When the pandemic hit, malaria scientists in Mali rushed to repurpose genetic sequencing equipment to study the mutating virus that causes COVID-19.

"We had to react because we didn't have a choice, but we were not ready," said Abdoulaye Djimde. "It's not the appropriate way to deal with the unknown."

With planes grounded and the borders closed, the pandemic exposed the bare-bones public health capacity in many countries in Africa. Few had the systems in place to detect and trace cases or transport and fully analyze samples - or the expertise in genetics to make sense of the data.

For Djimde, it crystallized the need for Africa to fill the gap. He is establishing the Pathogens Genomics Institute in Mali to set up the infrastructure, develop the capacity, and train young scientists from all over Africa to use genomics to address public health issues. It will start by studying malaria, SARS-CoV 2, and antimicrobial resistance.

A seasoned collaborator, Djimde initiated some of the first Pan-African malaria genetics research networks. In the early 2010s, he brought scientists together to investigate the genetic diversity of malaria parasites. Previously, when researchers were running smaller studies from different corners of the continent, the genetic diversity and range of pathogens led to contradictory results.

"With all the diversity out there, you need big numbers and to be inclusive. We would have never published some of our papers if we had done it solo," said Djimde. In 2012, he founded a malaria-focused research network across Africa. In 2020, that expanded into the Pathogens genomic Diversity Network (PDNA), an African-led research network that investigates the genetic diversity of human pathogens across 16 countries.

Djimde is happiest staying in his lab. But after working on the clinical development of a new antimalarial drug for 10 years, he watched with frustration as other countries adopted his results into policy before Mali. This was because he did not engage with policymakers until he was nearly done with his research. Now, he partners with policymakers and the community before the studies even begin, and that kind of collaboration will also be built into the new Pathogens Genomics Institute.

"At the end of the day you realize what is all this for? How is what I'm doing important? How can I make it more impactful? That's when you start asking the right questions and understand that you can't just always be locked in the lab," he said.