The MacArthur Foundation has announced a $100 million grant to Sentinel, an African-led initiative focused on pandemic prevention and infectious disease surveillance. This significant investment comes at a critical time when global health funding is dwindling, particularly from major donor nations. Sentinel, a project that develops cost-effective pathogen detection tests, employs real-time outbreak tracking tools, and trains local scientists, has already trained over 3,000 public health workers across 53 African countries. The funding will enable Sentinel to expand its reach over the next five years, enhancing its ability to detect and respond to emerging diseases swiftly. Christian Happi, co-director of Sentinel, emphasized that this initiative demonstrates Africa’s leadership in addressing global health challenges through trust, collaboration, and community-driven systems. The MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition, which aims to inspire bold philanthropic endeavors, selected Sentinel for its innovative and impactful approach. Chris Cardona, the foundation’s managing director, highlighted the importance of international funding, especially for projects like Sentinel that build cross-country capacity. However, global health programs face increasing challenges as donor countries reduce multilateral support. For instance, Gavi, a public-private vaccine alliance, faces funding shortfalls due to cuts by the U.S. government. Similarly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has scaled back collaboration with the World Health Organization, potentially hindering outbreak responses. Sentinel’s work, rooted in community engagement and advanced diagnostics, aims to empower local responders to detect and mitigate disease threats. Dr. Pardis Sabeti, a collaborator on the project, described the grant as transformative, stressing the need for continuous pandemic surveillance. Former USAID official Nidhi Bouri underscored the global responsibility to support diverse funding streams for health initiatives, as disease outbreaks have far-reaching consequences. This grant not only bolsters Sentinel’s efforts but also sets a precedent for philanthropy to address global health challenges collaboratively.
MacArthur Foundation awards $100M to outbreak surveillance network, a boost amid global health cuts
