Partnerships, Engagement & Growth

Genomic Surveillance Unit

A team within the Genomic Surveillance Unit, we build and nurture relationships with partners around the world seeking to implement genomic surveillance solutions. This includes community development, training, and communications. We also help the global MalariaGEN network navigate compliance, funding, public engagement, and community-building challenges.

About us

We are passionate about global health equity. Genomics is a powerful tool for fighting infectious disease, but to reach its potential we believe the tools and techniques of genomic surveillance must be equitably shared. 

Combining expertise in stakeholder engagement, community development, communications, and training, the Partnerships, Engagement & Growth team ensures that partners are empowered to use the data and tools produced in the Genomic Surveillance Unit. Our team centres the needs of partners and asks how the tools we’re building can better serve global health. 

Our work

Global partnerships

We aim to create a network of genomics and public health partners around the world who are empowered to use genomic data in decision-making. 

Many partnerships with the Genomic Surveillance Unit are built on the foundation of relationships established through the MalariaGEN community. We are advocates for the principles of that community and ensure that data is accessible and shareable. The Genomic Surveillance Unit’s Partnerships, Engagement & Growth team supports partners in their journey towards sustainable funding models by advising on or collaborating on funding applications. We also administer various aspects of the MalariaGEN network, including websites, social media accounts, support inboxes, and study set-up.

Communications

We are focused on driving adoption of genomic surveillance in public health, and on establishing the identity and solidifying the reputation of the Genomic Surveillance Unit. We support members of the Unit as they seek to connect with their audiences online and in-person. That involves creating content for websites, social media, newsletters, and presentations, and making the most of other opportunities as they arise.

When it comes to the media, we work closely with the press office at the Sanger Institute. For media enquiries, please contact: press.office@sanger.ac.uk

Training

Genomic surveillance data is only useful if public health partners have the tools and knowledge required to implement it. To increase capacity for genomic surveillance around the world, we run training programs that respond to partners’ needs. 

In 2022-23 we welcomed the first two cohorts of participants for a newly-developed training course in data analysis for genomic surveillance of African malaria vectors. This experience is extended to hackathons which take place in-person at the PAMCA annual conference. The training team also facilitates secondments for PAMCA Bioinformatics fellows to travel to the Wellcome Sanger Institute as part of their fellowship.