WACCBIP to Lead Training and Outreach for Global Pathogen Surveillance Project

The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana is playing a key role in a new international project that seeks to transform global genomic surveillance of infectious diseases. Known as ARTIC-2, the ambitious initiative is being led by the University of Birmingham, with support from the Wellcome Trust.

Launched on Thursday, May 22, 2025, ARTIC-2 builds on the success of earlier efforts that enabled thousands of laboratories across the globe to sequence COVID-19 variants using low-cost genome sequencing methods. The new project aims to extend this capability to all pathogens, known and unknown, by developing more affordable, accessible, and adaptable sequencing tools.

WACCBIP will lead the Training, Engagement, and Outreach work package (WP5) of the project, capitalising on the Centre’s expertise in genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana and across West Africa. As part of its role, WACCBIP will deliver scenario-based training products covering laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, and data interpretation, as well as engage stakeholders to strengthen regional preparedness for future outbreaks.

In addition to leading WP5, WACCBIP will also contribute to WP4, supporting the implementation, testing, and validation of the ARTIC-2 sequencing platform across West and Central Africa. This will be done through the Centre’s network of spoke laboratories established during the pandemic. WACCBIP’s involvement will ensure that the toolkit being developed is operationally viable in real-world settings across the region.

The ARTIC-2 consortium includes researchers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Kenya, with experience in responding to viral threats such as Ebola and Mpox. The project is aligned with global public health priorities and will work alongside the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative, and the World Health Organization’s International Pathogen Surveillance Network.

Professor Nick Loman, Professor of Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of Birmingham and lead researcher for ARTIC-2, explained that the goal is to make high-quality genomic sequencing affordable and widely accessible.

“ARTIC-2 will help to realise the ambition that any laboratory, anywhere in the world, could access affordable, high-quality genomic sequencing for their work,” Prof. Loman said. “With funding from Wellcome to develop ARTIC-2, we can develop a universal, global toolkit and learning platform that means any endemic virus or pathogen around the world can be sequenced quickly and cheaply.”

One of the defining features of the project is its focus on affordability. ARTIC-2 aims to reduce the cost of genome sequencing to under £10 per sample by refining low-cost protocols and minimising reliance on expensive proprietary equipment. This could significantly enhance the capacity of laboratories in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to respond to disease threats.

Dr Placide Mbala Kingebeni, co-researcher on the project from the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the Democratic Republic of Congo, noted that ARTIC-2 will help build a more responsive and inclusive global surveillance system.

“By expanding genomic surveillance beyond high-consequence viruses to include endemic and emerging pathogens, we are strengthening our capacity to act swiftly and effectively in the face of new outbreaks,” he said.

WACCBIP will also support the project’s real-world testing through validation of mobile, field-deployable laboratory systems for sequencing outbreaks such as Mpox and Marburg. These portable “lab-in-a-suitcase” systems, originally developed in the first phase of ARTIC, will be enhanced in ARTIC-2 to serve a broader range of pathogens.

Speaking on the importance of expanding access to this technology, Natsuko Imai, Research Lead for Epidemics at Wellcome, said, “Genomic sequencing is crucial for understanding the circulation, spread, and evolution of pathogens… Developing in-country capabilities and expertise strengthens local health systems, enabling rapid responses to emerging and endemic diseases to protect vulnerable communities, both locally and worldwide.”

The Centre’s leadership in ARTIC-2 reinforces its position as a regional hub for infectious disease research and capacity building. Through the project, WACCBIP will contribute to the global effort to ensure that the next pandemic can be detected and responded to faster, more effectively, and more equitably.