AfroLabNet: African Laboratory Network

Short Description

The capacity to safely diagnose infectious diseases caused by tropical pathogens with epidemic potential is limited in many African countries. This limitation in diagnostic capacities results in failure to react adequately to outbreaks, which likely contributed to the delayed response observed during the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. 

This programme aims to bridge existing gaps and enhance capacity by strengthening infectious disease diagnostic laboratories in Africa, enabling tropical, epidemic, emerging, and rare infectious diseases to be diagnosed on-site.

The project includes two modules, module 1.1 focusing on stationary laboratories and module 1.2 on mobile laboratories.

Aims of the Project

Module 1.1

• Gradual expansion of diagnostic capacities in partner countries for rapid detection of emerging infectious diseases
• Development of a sustainable, partnership-based concept
• Establishment of long-term cooperation in order to respond rapidly in the event of an outbreak and to implement specific research projects within the partnership
• Collaborative studies on pathogen occurrence

Module 1.2

• Provide Mobile Lab units in Africa and Europe ready for operation, i.e. keep laboratories technologically up-to-date, maintain and replace equipment if necessary.
• Carry out further training missions in Europe and Africa to maintain a stable pool of staff for immediate deployment.

In Cooperation with

Module 1.1

1. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Institute for Lassa Fever Research and Control (ILFRC), Nigeria
2. Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales, Centre de Recherche en Virologie (PFHG), Guinea
3. Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de Gueckédou (LFHV-GKD), Guinea
4. Laboratoire de diagnostic des Fièvres Hémorragiques du Benin (LFHB), Benin

Module 1.2

1. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Institute for Lassa Fever Research and Control (ILFRC), Nigeria
2. Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin
3. Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology, Germany
4. National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) Spallanzani, Italy
5. Participants from all over Europe (Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland)

Last update: December 2022