When an infectious disease outbreak strikes, the ability to launch research quickly can make a critical difference. In Ghana, a practical training programme is helping African researchers build the skills and confidence to conduct high-quality research during public health emergencies.
In September 2024, 15 researchers from Ghana and Cameroon gathered in Big Ada, Ghana, for a three-day workshop designed to strengthen their ability to respond to emerging infectious disease threats.
Organised by the ISARIC Kumasi Hub, in collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the workshop focused on a critical challenge: how to prepare researchers to conduct rigorous, ethical, and timely research in the midst of an outbreak.
Outbreaks create urgent demands for reliable evidence to guide clinical care and public health responses. Yet conducting research during an emergency brings particular challenges, from rapidly establishing studies and securing ethical approvals to engaging affected communities and maintaining research quality under pressure.
The Clinical Research During Outbreaks (CREDO) programme was developed by ISARIC in partnership with the World Health Organization’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) to help address these challenges. Established in 2017, the programme provides practical training in scientific thinking, research ethics, quality and risk management, research operations and study site management.
For the researchers attending the Ghana workshop, drawn from the African Coalition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training (ALERRT) network, the emphasis was on applying these principles to realistic outbreak situations.
Through interactive exercises and practical scenarios, participants explored how to plan, organise and deliver research in response to threats including Marburg virus disease, mpox and ‘Disease X’ – the term used by WHO to represent a currently unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic.
The training encouraged participants to think beyond research protocols and consider the complex decisions involved in mounting an effective outbreak response, particularly when time, resources and information are limited.
For James Deke, a researcher from Ghana, the workshop highlighted the importance of being prepared for the practical realities of outbreak research.
“It’s not just about understanding research,” he explained. “It’s about learning how to engage communities, navigate ethical challenges, and respond quickly and effectively when every moment counts.”
The workshop also brought together researchers working in different settings, creating opportunities to share experiences and strengthen connections across borders. This is particularly important in a region where infectious disease threats can emerge unexpectedly and require coordinated responses.
Donald, a participant from Cameroon, reflected on the value of being prepared for an uncertain outbreak landscape.
“We have a lot of outbreaks in Africa. We don’t know which part of the continent the next one will be coming from. So the impact it has had is it has prepared me for any outbreak” he said.
While a three-day workshop cannot address every challenge involved in outbreak research, it can provide an important foundation. By giving researchers opportunities to practise decision-making, explore ethical and operational challenges, and learn from one another, the training aims to strengthen their readiness to contribute when new health threats emerge.
The Ghana workshop formed part of ISARIC’s wider efforts to build sustainable research capacity and support a connected international community of researchers able to generate evidence during infectious disease emergencies.
As Evans Asamoah Adu explained:
“We’re not just preparing for the next outbreak. We’re building a resilient scientific community that can respond rapidly and effectively to whatever health challenges come our way.”
By investing in researchers before emergencies occur, initiatives such as CREDO are helping to lay the foundations for faster, better-coordinated and more effective research responses when they are needed most.
