EMPOWER
Improving in-country scientific capacity through training, engagement, and collaboration with public health institutions in West Africa to strengthen the public health system and create sustainable pandemic prevention infrastructure.
Sustainable pandemic prevention starts and ends with strong public health systems that are prepared to respond to new outbreaks, have the infrastructure and capacity to monitor pathogen outbreaks, and respond to emerging threats. While diagnostic and analytic technologies are important, pandemic prevention and response is driven by people on the ground. We are EMPOWERING scientists and public health officials in Africa with the tools needed to support sequencing, diagnostics, bioinformatics, and viral surveillance across West Africa, all the while developing public health partnerships to build local disease surveillance capacity.
Training
Providing clinical, laboratory, and public health workers with best-in-class, hands-on training and resources to support building local scientific capacity.
Sentinel has trained scientists and public health officials in 53 countries in Africa on sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and instrumentation.
Key training initiatives:Next generation sequencing (NGS): qPCR and diagnostic sequencingMetagenomic sequencing: multi-sample, multi-pathogen sequencingBioinformatic analysis: transmission and evolution of pathogensInstrumentation: assay development
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Capacity Building
Increasing genomic and training capacity in West Africa with the establishment of the Genomics Centre at Redeemer’s University.
This state of the art facility supports BSL3 lab space, a dedicated training center, and increased throughput capacity for sample processing, genomic sequencing, research, and analysis.
Infrastructure Support
Supporting Sentinel sites with needed infrastructure improvements to facilitate sustainable workflows
This support includes access to starlink to improve internet access,
Solar power to combat unstable power grid access at our sites. Stabilizing the power grid supports more stable access to electricity for lab operations, and helps extend the life cycle of the equipment in the lab
Continued Engagement
Building upon existing relationships and forging new partnerships with local public health entities and private organizations to expand our visibility across the continent and allow us tailor our approach to the communities we serve.
