African Design Magazine ADM #38 March 2018 | Page 30

GENOME RESEARCH CENTRE Developing a high-tech research facility that offers a better and safer quality of life for millions of people in Africa and beyond is extremely costly. The funding of the development of the centre is based purely on donations from third-party sources. While the ACEGID genome centre has received seed funding from the World Development Bank, much more will be needed to outfit this centre so that it can truly participate as a biosurveillance network on the global stage. It will thereby benefit these scientists and the incredible work they do. Recent global epidemics of Ebola and Zika have shown that the world remains unprepared to combat the perpetual threat of infectious disease outbreaks. To protect ourselves, the global community needs infectious disease surveillance systems in every country and every setting. MASS Design Group’s partnership with ACEGID is making this possible, creating an unparalleled genomics facility in Africa, designed specifically for the highly complex and technologically demanding work within the backdrop of the African landscape. Dr Pardis Sabeti ACEGID and MASS, who have given so generously of their time and resources to make this dream a reality, are currently seeking additional funding to outfit the facility. 30 AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © Should your organisation wish to become involved, please email Kareya Saleh (communications associate at MASS) on: [email protected]