Missed our 2026 Genomic Horizons webinar? Watch Dr. Bede Constantinides on host sequence depletion, Deacon and ethical pathogen genomics data sharing.
The articles on this page bring together news, stories, and updates from the Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE). They highlight our projects, collaborations, events, and milestones as we work with partners around the world to strengthen genomic epidemiology and public health practice.
Browse the posts below to explore what PHA4GE has been doing, learn about new resources and initiatives, and follow how our community is growing and evolving over time.
Missed our 2026 Genomic Horizons webinar? Watch Dr. Bede Constantinides on host sequence depletion, Deacon and ethical pathogen genomics data sharing.
PHA4GE convened its second biennial conference in collaboration with the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) Global Partners Forum. The joint event took place from the 27th - 29th of October 2025 at Century City Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
More than 270 scientists, policy-makers, funders and public health experts from around the world attended the third International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) Global Partners Forum in Cape Town, South Africa from 27 to 29 October 2025. The forum was held jointly with the second Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE) biennial conference and was co-hosted by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence and WHO’s Regional Office for Africa.
We are delighted to announce that the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) - a global network of pathogen genomic actors, brought together by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, is partnering with the Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE) and WHO Regional Office for Africa for the upcoming PHA4GE Conference and IPSN Global Partners Forum (GPF) 2025.
Dr Zoe Dyson (LSHTM) introduced phylodynamics at the July Bioinformatics Pipelines & Visualization meeting, exploring pathogen evolution, resistance, and public health applications.
The new PHA4GE AI Working Group is exploring AI applications in public health genomics, from data standardization and privacy to real-world outbreak response.
The 12th EDCTP Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, gathered scientists, funders, and policymakers to advance global health research equity. Under the theme “Partnerships for Global Health Research Equity,” sessions explored malaria vaccines, TB prevention, digital innovation, and epidemic preparedness. The Forum highlighted Africa’s leadership in research, the power of Africa-Europe collaboration, and the importance of inclusive technologies. Regional networks like GenEpi showcased how genomic surveillance and data sharing are transforming outbreak response across the continent.
A landmark meeting in Uganda brought together global experts to tackle the challenges of data standards for malaria genomics. Hosted by PHA4GE and the Africa CDC’s Africa PGI, the event highlighted how critical data standardisation, sharing, and infrastructure are to advancing molecular surveillance of malaria in Africa. Despite hurdles like funding gaps and data sensitivity, participants agreed that improving data systems is essential for effective malaria control and elimination.
At the 2025 ISCB-Africa ASBCB Bioinformatics Conference in Cape Town, UWC’s Professor Alan Christoffels urged students to bridge the gap between academic research and public health. Highlighting the role of bioinformatics and genomics in disease response, Christoffels emphasized the need for data standards, cross-border collaboration, and real-world impact in managing outbreaks across Africa and beyond.