CELESTA 2.0
Genomic surveillance of outbreak-prone viral diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and globally
Context
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of genomic surveillance for protecting public health. By analysing the genetic material of viruses, outbreaks can be detected earlier, transmission pathways can be understood, and effective control measures can be implemented. This is particularly useful, for example, when new variants emerge or if the origin of outbreaks needs to be clarified. However, many low-resource regions lack trained personnel, laboratory infrastructure, and easy-to-use analytical tools. This limits their ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats. CELESTA 2.0 addresses these gaps by strengthening genomic surveillance capacity for emerging viral infections. Its focus is on sub-Saharan Africa and global low-resource regions. Building on the first project phase, CELESTA 2.0 is expanding existing sequencing capacities in Guinea, Nigeria, and mobile laboratories. In parallel, a user-friendly toolbox for genomic analysis is developed and made globally accessible facilitating the implementation of modern methods under challenging conditions. Furthermore, the project enhances local expertise through training activities and close collaboration in national surveillance laboratories. By extending the network to partners in Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Pakistan, CELESTA 2.0 promotes cooperation among countries in low- and middle-income countries. It also supports integrated approaches to protect human, animal, and environmental health from emerging viral threats.
Objective
Enhanced global monitoring of emerging viral infections through improved molecular surveillance in selected project countries
In Cooperation with
- Centre de Recherche en Virologie, Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de Guinée (CRV-LFHVG), Conakry, Guinea
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de Gueckédou, Gueckédou, Guinea
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de L’Hôpital Régional de N’Zérékoré (LFHV-HRNZE), N’Zérékoré, Guinea
- Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (IAM), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- National Institute for Research on Public Health (INSPI), Quito, Ecuador
- Evolutionary Genetics Section, Faculty of Science, University of Uruguay, Udelar, Uruguay
- Public Health Reference Laboratory – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PHRL-KP), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Institute of Public Health & Social Sciences (IPH&SS), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Evolutionary and Computational Virology, KU Leuven, Belgium
Thematic priorities
Facts
Activities
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Research and provision of evidence
The project publishes research results on genomic surveillance of highly infectious pathogens in internationally recognised journals and communicates findings to official bodies such as local health authorities.
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Networking and cooperation
The project promotes cooperation and scientific exchange between laboratories for genomic surveillance of highly infectious pathogens in low- and middle-income countries (West Africa, South America, Middle East).
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Capacity building
CELESTA 2.0 expands sequencing capacities in three existing partner laboratories. It also broadens the collaborations for genomic surveillance of exist-ing and emerging pathogens in low- and middle-income countries (South America, Middle East). In addition, it supports the implementation of bioinformatic processing and analysis of sequencing data (hardware and software) and the introduction of new and expansion of existing quality management systems. In doing so, it ensures the delivery of high-quality genome sequencing data.
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Training and competence development
The project trains laboratory personnel in diagnostics, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, molecular epidemiology, and research on genomic surveillance of highly infectious pathogens.
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Procurement of material and equipment
CELESTA 2.0 promotes the establishment, expansion, and maintenance of stationary and mobile laboratories for genome monitoring.
