Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research Center (GHIDRC)
A multidisciplinary research and innovation hub addressing infectious diseases, health-systems resilience and pandemic preparedness in the Great Lakes region and beyond.
Executive Summary
The Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Center (GHIDRC) is envisioned as a multidisciplinary research and innovation hub dedicated to addressing the world’s most pressing infectious disease challenges. The Center’s overarching vision is to contribute to a future in which infectious diseases no longer compromise human health, development, and societal progress. Its mission is to generate high-quality scientific evidence, foster technological and programmatic innovation, build capacity among the next generation of researchers, and translate knowledge into evidence-informed policies and practices.
GHIDRC will combine advanced scientific inquiry with capacity building in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), strong policy engagement and applied research programs across tuberculosis (including drug-resistant forms), HIV and co-infections, malaria, emerging infections (Ebola, COVID-19) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Center aims to establish laboratories, training programs, structured fellowships and partnerships that accelerate research-to-policy translation.
Background & Rationale
Infectious diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and several neglected tropical diseases disproportionately affect LMICs. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the frequent emergence of novel pathogens (e.g. SARS-CoV-2, Ebola) highlight gaps in preparedness, surveillance and rapid research response — gaps GHIDRC is designed to address.
Vision & Mission
Vision: GHIDRC envisages a world in which infectious diseases are effectively controlled through cutting-edge research, innovative solutions and equitable public-health interventions.
Mission: Generate impactful evidence, foster innovation, train the next generation of global-health researchers and translate evidence into policy and practice.
Strategic Objectives
Conduct high-quality, multidisciplinary research on infectious diseases.
Build capacity of local and global researchers through fellowships and mentorship.
Translate evidence into policy and practice to strengthen health systems.
Foster innovation in diagnostics, treatments and prevention.
Strengthen partnerships between academia, governments and communities.
Key Research Priorities
Thematic research priorities are listed below. Click a heading to reveal focal activities and research directions.
Priority areas focus on diagnostics, therapeutics and programmatic research to reduce incidence and improve outcomes, including drug-resistant forms.
- Drug resistance: molecular characterization of resistance mechanisms; clinical trials of novel regimens for MDR/XDR-TB.
- Diagnostics: validation of rapid, affordable molecular and point-of-care tests adapted to resource-limited settings.
- Treatment outcomes: implementation research on adherence, retention, and health-system determinants of success.
- Co-morbidities: studies on TB–HIV and TB–diabetes interactions and integrated care models.
Research emphasizes integrated clinical management, resistance surveillance and pragmatic prevention interventions.
- Co-infections: integrated management and diagnostics for HIV-associated TB, hepatitis and opportunistic infections.
- Drug resistance: longitudinal surveillance of ART resistance and adaptive treatment strategies.
- Adherence & retention: behavioural, social and structural interventions to improve long-term care engagement.
- Prevention: evaluation of PrEP delivery models, community approaches and vaccine readiness research.
Strengthening epidemic intelligence, community-led interventions and preparedness modeling are central objectives.
- Hemorrhagic fevers: transmission studies, rapid field diagnostics and culturally appropriate outbreak responses.
- Respiratory pathogens: long-term outcomes, vaccine effectiveness and health-system resilience research post-pandemic.
- Pandemic preparedness: early-warning surveillance, scenario modeling and rapid research deployment frameworks.
- Zoonotic spillover: One-Health investigations at human–animal–environment interfaces.
Applying a One-Health lens, GHIDRC will combine surveillance, stewardship and novel therapeutic research.
- Surveillance: sentinel lab & community surveillance networks for bacteria, parasites and resistance markers.
- Stewardship: hospital and community programs adapted to LMIC settings with implementation evaluation.
- Innovative therapeutics: bacteriophages, host-directed therapies and vaccine strategies to reduce antimicrobial reliance.
- One-Health: agricultural, veterinary and environmental drivers integrated into AMR research.
Integrating maternal and child health with infectious disease programs to reduce morbidity and prevent vertical transmission.
- Maternal impacts: quantifying and mitigating the effect of infectious diseases on maternal morbidity and mortality.
- Vertical transmission: interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis.
- Childhood infections: strategies for pneumonia, diarrhoeal disease control and vaccine uptake.
- Systems research: barriers and enablers for integrated MCH and infectious disease services.
Organizational Structure & Governance
GHIDRC governance ensures scientific excellence, transparency and strategic alignment through:
Board of Directors
Strategic oversight, major policy approvals and representation of academia, donors and civil society.
Scientific Advisory Council
Independent international experts advising on research priorities and quality assurance.
Executive Leadership
Director supported by deputies for Research, Capacity Building and Administration.
Implementation Plan & Activities
- Infrastructure: laboratories, data systems, training facilities.
- Pilot research: TB resistance surveillance, HIV/TB co-infection studies, COVID seroprevalence.
- Fellowships & capacity-building workshops.
- Operational set-up: governance, finance, ethics review.
- Large-scale multidisciplinary studies and multicountry collaborations.
- Major grant acquisition (NIH, EDCTP, Wellcome, Global Fund).
- Policy engagement and systems strengthening.
- Scale-up of training programs and regional research schools.
Core activities across phases
- Research projects (basic, clinical, implementation science)
- Training & mentorship
- Knowledge dissemination (open access, conferences)
- Community engagement & stakeholder dialogues
Partnerships & Collaboration
Local
Hospitals, universities, NGOs and community organisations for access, trials and uptake.
Regional
Africa CDC, WHO AFRO and regional research consortia for multicountry initiatives.
International
NIH, Wellcome Trust, Global Fund, Gates Foundation, EU research programmes.
Resource Requirements
Infrastructure & Equipment
Laboratories, containment, data & IT systems. Estimated core equipment: USD 2–3M.
Programs Budget
Pilot & scale research: estimated USD 2–4M per year depending on scope.
Staffing
Scientists (epi, microbiology, immunology), clinicians, lab techs, data scientists, policy experts.
Expected Outcomes & Impact
- High-quality peer-reviewed publications & policy briefs.
- Strengthened research capacity in LMICs through fellowships & training.
- Evidence-based policy adoption and improved program performance.
- Reduced infectious disease burden in target populations.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Key Indicators
- Research productivity (publications, patents, completed projects)
- Training outputs (fellows, workshops)
- Partnerships (MOUs, joint grants)
- Policy influence (adopted briefs, guideline updates)
Reporting
- Quarterly progress reports
- Annual comprehensive report
- Periodic external evaluations
- Stakeholder feedback mechanisms
Conclusion
Establishing GHIDRC is a timely and transformative step to address persistent and emerging infectious disease threats. By integrating research, capacity building, innovation and policy translation, GHIDRC will strengthen regional and global health security.
Contact
Address: Avenue Dr Lurhuma, Quartier Nyakaliba, Commune de Kadutu, Ville de Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, DRC
Email: cele.kyambis@istmbukavu.org
Phone: +243 997 769 126
Contact GHIDRC