Le PMRTC accueille le Sous-Secrétaire d’État américain aux Affaires africaines, M. Frank Garcia
PMRTC Welcomes U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr. Frank Garcia
Parasites and Microbes Research and Training Centre (PMRTC) had the honor of welcoming Mr. Frank Garcia, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, for a visit to its research facilities.
Hosted by Professor Abdoulaye Djimdé and his team, the delegation explored PMRTC’s key scientific capabilities in the fight against infectious diseases, including malaria, as well as leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis and other parasitic diseases.
The visit highlighted the different stages of the laboratory workflow from DNA extraction to genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. PMRTC researchers showcased the cutting-edge technologies used at the Centre, including Oxford and Sanger sequencing platforms, which enable scientists to monitor pathogen evolution and detect early markers of drug resistance.
Discussions also focused on the strategic role of genomic sequencing in the surveillance of emerging infectious diseases. PMRTC scientists highlighted the Centre’s achievement of conducting Mali’s first SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite border closures and significant logistical challenges. This capability enabled Mali to contribute rapidly to global variant surveillance and to support evidence-based public health decision-making.
During the visit, Mr. Frank Garcia expressed particular interest in PMRTC’s genomic surveillance approaches, its collaborations with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other international partners, as well as the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate genomic data analysis and strengthen the detection of emerging health threats.
This visit underscores the importance of strengthening scientific partnerships between Mali and the United States while highlighting the international recognition of the expertise developed at PMRTC in genomics, translational research and infectious disease surveillance.
PMRTC remains committed to advancing world-class research that contributes to improving public health across Africa and beyond.
