U54TW012041
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
Role of Data Streams in Informing Infection Dynamics in Africa - Inform Africa - Project Summary/Abstract
A key problem in Africa is the paucity of population-scale epidemiologic data sources and analytical capacity to rapidly identify and understand infectious disease pandemics. Yet, in the context of fragile health systems and limited resources, the need for population-scale epidemiologic data is even more urgent to provide information on transmission dynamics and inform interventions.
The overall goal of the 'Role of Data Streams in Informing Infection Dynamics in Africa (Inform Africa) Hub' is to effectively use big data to address pressing public health needs of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV pandemics with the overall goal of developing population-scale data streams as a cornerstone of future pandemic preparedness.
Inform Africa proposes to use existing data from Nigeria and South Africa, the two most impacted countries in Africa accounting for 41% of the continent's SARS-CoV-2 infection and about 40% of its HIV burden. The hub is led by two well-established and successful non-governmental organizations: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), with strong links with universities and their respective government agencies, also engaged. Inform Africa also partners with a private partner from the industry - Akros Zambia.
Inform Africa has assembled experienced researchers with complimentary expertise in big data analytics, quantum information processing, spatial statistics and analysis, genetics, computational biology, agent-based and data-driven modeling, clinical infectious diseases, infectious disease epidemiology, molecular virology, and geospatial analytics to address the goal of this submission through four specific aims.
Aim 1 establishes data streams from public and private sectors in order to understand the multilayer interactions that may explain the dynamics and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, through three proposed research projects and two proposed cores, supplemented by the pilot projects.
Aim 2 develops geospatial tools for use by country leadership and governments in pandemic surveillance and response to improve preparedness.
Aim 3 expands data science research opportunities and capacity through the engagement with the broader DS-I Africa Consortium and through several proposed pilot projects in data science.
Aim 4 maintains a sustained engagement with the policymakers and governments in order to promote further open access to high-quality data and the redistribution and uptake of any product/tool developed by the Inform Africa.
The DMAC & NGS Core is the lynchpin of Inform Africa, assembling and managing the research hub's data and providing seamless access to a set of tools and workflows that link the hub to the broader DS-I Africa open science data platform and coordinating center.
The Administrative Core harmonizes and streamlines administrative, financial, and communication processes for Inform Africa and coordinates the selection of pilot projects consistent with Inform Africa's aims, and in compliance with DS-I Africa requirements.
Project and core leads make up the MPD/PI leadership and the steering committee of the Inform Africa supported by a scientific advisory board.
A key problem in Africa is the paucity of population-scale epidemiologic data sources and analytical capacity to rapidly identify and understand infectious disease pandemics. Yet, in the context of fragile health systems and limited resources, the need for population-scale epidemiologic data is even more urgent to provide information on transmission dynamics and inform interventions.
The overall goal of the 'Role of Data Streams in Informing Infection Dynamics in Africa (Inform Africa) Hub' is to effectively use big data to address pressing public health needs of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV pandemics with the overall goal of developing population-scale data streams as a cornerstone of future pandemic preparedness.
Inform Africa proposes to use existing data from Nigeria and South Africa, the two most impacted countries in Africa accounting for 41% of the continent's SARS-CoV-2 infection and about 40% of its HIV burden. The hub is led by two well-established and successful non-governmental organizations: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), with strong links with universities and their respective government agencies, also engaged. Inform Africa also partners with a private partner from the industry - Akros Zambia.
Inform Africa has assembled experienced researchers with complimentary expertise in big data analytics, quantum information processing, spatial statistics and analysis, genetics, computational biology, agent-based and data-driven modeling, clinical infectious diseases, infectious disease epidemiology, molecular virology, and geospatial analytics to address the goal of this submission through four specific aims.
Aim 1 establishes data streams from public and private sectors in order to understand the multilayer interactions that may explain the dynamics and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, through three proposed research projects and two proposed cores, supplemented by the pilot projects.
Aim 2 develops geospatial tools for use by country leadership and governments in pandemic surveillance and response to improve preparedness.
Aim 3 expands data science research opportunities and capacity through the engagement with the broader DS-I Africa Consortium and through several proposed pilot projects in data science.
Aim 4 maintains a sustained engagement with the policymakers and governments in order to promote further open access to high-quality data and the redistribution and uptake of any product/tool developed by the Inform Africa.
The DMAC & NGS Core is the lynchpin of Inform Africa, assembling and managing the research hub's data and providing seamless access to a set of tools and workflows that link the hub to the broader DS-I Africa open science data platform and coordinating center.
The Administrative Core harmonizes and streamlines administrative, financial, and communication processes for Inform Africa and coordinates the selection of pilot projects consistent with Inform Africa's aims, and in compliance with DS-I Africa requirements.
Project and core leads make up the MPD/PI leadership and the steering committee of the Inform Africa supported by a scientific advisory board.
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Place of Performance
Nigeria
Geographic Scope
Foreign
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 2544% from $250,000 to $6,610,435.
Institute Of Human Virology Nig Ltdgte was awarded
Role of Data Streams In Informing Infection Dynamics in Africa- INFORM Africa
Cooperative Agreement U54TW012041
worth $6,610,435
from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in September 2021 with work to be completed primarily in Nigeria.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years 9 months and
was awarded through assistance program 93.310 Trans-NIH Research Support.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Research Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Optional).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 9/24/25
Period of Performance
9/15/21
Start Date
6/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$6.6M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$6.6M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to U54TW012041
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
U54TW012041
SAI Number
U54TW012041-1300513540
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Non-Domestic (Non-U.S.) Entity
Awarding Office
75NF00 NIH Fogarty International Center
Funding Office
75NA00 NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Awardee UEI
VDS1HPNCNMN5
Awardee CAGE
SGQ15
Performance District
Not Applicable
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0846) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $2,099,989 | 77% |
| National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0844) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $500,000 | 18% |
| John E. Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0819) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $110,446 | 4% |
Modified: 9/24/25