The ceremony was led by Prof. Charles Wondji, Principal Investigator of the AVecGen project, marking the beginning of construction for a cutting-edge research facility dedicated to malaria vector genomics. Funded by the Gates Foundation, AVecGen aims to establish state-of-the-art genomics and bioinformatics infrastructure at CRID. Once completed, the centre will serve as a regional reference hub for malaria vector control research, leveraging advanced genomic tools to support the fight against malaria across Africa.

Ceremony Highlights

The foundation-laying event brought together key stakeholders, including:

• Mr. Caleb Yangkoulo, Head of Administration
• Mrs. Murielle Wondji, Laboratory Manager
• Dr. Estelle Mewamba, Lead for Sequencing Platform Setup
• Mr. Eric Foyem, Civil Engineer
• Mr. Rodrigue Tseyep and Mr. Richie Nzoupet, Real Estate Officers at CRID

Following a site tour, Prof. Wondji emphasized the importance of quality and timely delivery, urging AVecGen work package leads to regularly monitor construction progress, especially in laboratory areas.

A Hub for Innovation and Capacity Building

The AVecGen building will feature: A ground floor and four upper floors; A bioinformatics laboratory; A functional genomics utility laboratory; A Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform; Offices and an amphitheatre for training sessions. Beyond infrastructure, AVecGen is committed to democratizing and decentralizing genomic and bioinformatics skills across Africa. The centre will host intensive training programs for African scientists, covering both wet lab (experimental) and dry lab (computational) techniques. These programs will empower researchers to tackle key challenges in malaria vector biology.

The AVecGen project is implemented by CRID in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and the Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network (MalariaGEN). The project timeline spans from October 2024 to September 2027. With its innovative approach and collaborative foundation, AVecGen is poised to revolutionize malaria research in Africa. By building local capacity and fostering scientific excellence, the centre brings renewed hope for sustainable malaria elimination strategies across the continent.