Research
Support
Units

Behind every research breakthrough at CERI stands a team of specialists who provide the infrastructure, expertise, and support that make world-class science possible. Six dedicated units power CERI's operations from lab to policy.

Support Units

100+

Staff Supported

24/7

Operations

// Overview

The research units provide the infrastructure, skills, and resources that enable CERI's research teams to produce high-quality, internationally competitive science — from computational pipelines and laboratory operations to grants management and community engagement.

// Research Support Units

The Infrastructure
Driving the Science

Six specialist units providing the technical, analytical, and administrative foundations that enable CERI's research to operate at scale.

SUPPORT UNIT · 01

Bioinformatics Unit

Building and maintaining computational pipelines that transform sequencing outputs into actionable genomic insights across all research areas.

SUPPORT UNIT · 02

Data Science Unit

Developing data pipelines, ML-based tools, and dashboards that transform diverse datasets into meaningful insights for research and outbreak response.

SUPPORT UNIT · 03

Grants & Contracts Unit

Managing funding agreements, research contracts, procurement, and financial governance across CERI's local and international partnerships.

SUPPORT UNIT · 04

Laboratory Unit

The engine room of CERI's scientific operations — supporting high-quality sample processing, sequencing, and quality assurance across all research programmes.

SUPPORT UNIT · 05

Social Science Unit

Integrating social science and engaged research into CERI's epidemic response, grounding biomedical innovation in lived experience and African social realities.

SUPPORT UNIT · 06

Scientific Support Unit

Strengthening CERI's research ecosystem through training, capacity building, academic support, and monitoring and evaluation across all teams.

// Overview

Each focus area represents a strategic commitment to understanding and responding to infectious disease threats — spanning genomics, epidemiology, social science, and health systems across Africa.

Research Programs

CERI's research is organised around seven interconnected focus areas — together driving genomic surveillance, epidemic response, and evidence-based public health impact across Africa and globally.

Focus Areas

54+

Countries

600+

Publications

// Research Focus Areas

The Research
Portfolio

Seven interconnected research areas spanning genomics, epidemiology, social science, and health systems across Africa.

FOCUS AREA · 01

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Genomic surveillance of resistant pathogens, tracking tools, and evidence for AMR response strategies to protect life-saving medicines.

FOCUS AREA · 02

Genomics

High-throughput sequencing and pathogen surveillance to detect, track, and understand infectious diseases across Africa in real time.

FOCUS AREA · 03

Immunology

Investigating immune responses to infectious diseases, vaccines, and pathogens to develop diagnostics and therapeutics for African populations.

FOCUS AREA · 04

Microbiome

Studying microbial ecosystems across human, environmental, and agricultural settings — closing critical knowledge gaps in African microbiome research.

FOCUS AREA · 05

Population Health & Modelling

Mathematical and statistical models to understand disease transmission, evaluate interventions, and guide public health strategy — SACEMA.

FOCUS AREA · 06

One Health

Examining how human, animal, and environmental systems interact to shape disease emergence, AMR, and outbreak risk.

FOCUS AREA · 07

Women's Health

Advancing understanding of conditions affecting women across the life course, with interventions and diagnostics tailored to African contexts.