Diagnostics is an integral part of Public Health management and Drug Discovery. As SARS-COV-2 exponentially spreads through communities across the world, there has been a concerted effort by scientists to develop an effective testing kit. In this episode, we sit down with Dr Christian Happi, a molecular biologist and director of the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases. We simplify genomics and diagnostic technologies. We also explore the current efforts and challenges by African scientists in developing these technologies and more.

Mentioned in the episode:
COVID-19 testing types https://time.com/5880255/covid-19-tests-types/
CapeBio Technologies: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-06-25-biotech-entrepreneurs-come-up-with-fast-covid-19-testing-kit-in-sa/
https://capebiosa.com/

Follow Christian Happi
Twitter: @christian_happi
Email: happic@run.edu.ng
Follow: African Centre of Excellemce for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID)
Twitter: @acegid

Article on Bolstering Africa’s coronavirus detection efforts by Abdullahi Tsanni https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01607-y

Follow Desnor Nicole:
Instagram: @desnornicole
Twitter: @DesnorC
Website: www.desnornicole.com

Follow Rutendo Chabikwa
Twitter and Instagram: @tedoex

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Music:

Title: Elipsis
Artist: Chad Crouch (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ch...)
Source: Free Music Archive
License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

Title: Hip Hop Instrumental 2
Artist: Ketsa (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa)
Source: Free Music Archive
License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 License

Como podemos deter a próxima pandemia antes de seu início? Os pesquisadores de doenças Pardis Sabeti e Christian Happi apresentam Sentinel, um sistema de alerta antecipado que detecta e rastreia ameaças virais em tempo real e pode ajudar a detê-las antes que elas se espalhem. Saiba mais sobre a tecnologia de ponta que alimenta o sistema e como a equipe do Sentinel está ajudando cientistas e profissionais de saúde durante a pandemia do novo coronavírus.
(Este plano ambicioso faz parte do Audacious Project, uma iniciativa do TED para inspirar e financiar mudanças globais.)

Comment arrêter la prochaine pandémie avant qu'elle commence ? Les chercheurs Pardis Sabeti et Christian Happi présentent Sentinel, un système d'alarme précoce qui détecte et suit les menaces virales en temps réel -- et qui pourrait aider à les arrêter avant de leur propagation. Apprenez-en davantage sur la technologie de pointe qui alimente ce système et sur la façon dont l'équipe Sentinel aide les scientifiques et le personnel de soin de santé pendant la pandémie de coronavirus.

(Ce plan ambitieux fait partie du projet Audacious, l'initiative de TED pour inspirer et financer le changement mondial.)

How can we stop the next pandemic before it starts? Disease researchers Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi introduce Sentinel, an early warning system that detects and tracks viral threats in real time -- and could help stop them before they spread. Learn more about the cutting-edge technology that powers the system and how the Sentinel team is helping scientists and health workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

How can we stop the next pandemic before it starts? Disease researchers Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi introduce Sentinel, an early warning system that detects and tracks viral threats in real time -- and could help stop them before they spread. Learn more about the cutting-edge technology that powers the system and how the Sentinel team is helping scientists and health workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

How can we stop the next pandemic before it starts? Disease researchers Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi introduce Sentinel, an early warning system that detects and tracks viral threats in real time -- and could help stop them before they spread. Learn more about the cutting-edge technology that powers the system and how the Sentinel team is helping scientists and health workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

우리는 어떻게 해야 향후 다가올 대유행병이 발병하기 전에 이를 막을 수 있을까요? 질병 연구자인 파디스 사베티와 크리스찬 합피는 실시간으로 바이러스 위협을 감지하고 추적하는 조기 경보 시스템 '센티넬'을 도입했고, 이 시스템을 통해 대유행병의 확산을 막을 수 있을 것이라 말합니다. 시스템에 동력을 공급하는 최첨단 기술과 센티넬 팀이 어떻게 COVID-19 유행 기간 동안 과학자들과 보건 종사자들을 돕고 있는지 자세히 알아봅니다. (이 야심 찬 계획은 전 세계적인 변화를 고무하고 후원하기 위한 TED의 창의적이고 대담한 프로젝트의 일부입니다.)

¿Cómo podemos detener la próxima pandemia antes de que empiece? Los investigadores de enfermedades, Pardis Sabeti y Christian Happi, introducen Sentinel, un sistema de alerta temprana que detecta y rastrea amenazas virales a tiempo real -- y que pudiera ayudar a detenerlas antes de que esparzan. Aprende más sobre la tecnología de punta que basa al sistema y como el equipo Sentinel esta ayudando a los científicos y trabajadores de salud durante la pandemia del coronavirus. (Este ambicioso plan es parte del Proyecto Audaz (Audacious Project), una iniciativa de TED para inspirar y financiar cambios globales).

Wie können wir die nächste Pandemie stoppen bevor sie überhaupt beginnt? Krankheitsforscher Pardis Sabeti und Christian Happi stellen Sentinel vor: Ein Frühwarnsystem, das Virusinfektionen in Echtzeit aufspürt und nachverfolgt -- und sie so stoppen könnte bevor sie sich ausbreiten. Lernen Sie mehr über die neuartige Technologie, die dieses System antreibt und wie das Sentinel Team Forschern und Gesundheitspersonal während der Corona-Pandemie hilft. (Dieser ehrgeizige Plan ist Teil des Audacious Project, TEDs Initiative, um globale Veränderungen zu inspirieren und zu fördern).