Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has clinched a €5 million grant from the European Union to develop an artificial intelligence-powered microscope that will help health workers diagnose some of Africa’s toughest parasitic diseases.
The funding comes from the EU’s Horizon Europe EDCTP3 programme, one of the continent’s most competitive research grants. ABU’s project, called MultiplexAI, was picked as one of only four winners from 240 proposals submitted from around the world. It’s also the very first time ABU will lead a digital health project funded by the Horizon Europe framework.
The MultiplexAI project aims to make it easier to spot deadly diseases like malaria, African trypanosomiasis (also known as sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, and filariasis. These illnesses are common in Nigeria and hit remote communities the hardest, where basic lab facilities are usually missing.
Dr. Gloria Dada Chechet, a respected biochemist and molecular parasitologist at ABU, is the project’s scientific lead. She and her team at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB) will guide the development of this new technology. Dr. Chechet has built a career in tropical disease diagnostics and has earned several international honours for her work in global health and for supporting women in science.
What makes the MultiplexAI tool special is its simplicity. It’s designed to work with just a regular microscope, a smartphone and a special app. This means local health workers can check patients for multiple parasites on the spot, no need for expensive, faraway labs.
ABU’s Vice-Chancellor and management said the grant is a new benchmark for digital health innovation, not just for the university but for all of Africa. “This project enhances ABU’s global reputation and puts us front and centre in AI-driven health research,” the university stated.
ABU’s team will start work on building and testing the AI microscope, which may translate into fewer missed diagnoses and better health for millions. With this setup, rural clinics and community health centres could see big improvements in diagnosing and treating patients faster.
