Africa has emerged as a center for virus hunting under the leadership of Tulio de Oliveira. As a renowned virus expert, de Oliveira was one of the first to confirm the COVID-19 variants Beta and Omicron in South Africa shortly after their appearance in hospitals. He also played a key role in early trials testing the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
Through his efforts, de Oliveira has established two major scientific institutes in South Africa – the Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform and the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation. These institutes train the next generation of genetic experts and conduct cutting-edge genetic sequencing and analysis of disease-causing viruses.
In 2024, de Oliveira was offered a position as chief scientific officer at the U.K.’s Wellcome Sanger Institute, but he declined in order to focus on establishing Africa as a leading player in genomics. Instead, he proposed that his two institutes merge their talents with Wellcome Sanger Institute to better prepare for future public health threats by expanding the network of genomic monitoring started in Africa.
The collaboration between de Oliveira’s institutes and Wellcome Sanger Institute aims to create a more robust global system of disease tracking, with a focus on monitoring the effects of climate change on infectious diseases and human health. De Oliveira emphasizes the importance of thinking about pathogens as a global problem rather than just a national one, as they do not respect borders. This initiative will play a crucial role in preparing the world for future public health challenges.