Using data to fight antibiotic-resistant infections in Africa
Official title: Combatting AntiMicrobial Resistance in Africa Using Data Science (CAMRA)
Funded at Redeemer's University · NIH-11162373 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project combines lab testing of bacterial samples and data analysis to find and track drug-resistant infections that make people—especially newborns and hospitalized patients—very sick in African hospitals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Redeemer's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ede, NIGERIA) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,234,778 |
| NIH project number | 5U54TW012056-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162373 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are hospitalized patients (particularly newborns and mothers) at participating hospitals in Nigeria and Rwanda who have blood, urine, or respiratory infections and can provide clinical samples or allow their records to be used.
✕Less likely to help
People treated outside participating hospitals, those without bacterial infections, or those unable or unwilling to provide samples or consent are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers will collect bacteria from blood, urine, and sputum samples at participating hospitals and test them in the lab, including genetic tests to find resistance genes. They will link those results with clinical records and use data science tools to map where resistant bugs are spreading and which antibiotics no longer work. The team is working with archived samples already collected in Nigeria and Rwanda and will expand real-time surveillance at sentinel sites. The goal is to share actionable information with hospitals to help doctors pick better treatments and stop deadly outbreaks, particularly in newborn units.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help patients get the right antibiotics faster and reduce deadly outbreaks of resistant infections, especially among newborns.
How similar studies have gone: Genome-based surveillance and outbreak tracking have reduced resistant infections in some high-income settings, but large-scale genomic and data-science surveillance in African hospital networks is less established and partly novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Redeemer's University
Ede, Nigeria Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Happi, Christian T. — Redeemer's University
- Study coordinator: Happi, Christian T.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Combating Antibiotic Resistance in Africa with Data Science
A patient-friendly overview of a program using data and genomics to track and fight antibiotic resistance in Africa, with potential benefits for global health and future treatments.
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Fighting antibiotic-resistant infections in Africa with data science
Using lab testing and data tools to better understand and reduce antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections that affect newborns, children, and other patients in parts of Africa.
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Using data science to fight antibiotic resistance in Africa
This study is looking at how some bacteria that cause infections in young children in Africa are becoming harder to treat, and it aims to find out which bacteria are involved and how they resist treatment, so we can improve how we diagnose and treat these infections.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.