Prof. Christian Happi
The MacArthur Foundation has awarded $100 million to the Broad Institute for the Sentinel project, co-led by Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria, and Dr Pardis Sabeti of the Broad Institute. The funding was announced on November 18, 2025.
Sentinel is a global outbreak surveillance initiative aimed at preventing pandemics by empowering local communities with disease detection and sequencing capabilities. The project brings together experts in public health, virology, genomics, and bioengineering to strengthen early outbreak response, particularly in West Africa.
Selected from five finalists in MacArthur’s 100&Change competition, the project focuses on technology-driven monitoring, community engagement, and international collaboration. Over 3,000 public health workers across 53 African countries have already been trained through Sentinel, with plans to expand further in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and three additional countries over the next five years.
Happi described Sentinel as an Africa-led solution to global health challenges, emphasising trust, collaboration, and resilient systems.
Sabeti added that the funding enables communities worldwide to detect and contain outbreaks early, demonstrating how science, innovation, and solidarity can protect public health and prevent global crises.
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