PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Accra, Ghana – 2 July 2025 – From 23–29 August 2025, the University of Ghana’s Cedi Conference Centre will host the highly anticipated Data for Health in Africa Meeting and 5th DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting. This historic event is jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), marking a significant milestone in advancing data science and health research across the African continent.
With the theme “Data Science in Africa: Strengthening Partnerships and Collaboration across Networks, Sectors and Impact Areas”, the meeting aims to strategically catalyze robust, cross-continental collaborations between DS-I Africa and Wellcome Trust grantees by uniting diverse data science initiatives supported by Wellcome and the NIH. The meeting hopes to equip African researchers, institutions, and policymakers with the tools to transform public health outcomes through data innovation.
This year's event is expected to bring together over 400 stakeholders including researchers, funders, technologists, early-career scientists, and public health leaders. Attendees will engage in high-impact sessions such as datathons, themed plenaries, training workshops, early-career researcher sessions and exhibition/networking exchanges, and a pivotal Funders Forum focused on sustainable, fair financing for African-led research.
The joint Wellcome-NIH support underscores a shared commitment to:
- Advancing mental health, infectious disease, and environmental health research;
- Building robust bioinformatics and data science capacity through initiatives like the African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI);
- Promoting open science and ethical data use via platforms such as the eLwazi Open Data Science Platform;
- Empowering early-career researchers and underrepresented voices within the African research ecosystem.
“This is not just another consortium meeting,” said Dr Michelle Skelton, PI of the DS-I Africa Coordinating Centre. “It’s a strategic inflection point; where funding, collaboration, and innovation converge to shape Africa’s data-driven health future.”
Representatives of the NIH and Wellcome Trust Dr Ekin Bolukbasi and Dr Laura Povlich said that they were looking forward to the highly anticipated meeting with Dr Povlich saying “It has been such a privilege and an honour to have supported DSI-Africa from its inception, each and every consortium meeting has been an opportunity to enhance the consortium’s robust network of academic, government, and private sector partners while showcasing cutting edge research and capacity building” and the Ghana meeting promises to be no different. Dr Ekin added that “This timely meeting aligns strongly with Wellcome’s Discovery and Solutions priorities as it includes researchers and data scientists focusing data and technology for impact on discovery research, mental health, infectious diseases and so much more for the benefit of Africa’s future.”
Program Highlights include:
- Cutting-edge research on AI for diagnostics and health surveillance.
- Funders Forum: Strategic dialogues to align research investments with Africa’s evolving needs, featuring key funders, industry partners, and African research leaders.
- Early Career Researcher Sessions: Opportunities for emerging scientists to present their work, receive mentorship, and network.
- Exhibitions and Networking Exchanges: Facilitated interactions aimed at translating research into practical health solutions.
Media Contact:
DS-I Africa Coordinating Centre, PI Dr Michelle Skelton
Email: michelle.skelton@uct.ac.za | Tel: +27 (0)21 650 1509
Website: dsi-africa.org