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Please find CERI’s & KRISP’s newsletter. In our April/May issue of 2022, In this issue, we feature the recent research describing the novel BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron lineages in South Africa and the massive collaborative effort that provides insights on the evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa. We also highlight the New York Times article on how South Africa’s latest surge is a possible preview of the pandemic’s next chapter. We are also pleased to announce the availability of three Postdoctoral positions at CERI & KRISP and are excited to host Prof Rob Warren and Prof Moritz Kraemer at our upcoming seminar series for May.

Click on the picture above to download the newsletter in PDF format

This issue's highlights are:

The concept behind this newsletter is that anyone with 15 minutes to spare can learn about the work of the Centre for Epidemic Research and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), which is a Platform of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.

- News: How should the world respond to the next pandemic? The Guardian

- News: Are new Omicron subvariants a threat? Here's how scientists are keeping watch, Nature

- News: South Africa’s latest surge is a possible preview of the pandemic’s next chapter, NY Tines

- Publication: Continue Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in South Africa: New BA.4 and BA.5 lineages

- Publication: The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

- Announcement: Postdoctoral Positions in Molecular Epidemiology, Human and Pathogen Genomics and Bioinformatics at CERI & KRISP

- Seminar: Using next generation sequencing methods to enhance understanding of the epidemiology and treatment of drug resistant TB, Prof Rob Warren, 11 May 2022

- Semina: Context-specific emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage, Prof Moritz Kraemer, 25 May 2022

- Training: International Bioinformatics Workshop on Virus Evolution & Molecular Epidemiology to be held in August 2022 in Panama City

CERI and KRISP want to want to challenge the status quo and create a scientific environment in South Africa that drives innovations in global health and reverses the brain drain. A critical function of CERI and KRISP will be to make genomics, epigenetics, and bioinformatics accessible to academic, industrial, and commercial users.

News date: 2022-05-03

Links:

http://www.krisp.org.za/manuscripts/CERI_KRISPnewsletter_Vol5(4)_AprMay.pdf