Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa Discovery Platforms in Science

The Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) fosters investigator-led approaches via the overarching scientific objective of combatting infection, especially HIV-1, tuberculosis (TB) and lower respiratory infections including COVID-19. The centre is already organised into three platforms supporting Clinical Science, Basic Science and Data integration. This application will strategically build on, and sustain, the success of these platforms by providing skilled human and state-of-the-art technical resources. Specifically 1. The clinical platform will strengthen capacity to investigate more rational use of existing, repurposed and new anti-infectives and vaccines by supporting its facilities to provide imaging, regulatory compliance, data capture and analysis and on site laboratory capability. In particular the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analyses will be improved by appointment of senior nurse dedicated to PK/PD studies and by the part-time appointment of a pharmacometrician. 2. The Basic Science will expand access and training in existing world-class imaging facilities to provide project specific solutions and expertise to projects that require single cell technologies. 3. The Data integration platform will increase availability of end-to-end bioinformatic services and also increase the ability of researchers to harness the Public Health Data Centre: a continentally unique single consolidated environment for person-level health data.