SeqNET+

Network for genomic diagnostics and surveillance on lung pathogens with a focus on drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Context

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases and is closely linked to low socioeconomic and poor sanitary conditions. The increasing emergence of tuberculosis strains resistant to key medicines poses a serious threat to global tuberculosis control. In many countries with a high disease burden, rapid diagnostic methods and modern molecular surveillance systems are only sparsely available. This leads to delayed detection of drug-resistant cases and inadequate or incorrect treatment of tuberculosis patients. The aim of SeqNET+ is to strengthen the diagnostics and molecular surveillance of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the project countries. The development of culture-free sequencing methods will be further advanced and reinforced through hands-on training programmes. This also involves enhancing collaboration between project countries and identifying key needs to enable the targeted planning of interventions. SeqNET+ will further develop sequencing-based diagnostic methods for tuberculosis and other lung infections and expand molecular surveillance of resistant strains. It will also enhance the skills of healthcare workers in molecular diagnostics and data interpretation. In addition, the project seeks to develop an app-based tool to support laboratories in planning sequencing strategies. SeqNET+ builds on the successful Sub-Saharan SeqNET project. It is implemented in collaboration with partner institutions in Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, and the Republic of Moldova, including national reference laboratories, research institutions, and public health organisations.

Objective

Improved management of drug-resistant tuberculosis outbreaks in Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and the Republic of Moldova through sustainable integration of sequencing-based diagnostics and molecular surveillance into national public health systems

In Cooperation with

  • Ospedale San Raffaele (OSR), Milan, Italy
  • Inselspital Bern (ISB), Bern, Switzerland
  • Eswatini Ministry of Health (MoH_ESW): National TB Reference Laboratory Eswatini (NTRL_ESW), Eswatini National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL_ESW), National TB Control Program Eswatini (NTCP_ESW), Mbabane, Eswatini
  • Baylor College of Medicine Eswatini (Baylor_ESW), Mbabane, Eswatini
  • Baylor College of Medicine Houston (BCM), Houston, USA
  • Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Maputo, Mozambique
  • University of Namibia (UNAM), School of Medicine, Windhoek, Namibia
  • National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL_MOL), Phthisiopneumology Institute, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
  • WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Deutsches Zentralkomitee zur Bekämpfung der Tuberkulose (DZK), Berlin, Germany

Thematic priorities

  • Infection prevention and control
  • Laboratory diagnostics

Facts

Duration

01.01.2026 - 31.12.2028

Budget

ca. 2,470,000 EUR

Project Countries

  • Eswatini
  • Moldova
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia

Implementing Institution

Research Centre Borstel, Leibniz Lung Centre

Contact

Prof Dr Stefan Niemann
Dr Christine Gerlach
Dr Leonardo de Araujo
Research Centre Borstel, Leibniz Lung Centre (FZB)
Parkallee 1-40
23845 Borstel, Germany
sniemann@fz-borstel.de
cgerlach@fz-borstel.de
ldearaujo@fz-borstel.de

Activities

 

  • Research and provision of evidence

    SeqNET+ generates evidence on the use of modern sequencing technologies for tuberculosis diagnosis and surveillance in countries heavily affected by the disease and with limited resources. The project evaluates how culture-free sequencing improves the early detection of drug resistance and informs public health decision-making in these specific settings.

  • Networking and cooperation

    SeqNET+ strengthens local, regional, and international cooperation between laboratories, research institutions, and public health organisations such as the WHO. The project fosters knowledge exchange, joint training activities, and long-term partnerships to enhance collaboration on tuberculosis diagnostics and molecular surveillance.

  • Capacity building

    SeqNET+ strengthens institutional capacities by supporting laboratories in the use of sequencing technologies, improving workflows, procurement of materials, and data interpretation, and providing hands-on training and opportunities for continued education. The project enables partner institutions to better leverage existing infrastructure for tuberculosis research, as well as diagnosis and molecular surveillance.

  • Training and competence development

    SeqNET+ supports individual skill development through hands-on laboratory and bioinformatics training, on-the-job learning, and webinars, employing a train-the trainer approach. A further online platform provides guidance on sequencing data interpretation, helping healthcare and laboratory staff apply modern diagnostic methods in routine practice.

  • Procurement of material and equipment

    The project seeks to utilise or establish local supply chains wherever possible. It collaborates with the relevant ministries to obtain customs exemptions when it is necessary to import consumables or equipment into the partner countries.

  • Policy Support

    National action plans are developed collaboratively in conferences with local, national, and international stakeholders. This enables the direct integration of project results into the infectious disease management plans of national health authorities.