Welcome to the September 2026 newsletter!
Table of Contents:
- Upcoming Events
- Monthly Seminar: The Africa Readiness Index (ARI): Measuring Health System Readiness for Next-Generation Malaria Interventions
- Hackathon: DHIS2 from Scratch: From an Empty System to a Working Dashboard
- Francophone Seminar: Modelling the impact of mosquito nets: From experimental to operational conditions
- Lusophone Seminar: From Database to Decision: Epidemiological Data Analysis to Strengthen Public Health Surveillance
- Small Event Award Q2 2026 Recipients
- Call for Volunteers: AMMnet Seminar Planning Task Force
- Request for Information
- Job Opportunities
- Training Opportunities
- AMMnet × MESA Knowledge Hub Monthly Resource Spotlight
- Seminar Recap and Recordings
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
Upcoming Events
Register for the next AMMnet Monthly Seminar | October 6, 15 hr UTC
The Africa Readiness Index (ARI): Measuring Health System Readiness for Next-Generation Malaria Interventions
Presenter: Michael Audu
Next-generation malaria interventions are advancing faster than the systems expected to deliver them. Effective products alone are not sufficient: countries also need the institutional capacity to regulate, finance, procure, distribute and monitor new tools sustainably.
The Africa Readiness Index is a multi-domain framework assessing national preparedness across governance, regulatory capacity, supply chain infrastructure, health workforce readiness, domestic financing, pharmacovigilance and political commitment.
Applied across ten high-burden African countries, it reveals a structural inversion the countries carrying the greatest malaria burden score lowest on readiness, with domestic financing consistently the weakest domain. This presentation introduces the framework, discusses its country-level findings, and considers how readiness assessment can help governments, funders, product developers and implementation partners identify and address system bottlenecks before new interventions arrive.
About the presenter:
Michael Audu is a Malaria Expert, Public Health Security Advocate, and Supply Chain Integration Strategist specializing in the West African health landscape. Currently a DrPH candidate at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Michael holds an MPH and a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD). His work operates at the critical intersection of infectious disease control, Global Health Security, and Artificial Intelligence.
As the Principal Investigator of "Project Foresight" at the University of Port Harcourt, Michael leads the development of AI-powered malaria prediction models and climate-adaptive logistics strategies designed to safeguard "last-mile" access in flood-prone and insecure regions.
A vocal proponent of African health sovereignty, Michael focuses on breaking "verticality traps" by integrating parallel supply chains into resilient, harmonized systems. His research and strategic insights have been featured at major continental forums, including CPHIA 2025, where his work was recognized for its strategic alignment with the Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order.
Note: This presentation is in English and there will be real time interpretation into French. Participants can also activate the CAPTIONS feature on Zoom for translation into their language of choice.
Register Here for the Seminar Series
Register for the next Hackathon | September 30, 12-14 hr UTC
DHIS2 From Scratch: From an Empty System to a Working Dashboard
Instructor: Mohamed Sillah Kanu
This hackathon will focus on building a complete health reporting system in DHIS2, starting with an empty instance and ending with a dashboard that a program can use to inform action. Participants will set up DHIS2 on their own laptops using Docker and then work through the full configuration workflow: building the organizational unit hierarchy manually and through CSV import, creating data elements and category combinations, designing data sets and data entry forms, entering and validating aggregate data, and constructing indicators that turn raw counts into comparable rates.
These skills apply to any health program, whether immunization, maternal and child health, HIV, TB, or disease surveillance. Malaria routine data, including suspected cases, testing, confirmed cases and treatment, will serve as the worked example throughout, demonstrating how each piece of metadata connects to the next and how configuration choices shape what a program can ultimately see and use for decision-making.
Participants will also explore case-based data entry through event programs; custom form design using HTML, CSS and JavaScript; analysis using the Data Visualizer and Maps apps; and the assembly of a two-column program dashboard. The training will also cover user management, data export, system customization, and extending DHIS2 through the App Hub. All topics will be taught through hands-on exercises that reinforce each step before participants move on to the next.
About the instructor
Mohamed Sillah Kanu is a data scientist, statistician and software engineer with deep expertise in DHIS2 system administration, metadata configuration, app development and API integration. He holds an MSc in Data Science from The George Washington University and an MSc in Statistics from the University of Sierra Leone, along with degrees in Software Engineering and in Mathematics and Statistics.
He served as a consultant Malaria Epidemiologist with the World Health Organization, supporting the subnational tailoring of malaria interventions that informed Sierra Leone's National Strategic Plan 2026 to 2030. He then joined Northwestern University as a Research Data Analyst Associate, where he handled complex data analytics for national malaria programmes. Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Informatics Consultancy Firm, Sierra Leone (ICF-SL), he leads the primary technical partner to Sierra Leone's National Malaria Control Programme, where he designed the Sierra Leone National Malaria Data Repository, an analytical platform that brings routine health, logistics and surveillance data into one place for decision making from national down to facility level.
The overall objective of his work is to put reliable, timely health data in the hands of the people who make programme decisions. He is a member of AMMnet and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and has taught mathematics and statistics at the University of Sierra Leone.
The session will be recorded and made publicly available to all AMMnet members via the hackathon blog.
This Hackathon is taught in English, but we invite instructors of other languages to lead sessions. Reach out to info@ammnet.org if you are interested in leading a session in French or Portuguese.
Register Here for the September 30 HackathonFind previous hackathons on our blog here
Register for the Francophone Seminar | September 30, 13 hr UTC
Modelling the impact of mosquito nets: from experimental to operational conditions
Speaker: Clara Champagne
About the presentation
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are a key intervention in the fight against malaria, and a new generation of nets has been in use for several years to address resistance to pyrethroids. However, efficacy measured under experimental conditions is not sufficient to predict the impact achieved in real-world settings: beyond the active ingredients they contain, the characteristics of local Anopheles species, durability, access to and use of the nets, and even their distribution methods can significantly influence this impact. In this presentation, we will demonstrate how modelling can be used to quantify these various factors and to approximate real-world implementation conditions, thereby supporting decision-making.
About the speaker
Clara Champagne is an infectious disease modeller with a background in applied mathematics, statistics and public health. She works within the Analytics and Intervention Modelling group at Swiss TPH, where she develops models designed to inform decisions regarding malaria control interventions.
Her recent work focuses in particular on insecticide-treated bed nets, metapopulation models for prioritising interventions, and interventions targeting Plasmodium vivax. She also actively contributes to modelling work carried out in support of national malaria control programmes.
Note: This presentation is in French only and registered participants can activate the CAPTIONS feature on Zoom for translation in their language of choice.
Register Here for the Francophone Seminar
Register for the Lusophone Seminar | October 2, 15 hr UTC
From Database to Decision: Epidemiological Data Analysis to Strengthen Public Health Surveillance
Presenter: Gerson Afai
Transforming epidemiological data into useful information for decision-making is essential to strengthening public-health surveillance. This presentation explores the journey “from database to decision,” highlighting how the systematic organisation, analysis and interpretation of data can generate evidence to identify trends, detect warning signals, characterise epidemiological patterns and guide public-health responses.
The presentation will introduce key principles and practical examples of epidemiological data analysis, covering the process from data quality assessment and preparation to the production of indicators, visualisations and interpretations that support timely decision-making. It will emphasise how high-quality data, when appropriately analysed and transformed into actionable information, can contribute to surveillance systems that are more efficient, responsive and evidence-based.
About the Presenter
Gerson Afai holds a degree in Dental Medicine and a Master’s degree in Field and Laboratory Epidemiology (FETP) from Eduardo Mondlane University. He has experience in epidemiological surveillance, data management and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, outbreak response, public-health emergencies, and field epidemiology training.
He currently serves as Data Manager and Surveillance Focal Point for Malaria Elimination within Mozambique’s National Malaria Control Programme at the Ministry of Health. His work focuses on strengthening surveillance systems, using data to inform decision-making, and supporting malaria-elimination strategies.
Gerson is also an author and co-author of scientific publications addressing malaria, epidemiological surveillance, communicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, and the evaluation of public-health interventions. His professional interests include applied epidemiology, operational research, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Note: This presentation is in Portuguese only and registered participants can activate the CAPTIONS feature on Zoom for translation in their language of choice.
Register Here for the Lusophone Seminar
AMMnet Small Event Award Recipients for Q2 2O26 Cycle
The Secretariat would like to extend our sincere thanks to the 86 applicants and the small event award task force for successfully reviewing all applications under this cycle . Their commitment and rigorous assessment have been instrumental in ensuring a fair, transparent, and high-quality selection process.Following the review, AMMnet has awarded five applications in the Q2 2026 cycle:
Rwanda: Mutabazi, Modelling the Impact of a Rapidly Changing Landscape on Malaria Transmission and Control in Rwanda
Burkina Faso: Badolo, Barry and Gneme, Dissemination of Malaria Entomological Surveillance Data and Evidence from Modelling to Support Malaria Control in Burkina Faso
Bangladesh: Rahman and Zaman, Village-Level Geospatial Analysis and Modelling for Targeted Malaria Elimination in Southeastern BangladeshSouth Sudan: Makuei, The Use of Machine Learning Models to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Malaria Interventions and Strengthen Malaria Vector Surveillance in South SudanZimbabwe: Ndali, Bridging the Gap: Integrating Mathematical, Economic and Public Health Modelling for Malaria Strategy Design in Zimbabwe
Note:
- Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Bangladesh are the Top 3 rated applications
- South Sudan and Zimbabwe have never won a small event award before and were very highly rated
Given the high volume of strong applications received in Q1 and Q2 2026, AMMnet will NOT be opening a new call for Q3 2026. Instead, Q3 awardees will be selected by raffle from the pool of previously unfunded Q1 and Q2 applications that met the minimum quality threshold in review. The Q3 2026 recipients will be announced in October 2026.
Call for Volunteers!
Got a Great Network? Put It to Work for AMMnet!
Great seminars start with great speakers — and great speakers often come through great connections.
The AMMnet Connecting Committee is looking for new volunteers to join its Seminar Planning Task Force, the team that helps identify and recruit speakers for AMMnet’s monthly seminar series.
Who are we looking for?
We’re looking for natural connectors and enthusiastic networkers who enjoy bringing people and ideas together.
If you know researchers, practitioners, policymakers, programme leaders, data analysts, modellers, or other experts with valuable knowledge and experiences to share — and you’re comfortable reaching out and inviting them to engage with the AMMnet community — we’d love to hear from you.
You don’t need to have the biggest network. What matters is being proactive, curious, and willing to make connections that can benefit the wider AMMnet community.
What would you do?
As a member of the Seminar Planning Task Force, you would:
- Identify and recommend potential speakers and help review proposed topics of interest to the AMMnet community.
- Reach out to prospective speakers, introducing them to AMMnet and our monthly seminar series.
- Help maintain a strong seminar pipeline, with speakers ideally confirmed at least two months in advance.
- Once a speaker is confirmed, hand over to the AMMnet Secretariat, which will coordinate scheduling, registration, promotion, and other event logistics.
What’s in it for you?
Joining the Seminar Planning Task Force is more than volunteering a few hours — it’s an opportunity to grow your network, strengthen your experience, and become more involved in the AMMnet community.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Expand your professional network by connecting with AMMnet members, researchers, practitioners, programme leaders, and experts from around the world.
- Work alongside an engaged international community passionate about malaria analytics, modelling, and evidence-informed decision-making.
- Build practical leadership and volunteer experience by contributing directly to one of AMMnet’s core knowledge-sharing activities.
- Increase your engagement and visibility within AMMnet and gain a better understanding of how the network, its committees, and its activities operate.
- Build experience for future AMMnet leadership opportunities, including committee leadership and potentially serving as a future AMMnet Board member representing our community.
- Add your voice and experience by helping shape the topics, speakers, and perspectives featured in AMMnet’s seminar programme.
- Make a difference by helping AMMnet connect its global community with relevant expertise, practical experiences, and new ideas.
Time commitment
Just 1–2 hours per month.
A small investment of your time can make a meaningful contribution to AMMnet, while helping you build connections and experience along the way.
Interested?
If this sounds like you, or if you know an AMMnet member who would be a great fit, contact info@ammnet.org.
Request for Information
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is seeking to identify qualified organizations based in or operating in malaria-endemic countries that can provide market intelligence, research, data analytics, and evidence-generation support. The aim is to strengthen our understanding of malaria markets, access pathways, implementation challenges, and the potential impact of new products.
This RFI is intended to identify potential service providers and other organizations with relevant expertise for future assignments. Responses to this RFI will not result directly in the award of a contract but will help MMV establish a network of organizations with capabilities relevant to its current and future needs.
The purpose of this RFI is to identify organizations located or operating in malaria-endemic countries that have demonstrated experience in malaria and can provide one or more of the following services:
A. Market Research
B. Secondary Data Access and Analysis
C. Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
D. Cost-Effectiveness and Value Assessment
E. Social Science Research
Application Deadline: 14 October 2026 (18:00 CEST)
Job Opportunities
Postdoctoral Fellow or Staff Scientist in Epidemiology
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, working under Dr. Amy Wesolowski and an interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, entomologists and clinicians, is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow or Staff Scientist in Epidemiology.
The successful candidate will analyze data from a longitudinal cohort study in Zambia evaluating malaria vaccine effectiveness in a high-transmission setting, working with both molecular (genomic, serological, immunological) and epidemiological data.
The position is based in Baltimore, USA, and is expected to run for 1–2 years depending on the applicant's career plans and interests.
Application Deadline: 01 January 2027
Scholars Program for Early-Stage Investigators
The Duke Multiscale Immune Systems Modeling (MISM) Center of Excellence is accepting applications for its inaugural 1-year Scholars Program for early-stage investigators conducting research on infectious and immune-mediated diseases.
Scholar opportunities include:
- Specialized training and professional development workshops
- Peer mentorship activities
- Priority consultation with MISM quantitative scientists
- Networking opportunities
Application Deadline: 01 October 2026
Senior Biostatistician in Infectious Disease
The Division of Infectious Disease at Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Sr. Biostatistician who will be responsible for data management and analysis of multicenter clinical trials. The Sr. Biostatistician will supervise research data analysts and work with principal investigators to analyze and manage data from studies.
The Biostatistician will support the management, integration, documentation, and analysis of epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and genomic data generated through the Johns Hopkins University Center for Community and Global Health in Infectious Diseases (CCGHE-ID)–Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) research portfolio. The position will support the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), SENTINEL, IN-STEP, and other ongoing and ancillary studies.
The individual will work closely with investigators, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, bioinformaticians, students, trainees, and CCGHE-ID/RHSP collaborators to maintain well-organized and analysis-ready research datasets; develop reproducible data processing and analytic pipelines; integrate epidemiologic and genomic data; support statistical and genomic analyses; and establish consistent standards for data and code management across the research program.
Application Deadline: as soon as possible
Postdoctoral and Master-Student Intern for Malaria Genomic Epidemiology
The Institut Pasteur is seeking a postdoctoral and master intern to work on a French National Research Funded project UniGEM (Unified Inference for Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria). Using simulation-based inference (SBI) with deep learning, UniGEM aims to build a neural network to estimate parameters of malaria epidemiology.
The postdoc will be responsible for the simulation of synthetic data used to train, develop, and test the neural network. Meanwhile, the intern will engineer the features input into the neural network.
Both posts require strong programming skills. Interns interested in the artificial intelligence/epidemiology interface are encouraged to apply as the internship could potentially progress into the PhD funded through the Paris Artificial Intelligence Research Institute.
Application Deadline: 02 October 2026
More Information for Masters HereMore Information for Postdoc Here
Postdoctoral Associate in Translational Medicine
Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program
The Andersen lab is working on diverse projects using genomics approaches and high-throughput experiments to study emerging viruses and associated outbreaks. We use an integrated approach of ‘field’ work, technology development, and computational biology to investigate these viruses.
We are looking for a computational postdoc with experience and/or interest in developing AI-enabled large-scale surveillance tools that integrate genomic data with functional in vitro and in silico readouts, including high-throughput deep mutational scanning, and deploying these tools through outbreak.info. Ideal candidates will have a background in developing or applying genomic epidemiology to understand outbreaks.
Application Deadline: as soon as possible
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
CAUSALab, based in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, is expanding its team and currently accepting applications for two Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions: an AI Postdoctoral Research Fellow, who will work on causal inference and AI methods under the supervision of Professor Miguel Hernán, and a Pregnancy Postdoctoral Research Fellow. CAUSALab focuses on generating, repurposing, and analyzing health data to support more informed decisions by regulators, clinicians, and policy makers.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigators
The Stadtman Investigator Program was established in 2009 as a mechanism to recruit new investigators to the “in-house” research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) called the Intramural Research Program (IRP). The Stadtman Investigator position is equivalent to a tenure-track assistant professor position in academia.
Unlike many academic searches of limited scope, the Stadtman Investigator Program involves a broad search for applicants conducting research in any area of biomedical science supported by the NIH. Then, once we identify through the search candidates with great promise for conducting important research as an independent investigator, we try to create positions for them in the IRP. Each year, 10 or more new investigators may be hired through the program’s selection process.
Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
Training Opportunities
WHO launches new primary health care course to strengthen health systems globally
Health is a human right – yet not everyone can access the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. Primary health care (PHC) provides a whole-of-society approach to achieving universal health coverage, putting people and communities at the centre of health systems.
To help address this gap, WHO launched a new free online course, ‘The Primary Health Care Approach: A Short Course’, available on the WHO Academy online learning platform.
MIDAS Network Announces New Educational Webinar Series on Modeling Tools and Resources
The MIDAS network is pleased to announce the start of a new, occasional webinar series aimed at providing introductions to tools and resources for infectious disease modeling. Rather than focusing exclusively on novel research, these webinars will be practical guides, including tutorials describing what these resources have to offer and how they might be used.
For the first webinar in this series (October 13 at 1pm ET, described below), members of the coordination center team will present the MIDAS data catalog and related efforts designed to make infectious disease efforts more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable).
MIDAS Webinar Series - An Open-Source Python Package for Generating Geographically-Realistic Synthetic Populations and Networks (Sep 25 / 13H EDT)
GeoPops is currently the only open-source, actively maintained synthetic population generator that uses publicly available data and creates activity networks for any US Census location. Output files include a list of agents with attributes (age, gender, income, etc.) and network structures detailing connectivity between agents within home, school, and workplace locations. A GeoPops population can be used with agent-based and compartmental models. Users can make their own county, state, or multi-state populations following user-friendly tutorials that use a measles case study
Alisa is a 4th-year PhD candidate in the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering (CaSE) and Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. Her projects focus on methods of capturing demographic and geographic variation in human behavior and health outcomes in infectious disease models. Her research goal is to increase the decision-making relevance of scenario modeling by making simulation frameworks that are context-specific, open-source, and user-friendly.
AMMnet × MESA Knowledge Hub
Monthly Resource Spotlight
An Introduction to Epidemiological Modeling
What is epidemiological modelling, and how can it support more effective public health decisions? Explore this new MESA–AMMnet resource introducing the foundations and applications of epidemiological modelling. The resource explains how models provide simplified representations of complex real-world systems, helping researchers and decision-makers to:
- Understand disease dynamics and epidemiological determinants;
- Anticipate how diseases may evolve over time and across locations;
- Explore intervention, environmental and behavioural scenarios;
- Evaluate the prospective and retrospective impact of interventions; and
- Optimize the allocation of limited resources.
The resource also provides an accessible overview of several complementary approaches, including statistical, geospatial, mechanistic, mathematical, agent-based and health economic modelling.
Whether you are new to modelling or looking to strengthen your understanding of its role in infectious disease research and decision-making, this resource offers a valuable starting point.
Access this AMMnet Resource on the MESA Resource Hub Here
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Monthly Seminar Series
Sep 1, 2026
Evidence to Impact: How Data Analytics Strengthens Stakeholder Engagement for Malaria Policy and Programme Impact
Panelist – Dr. Payakissim Somiabalo (Abraham) Atekpe | Togo
Dr. Atekpe is the Coordinator of Togo's National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP), bringing the perspective of a national malaria programme on using evidence to inform programme priorities, engage stakeholders and strengthen malaria control efforts.
Panelist – Olivia Ngou | Cameroon
Olivia Ngou is the Founder and Executive Director of Impact Santé Afrique, an African-based, women-led non-governmental organization focused on health advocacy, community engagement and building transformative health programmes.
Panelist – Christophe Antonio Nkondjio | Cameroon
Christophe Antonio Nkondjio is a Senior Researcher at the Organization for the Coordination of the Fight Against Endemic Diseases in Central Africa (OCEAC), based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Panelist – Hannah Slater | United States
Hannah Slater is Director of Modeling and Data Analytics at PATH, working across its malaria and diagnostics programmes. She brings expertise in using modelling and analytical evidence to inform public health strategies and decision-making.
Moderator – Susan Rumisha | Tanzania
Susan Rumisha is a Principal Research Scientist, a geospatial modeller and a Lead of the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP) Dar at the Ifakara Health Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This interactive panel discussion explores how data analysis, modelling, and evidence can strengthen stakeholder engagement and support more effective decision-making in the fight against malaria.The panellists discuss the importance of engaging stakeholders from the earliest stages of defining research questions and analytical priorities.
They also examine how to translate complex findings into accessible and actionable messages, build trust and ownership around evidence, involve stakeholders in interpreting results, and develop partnerships that extend beyond individual projects and funding cycles.
The session emphasizes that scientific rigour alone does not guarantee the use of evidence. Meaningful impact also depends on the relevance of the analysis, clear communication, trust among stakeholders, and their continuous engagement.
AMMnet Asia Pacific Seminar Series
Sep 4, 2026
The Last Mile Elimination Efforts of NMEP-Bangladesh: Surveillance Data-Driven Actions, Challenges and Lessons Learned
Speaker – Dr. Md. Mosiqure Rahaman
The presentation outlines Bangladesh’s progress toward malaria elimination and its strategy for overcoming the remaining “last-mile” challenges through case-based surveillance, GIS-supported micro-planning, targeted interventions, rapid diagnosis, public–private partnerships, and carefully monitored innovations such as targeted drug administration and malaria vaccination.
Malaria cases declined from 18,195 in 2022 to 10,162 in 2025, although transmission remains concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, especially Bandarban and Rangamati.
The presentation concludes that elimination will require investigating and responding to every case, tailoring services to local geographic and cultural conditions, maintaining vigilance against travel-related malaria and diagnostic limitations, and adapting Bangladesh’s transferable lessons—rather than its exact programme model—to the needs and capacities of other endemic settings.
