The Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) is proud to mark a transformative milestone in African science: the successful acquisition, installation, and validation of the Illumina NovaSeq6000.
Prof Charles Wondji, CRID’s Executive Director, with Harry Adi from ISN Ghana
As one of the most advanced high-throughput sequencing platforms globally, its arrival marks a new era for genomic sovereignty and research excellence on the continent. This achievement was made possible through the funding of the Gates Foundation, and the generous donation of the apparatus by the Sanger Institute. On December 9, 2025, CRID launched a workshop to capacitate its researchers on the NovaSeq6000, with Harry Adi from ISN Ghana as trainer (ISN Medical acts as a partner to deliver Illumina‘s innovations across different countries). The team comprising Dr. Estelle Mewamba, AVecGen Sequencing lead; Murielle Wondji, Laboratory Manager; Betrand Mbakam, Research Assistant and Flore Tchountchui, Senior research technician mastered the key technical features of the platform. Their expertise was proven, resulting in two historic achievements for the continent:
The First Full Mosquito Genome Sequenced in Africa: The team successfully sequenced the first full mosquito genome on African soil. The run generated 306Gb of high-quality data, far exceeding initial expectations and demonstrating the immense power of the new facility.
The First Total Transcriptome (RNA-seq): Just days after the genome milestone, the team completed the first total transcriptome sequencing of mosquito species. This breakthrough unlocks the ability to study gene expression in real-time, providing critical insights into vector control and disease prevention.
CRID scientists during the training
The presence of this state-of-the-art equipment at CRID is the result of the African Centre for Vector Genomics (AVecGen) project. To ensure the system met the highest international standards, a rigorous installation and validation process was carried out earlier in the year. In May 2025, the equipment was successfully installed and underwent qualification test by Samuel Essien, Senior Field Service Engineer at ISN Nigeria. Following this, the technical validation was conducted by Harry Adi (ISN Ghana) in August of the same year. Using the PhiX control library, the platform achieved a Q30 score of >93% (meaning that over 93% of bases were sequenced with very high accuracy). This high-performance score ensures that CRID is ready to deliver routine, high-quality sequencing that meets the most stringent global standards, providing researchers with data they can trust.
With the NovaSeq6000 now fully operational, CRID is positioned as a leading hub for genomics in Africa. We are now fully equipped to offer state-of-the-art genomic and transcriptomic analysis services. Contact us today to book a sequencing slot or discuss collaborative project: sequencing@crid-cam.net or +237 673 086 045
