared vision: strengthening the continent’s ability to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases. Our role is to ensure that the project is delivered efficiently, transparently, and with long-term impact for the institutions and communities it serves.” 

Through targeted training and institutional strengthening, AFRITRAC aims to ensure that African institutions are better equipped to anticipate, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats using innovative data-driven approaches.