On May 16th 2025, Prof. Charles Wondji, Principal Investigator, initiated the construction of the African Centre for Vector Genomics (AVecGen) building at CRID.
Prof Charles lays the foundation stone
Funded by the Gates Foundation, this project aims to establish state-of-the-art genomics and bioinformatics facilities at CRID. It will serve as a regional reference hub for malaria vector control research, supporting the fight against malaria through advanced genomic approaches.
The foundation-laying ceremony featured the presence of Mr Caleb Yangkoulo, Head of Administration; Mrs Murielle Wondji, Laboratory Manager; Dr Estelle Mewamba, aim lead for Setting up a Sequencing platform at CRID; Mr Eric Foyem, Civil Engineer; Mr Rodrigue Tseyep and Mr Richie Nzoupet, Real Estate Officers at CRID. After a tour of the site, Prof. Wondji issued directives to ensure the project’s timely completion, with a strong emphasis on maintaining the highest quality standards. He invited various work package leads of AVecGen to visit the construction site regularly in order to ensure the work done meets the requirements, with a focus on laboratories.
The team on the site
AVecGen building comprises a ground floor and 4 upper floors. It will house cutting-edge facilities, including a bioinformatics laboratory, a functional genomics utility laboratory, Next-Generation Sequencing platform, offices and an amphitheatre to host training courses. With this infrastructure in place, AVecGen will also prioritize building local capacity by democratising and decentralising genomic and bioinformatics skills. Intensive training programs for African scientists will cover both laboratory experiments (wet lab) and computational techniques (dry lab), fostering expertise in analysing key aspects of malaria vector biology, including insecticide resistance escalation, invasive species, vector competence, and the impact of novel interventions. These efforts will ensure that African researchers are equipped to address complex challenges in vector control, contributing to sustainable malaria elimination strategies.
A heartfelt prayer was made during the inaugural ceremony, dedicating the building’s construction to God and seeking divine protection for the workers. The African Centre for Vector Genomics project is allocated to CRID with a collaboration and support from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in UK and Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network(MalariaGEN). Its implementation is intended to span from October 2024 to September 2027. With its innovative approach and collaborative spirit, AVecGen is set to revolutionize malaria research in Africa, bringing hope for the elimination of this disease
