UNIMA Joins Strategic International Partnership to Advance Infectious Disease Research in Africa
The University of Malawi (UNIMA) has joined a strategic international partnership that has secured a prestigious Global Health EDCTP3 grant to strengthen Sub-Saharan Africa's capacity to prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases through advanced research, training and regional collaboration.
The initiative, known as the Sustainable Training in Epidemiological Analysis and Modelling for Data-Driven Decision Making in Africa (STEAM-3D), is led by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) through its Biostatistics Research Unit in collaboration with the Burden of Disease Research Unit, Health Systems Research Unit, Cochrane South Africa and the HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit.
As one of the consortium partners, UNIMA joins Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique, Douala General Hospital in Cameroon and the University of Hasselt in Belgium in a collaborative effort to build a new generation of African experts in epidemiology, biostatistics and infectious disease modelling.
UNIMA's contribution to the project is led by co-investigators from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dr HalimaTwabi, Dr Jupiter Simbeye and Dr Milliward Maliyoni.
The project will deliver intensive multidisciplinary training workshops in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Cameroon before expanding to other countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The training will combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on analysis of real public health data, equipping researchers and public health professionals with the skills needed to generate evidence that informs health policies and emergency responses.
Beyond technical training, STEAM-3D will strengthen researchers' capacity to communicate scientific findings through interactive dashboards, online learning platforms and other digital tools that support policymakers, programme managers and the wider public in making evidence-based decisions.
One of the project's defining features is its integration of Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries into a single collaborative platform.
By bridging linguistic and regional boundaries, the consortium seeks to promote knowledge exchange, foster cross-country collaboration and establish a pan-African network of expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and modelling.
The programme also places strong emphasis on sustainability through mentorship of emerging African researchers and the use of open-source technologies, including R, Python and GitHub.
Training resources developed under the project will remain publicly available in English, French and Portuguese, ensuring continued learning and adaptation beyond the project's lifespan.
To further strengthen collaboration, the consortium will establish an Infectious Disease Modelling Working Group hosted by the SAMRC, providing a platform for African researchers and policymakers to share knowledge and develop solutions to emerging public health challenges.
The initiative was officially launched during the inaugural STEAM-3D kick-off meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 19 and 20 May, where participating institutions were introduced and the project's implementation roadmap was agreed upon.
UNIMA's participation in the consortium reinforces the University's growing international research profile and commitment to generating knowledge and building capacity that addresses Africa's most pressing health challenges through strategic global partnerships.
