International Conference on Diagnostic Innovation in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
22 - 25 June 2026 Dakar, Senegal
The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) will host the International Conference on Diagnostic Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa in June 2026, a landmark event bringing together the key players shaping the future of diagnostics across the continent.
Co-organised with several European Union-funded consortia, including DIDIDA, UTI-Diag, PvSeroRDT and HoliCare, the conference aims to accelerate cross-project collaboration, drive the uptake of innovations, and strengthen synergies within the African diagnostic ecosystem.
Over four days, researchers, policymakers, institutional representatives, industry actors and field practitioners will share experiences, present scientific and operational advances, and collectively explore concrete pathways to strengthen diagnostic capacities across Africa.
Beyond scientific presentations, the event will serve as a strategic platform to align approaches, share best practices and co-develop policy recommendations tailored to the continent’s health realities.
Join us in Dakar to be part of the conversations that will shape the future of diagnostic innovation in Africa.
Program
DAY 1 - Diagnostics in the Health Ecosystem: From User-Centric Design to Cost-Effectiveness
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
• Participant registration
• Welcome coffee
09:00 – 09:30 | Opening Ceremony
• Welcome remarks — Institut Pasteur de Dakar
• Ministry of Health address
• Remarks from partners & donors (EDCTP3, EU)
09:35 – 10:35 | Session I — Project Presentations (Part 1)
Format: 20 min presentation + 10 min Q&A per project
• DIDIDA
• HoliCare
10:35 – 11:00 | Coffee Break
• Networking break
11:05 – 12:05 | Session II — Project Presentations (Part 2)
• PvSeroRDT
• UTI-Diag
12:05 – 14:00 | Lunch & Networking
• Free lunch and participant networking
14:00 – 15:15 | Session III — Priority Diseases Focus: Diagnostics in Key Infectious Diseases
Format: short expert talks + moderated discussion
• Urinary tract infections
• Respiratory infections & emerging pathogens
• Vector-borne & neglected tropical diseases
15:15 – 15:30 | Coffee Break
• Networking break
15:30 – 16:15 | Session IV — Cross-Cutting Innovations: Transformative Diagnostic Approaches
Format: keynote presentations + discussion
• Genomic surveillance & AMR monitoring
• Digital health & data integration
16:15 – 17:00 | Session V — High-Level Panel: Scaling Diagnostic Innovation in Africa
FOCUS AREAS
• Access & scale-up challenges
• Integration into health systems
• Cost-effectiveness & sustainability
• Role of regional institutions
PARTICIPANTS
• Experts, Ministry of Health, donors, project PIs
17:00 – 17:15 | Day 1 Wrap-Up — Key Messages & Summary
• Summary of the day’s key messages
DAY 2 - Student Day & Capacity Building
09:00 – 10:30 | Session I — Key Lecture
Theme: The role of diagnostics in the health ecosystem
• Keynote address by invited expert
10:30 – 12:30 | Session II — Posters & Mini-Orals: Student Research Presentations
• Poster presentations
• Short oral presentations
• Selection of top 3 posters
12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
• Free lunch
14:00 – 17:00 | Session III — Practical Workshops
Format: rotating parallel sessions
• Microscopy (e.g., malaria diagnosis)
• Molecular techniques (extraction, PCR, LAMP/RPA)
• RDT use & evaluation (biobanking, reading, reporting)
DAY 3 - HoliCare Project — Final Consortium Meeting & Project Closure
08:45 – 09:00 | Arrival & Registration
• Participant welcome
09:00 – 09:20 | Opening Session
• Welcome remarks — Host Institution
• Remarks by Project Coordinator
• Objectives of the final meeting
• Overview of key milestones of the HoliCare project
09:20 – 10:45 | Session I — Scientific Results: Diagnostic Development & Clinical Evaluation
Format: synthesis presentations + brief discussion
• Diagnostic technologies developed
• Laboratory validation of assays
• Clinical evaluation across study sites
• Diagnostic accuracy & comparative performance
• Key scientific outputs and perspectives (publications, datasets, innovations)
10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break & Group Photo
• Break and official consortium group photo
11:00 – 12:30 | Session II — Impact & Lessons Learned
PART 1 — PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS (PRESENTATIONS)
• Milestones and deliverables achieved
• Capacity strengthening & infrastructure development
• Consortium collaboration and coordination
PART 2 — ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
• Operational challenges during clinical evaluations
• Data quality & harmonization across sites
• Regulatory and ethical considerations
• Best practices for future diagnostic studies
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break
• Free lunch
13:30 – 15:00 | Session III — Translation, Scale-Up & Future Perspectives
Theme: From Research to Public Health Impact
DISCUSSION TOPICS
• Pathways for diagnostic implementation
• Integration into national health systems
• Regulatory approval opportunities
• Contribution to public health policies
FUTURE OUTLOOK
• Follow-up research opportunities
• Synergies with EDCTP and EU programmes
• Scaling-up diagnostic innovations
15:00 – 15:15 | Coffee Break
• Networking break
15:15 – 16:15 | Session IV — Strategic Roundtable: The HoliCare Legacy
Format: moderated roundtable with partners & stakeholders
• What are the major scientific contributions of HoliCare?
• How can validated diagnostic tools be advanced and deployed?
• What are the next research priorities?
16:15 – 17:00 | Closing Session
• Summary of key conclusions & action points
• Next steps for final reporting to the donor
• Closing remarks (Coordinator & Host Institution)
• Acknowledgements
DAY 4 - UTI-Diag Project — First Annual Consortium Meeting (Year 1 Review)
08:45 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
• Participant welcome and coffee
09:00 – 09:20 | Opening
• Welcome remarks — Host Institution
• Remarks by Project Coordinator
• Meeting objectives
• Overview of Year 1 progress
09:20 – 10:45 | Session I — Project Progress: Work Packages & Scientific Activities
Format: WP presentations (15 min + 5 min discussion)
• Activities implemented during Year 1
• Milestones & deliverables achieved
• Preliminary scientific results
• Challenges & mitigation measures
10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break
• Networking break
11:00 – 12:30 | Session II — Clinical Implementation: UTI Diagnostic Studies Across Sites
• Study protocol implementation
• Patient recruitment & enrolment
• Sample collection, transport & biobanking
• Laboratory testing & procedures
• Operational challenges in clinical settings
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break
• Free lunch
13:30 – 14:30 | Session III — Data, Ethics & Quality: Cross-Cutting Components
• Ethics approvals & regulatory status
• Data management & quality assurance
• Standardization of laboratory procedures
• Monitoring & quality control
14:30 – 15:15 | Session IV — Coordination & Management: Consortium Governance
• Project coordination mechanisms
• Internal communication
• Collaboration between clinical & lab teams
• Engagement with stakeholders & health authorities
15:15 – 15:30 | Coffee Break
• Networking break
15:30 – 16:30 | Session V — Year 2 Planning: Strategic Priorities (Roundtable)
• Priorities for Year 2
• Strengthening recruitment & implementation
• Scientific outputs & publication strategy
• Opportunities for collaboration
16:30 – 17:00 | Closing
• Key conclusions & action points
• Validation of next milestones & deliverables
• Closing remarks — Project Coordinator
