The Global Health Research Group on Zoonotic Causes of Acute Febrile Illness (ZAFI) held its first annual meeting on 14–15 June 2025 at the ILRI Nairobi Campus, bringing together team members from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the UK for the first time in person.
The two-day event opened with a warm welcome and project update from Prof Siobhan Mor, ZAFI Director, setting the tone for a collaborative and ambitious meeting.
Day 1 Highlights
The first day focused on Work Package 1 (WP1): Understanding Epidemiology. Prof Eric Févre from the University of Liverpool led detailed discussions on study design, including inclusion/exclusion criteria and harmonising screening protocols across study sites. Feedback was also shared on the draft Kobo questionnaires, helping ensure they are context-appropriate and scientifically sound.
A key session led by Russell Dacombe and Heather Galloway from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) covered recent laboratory assessment visits to Uganda and Ethiopia, part of WP4: Strengthening Capacity and Capability. These assessments aimed to identify both existing strengths and opportunities for improvement in lab systems.
The day concluded with a presentation on WP2: Improving Diagnostics from Dr Tom Edwards who joined remotely from LSTM. It showcased the work on innovative, low-cost DNA extraction technologies that have the potential to transform diagnostic capabilities in low-resource settings.
Day 2 Highlights
The second day opened with a recap before diving into WP3: Engaging Communities and End-users. Prof Mirgissa Kaba from Addis Ababa University led discussions on engaging stakeholders meaningfully throughout the project. Country teams then worked on strategies for establishing Community Advisory Boards (CABs).
In another session dedicated to WP4, a capacity planning allowed each institute to reflect on training needs and identify potential cross-cutting areas for collaboration.
In the afternoon, the team visited the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi, one of ZAFI’s partner institutions. The KAVI team led by Prof Anzala Omu provided a guided tour of the labs and impressive infrastructure used to support clinical research.
The meeting concluded with operational updates from the project manager, Parmila Yeshitella, covering annual reporting, financial management, and procurement—ensuring strong coordination as the project moves forward.
This inaugural annual meeting marked a major milestone for ZAFI. It deepened connections between partner institutions, fostered knowledge sharing, and aligned efforts to tackle the global challenge of zoonotic febrile illness.
