News & Updates

June 2025 Edition, Issue 90

Welcome to another edition of the CARTA monthly updates. Read on to keep abreast with what is new.

Advocating for Equitable Africa–US Health Partnerships

On June 30, 2025, CARTA Co-Executive Director and Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Catherine Kyobutungi, participated in the hybrid event ‘The Future of Africa–US Health Diplomacy’. The session explored African perspectives on the present realities and future possibilities for more equitable partnerships in global health.

Catherine emphasized that the future of Africa–US health diplomacy hinges on a fundamental shift toward equitable, co-created partnerships. She underscored the importance of African-led solutions, sustained commitment, and mutual accountability in shaping the continent’s health agenda.

The webinar was convened by the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, and the African Centre for the Study of the United States. It is part of a four-session series exploring the implications of US global health funding cuts on Africa–US relations.

Strengthening Research Capacity to Tackle Emerging Infectious Diseases in East Africa

Africa continues to shoulder over 80% of the global infectious disease burden, with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs and REIDs) like Ebola, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and Rift Valley fever posing serious threats to health systems, economies, and regional security. In biologically fragile regions like East Africa, home to dense populations, climate-sensitive ecosystems, and porous borders, multidisciplinary, cross-border responses are essential. 

To tackle this, the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (TERID) Research Hub has been established under CARTA and is hosted at Makerere University. Led by CARTA graduate Charles Kato, TERID brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers to fill critical gaps in disease surveillance, policy, prevention, and rapid response, strengthening regional capacity through high-impact, locally relevant science. Learn more

Shaping How Africa Prevents, Diagnoses, and Treats High-Burden Cancers



At the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, a multidisciplinary CARTA-led research hub, the DIScovery via CARTA OUtcomes-based Research training and Scientific Excellence (DISCOURSE), is driving efforts to confront cancer.



Cancer is a growing crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, with infections driving up to 27% of all cancers on the continent, such as cervical, liver, and bladder cancers. Yet, many of these links remain understudied, with limited screening, diagnosis, and treatment options available in low-resource settings. Shifting the center of gravity for cancer research to Africa is essential to developing contextually relevant, lifesaving interventions. Co-led by four CARTA graduates, the DISCOURSE Hub brings together multidisciplinary teams across South Africa, Uganda, and Rwanda to generate new evidence on infection-related cancers, strengthen surveillance and diagnostics, and mentor the next generation of African cancer researchers. Learn more

Makerere co-Focal Person Appointed to Institution’s Editorial Board

We congratulate John Bosco Isunju, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at Makerere University School of Public Health and dedicated CARTA Focal Person, on his appointment to the Editorial Board of the Makerere University Press (MakPress). Isunju will serve as the representative for STEM disciplines. Chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), MakPress plays a critical role in enhancing scholarly publishing at Makerere and serves as a key platform for increasing research visibility and supporting the dissemination of high-quality publications by researchers from the university and beyond.

Frederick Oporia, cohort 10, was appointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention in June 2025. Formed in 2023 in response to a UN General Assembly resolution, the alliance brings together ten international experts to guide global and country-level action on drowning prevention. Its mandate includes drafting evidence-based guidelines for all UN member states.

Godwin Anywar, cohort 6, facilitated a brainstorming session on grant writing and application during the research planning and conceptualization workshop and exhibition from a cooperative research and exhibition project, ‘Traditional Medicine in Transition,’ at the Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany (ISEB) and Botanical Garden, University of Zurich, from June 4 to 12, 2025.

Within the month, Godwin also joined the Rising Scholars as a mentor. Formerly known as AuthorAID, Rising Scholars is a global network offering free support, mentorship, training, and resources to researchers across the Global South.

Caroline Sawe, cohort 4, delivered a poster presentation on ‘Bad Start: Highlighting Determinants of Low Birth Weight in Western Kenya’ during the Nutrition 2025 conference. Themed 'Where the Best in Science and Health Meet’ the conference took place on May 31 - June 3, 2025 in Florida, USA and was organized by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The full paper will be published in the Current  Developments in Nutrition Journal.

Adebolajo Adeyemo, cohort 2, secured funding for his project titled ‘Identification of Birth Defects in Newborn Children: Task Shifting to Primary Healthcare Workers’, in the maiden funding call of the Grand Challenges Nigeria in June 2025.

Kudus Adebayo, cohort 6, has been selected as one of the 2025 African Studies Association (ASA) Samora and Graça Machel Presidential Fellows. The prestigious fellowship, established by ASA, supports outstanding humanities and social sciences researchers based in Africa by enabling them to attend the ASA Annual Meeting, visit US institutions, and engage in professional development and scholarly exchange. Read more

Funding: Innovative Health Initiative Call 11

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), an EU public-private partnership supported, has launched Call 11, inviting proposals for collaborative health research and innovation projects. IHI aims to tackle key public health priorities by bringing together expertise from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology, and data science sectors. Call 11 is a two-stage call focused on five priority areas: brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration; the interplay between infections and non-communicable diseases; strengthening pharmacovigilance through advanced tools and methodologies; improving care and outcomes in type 1 diabetes; and exploring new models for ambulatory surgical centres. Details

Deadline: October 9, 2025

Funding: Launch of Horizon Europe Work Program 2025

The Horizon Europe Work Program 2025: Africa Initiative III is a major funding package designed to deepen EU–Africa collaboration in research and innovation across multiple thematic areas. The initiative supports 24 calls for proposals under four key pillars: Public Health, Green Transition, Innovation and Technology, Capacities for Science, and cross‑cutting activities. Its primary goal is to accelerate scientific collaboration between African and European institutions in areas such as climate adaptation, clean energy, digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, and equitable health solutions, empowering African researchers to actively partner in tackling shared global challenges. Details

Fellowship: Climate Scientist Postdoctoral at Oxford

Oxford University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to work on a Wellcome Trust-funded project focused on climate change and health. The successful candidate will primarily conduct analyses of the meteorological impacts of climate change. They will also gain opportunities to work with interdisciplinary methods such as epidemiological and agricultural models. They will join a vibrant and growing research environment that builds on Oxford’s expertise in climate science, attribution science, and interdisciplinary research at the interface of climate change science and law. Details

Deadline: July 14, 2025

Keep Research in Motion: Services at Every Stage of Your Career

Springer Nature has incorporated services to help set research in motion throughout your career. Whether you’ve just begun to publish, are an experienced author, are ready to serve as a peer reviewer, or work as an editor, you will find support, assistance, and guidance. These services help strengthen the impact, speed, and quality of research. Details

Naming Calendar Events: 5 Calendar Etiquette Tips

Clear, informative calendar event titles are essential in today's hybrid work environments to ensure clarity, prevent scheduling conflicts, and maintain respect for colleagues’ time. The article recommends best practices such as including key details, what the meeting is about, who will attend, and where it will take place directly in the title, rather than vague labels. These small but thoughtful touches help avoid confusion, reinforce professional boundaries, and facilitate smoother coordination across teams. Read more

To be featured in the next CARTA Monthly, share with us your news and updates

via email to cartacomms@cartafrica.org on or before July 25, 2025.

Submissions should include but are not limited to:

Upcoming events, meetings, story ideas, new collaborations, new trials/updates, upcoming and published papers, policy briefs, community engagement activities, scholarships, what you are reading, if you won a grant, attending or about an upcoming conference, a call for applications/funding/papers, etc.

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