Erasmus+ mobility: PhD student Jens Cornelis attended an inspiring Global Health Diagnostics training in Montréal

Infectious diseases continue to pose a major threat to the health of most developing nations. The COVID-19 pandemic and emergence and spread of infections like XDR-TB, Ebola, dengue, chikungunya, and avian influenza have highlighted the importance of effective global response to epidemic threats. Diagnosis is a critical step in effective disease care and control, but many people in low-resource settings do not have access to high-quality diagnostic tests.

The training seminar on global health diagnostics addressed cross-cutting issues such as implementation, evidence, policy and guidance, cost-effectiveness, data harmonisation, and the use of artificial intelligence within the infectious diseases diagnostics field. It covered a wide range of topics, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), acute febrile illnesses, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (HIV and STBBIs), tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.

Jens Cornelis gained valuable insights from experts and stakeholders, including policy makers, academics, clinicians, researchers, community advocates, programme managers, product manufacturers, donors, product development partnerships, public health implementers, and health leaders from high-burden countries. Professionals from diverse fields—clinicians, nurses, policymakers, researchers, implementers, advocates and health educators—shared their rich and diverse experiences, successes, challenges and lessons learned from launching and leading key global diagnostic initiatives

One of the directors of the Global Health Diagnostics training was Cédric Yansouni, who has established multiple ongoing collaborations with ITM. Recently, another partnership was added to this list: a project on diagnostics called 'ENERGISE,' in which Jens’ PhD research is also involved. During the same week as the training seminar, a consortium meeting for this project took place.

Besides exchanging new ideas, information and experiences, this consortium meeting also provided Jens the opportunity to present his own work and PhD research. To conclude in his own words: