Cape Town, South Africa – In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the landscape of healthcare innovation in Africa, the Mastercard Foundation, the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) have announced the launch of the African STARS Fellowship Programme. Fluorobiotech participated in the launch and will be one of the key companies to receive fellows in 2025.
This programme has been designed with the core aim of nurturing the continent’s new healthcare research leaders and creating a skilled workforce in genomics, diagnostics, and vaccine design and production in Africa.
Africa is home to the fastest-growing young population globally, projected to comprise nearly half of the world’s youth by 2100. However, the continent is grappling with the challenge of training sufficient scientists while also facing a disproportionate burden of health crises due to frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, Marburg, Mpox and Turberculosis. In 2023 alone, over 150 disease outbreaks were reported across Africa, escalating the need for knowledgeable leaders who can engage effectively in public health efforts and can create companies and research institutes that advance discovery and manufacturing of medical countermeasures in Africa.
The African STARS fellowship will now take training in Africa to the next level by creating structured programmes and providing up to 2 years training and fostering partnership with big industry and biotechnology innovation hubs with the ultimate objective to create jobs that will retain and attract talented scientists to the African continent.
‘The African STARS Fellowship Programme is an embodiment of our commitment to empower the next generation of science leaders,’ said Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation. ‘By focusing on the skills development of young African scientific leaders, we can ensure that they are equipped to lead in addressing emerging health crises. In the last ten years, we have experienced extensive investment in science and technology in Africa, allowing access to some of the best laboratories in the world, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic with African scientists leading the world in the discovery of Omicron. Now, we need to invest in the research and development eco-system to create our own diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics’.
The first phase of the programme will fund 131 fellows over three years, with an emphasis on inclusivity and equitable representation across all African regions. The initiative aims to ensure that 60% of trainees are young women, addressing the gender disparities prevalent in the science and technology fields.
‘As we embark on this ambitious journey, we are focused on cultivating a new generation of talented scientists, policymakers, and healthcare leaders who can propel Africa towards self-sufficiency in addressing health challenges. The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) is a leading research institution active in the fields of pandemic preparedness, epidemic investigation and training. Through our Center for Africa’s Resilience to Epidemics (CARE) program and its laboratories, we train and support African countries in epidemic preparedness and early detection, to build local capacity and ensure rapid response. We are thrilled and excited to partner with Mastercard Foundation and the University of Stellenbosch to deliver this initiative,’added Prof Amadou Sall, CEO of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.