Medaman
Medical Data Management (Medaman) is a private company founded in 2019 to support hospitals in the management and advanced use of structured, standardized medical data. Medaman specializes in health data interoperability, analytics, and peer benchmarking, bridging clinical practice with data-driven insight. Medaman supports the full clinical data lifecycle by transforming hospital data into the OMOP Common Data Model (CDM). This standardized and harmonized approach enables advanced analytics, federated research, and robust evidence-based decision-making. By converting heterogeneous clinical data into a common format, Medaman allows hospitals and researchers to reliably analyze care processes, outcomes, and resource use. Vision: To unlock the value of hospital data for innovative healthcare organizations. Through secure and anonymous peer benchmarking, hospitals gain deeper insight into care delivery and can steer toward more targeted, effective, and sustainable patient care. Mission: To enable high-quality hospital care at lower cost by combining state-of-the-art medical coding, in-depth hospital data analysis, and structured peer comparison—creating value for hospitals, physicians, and patients. AddressPas 312440 GeelBelgium Primary contactDr. Luc Belmans, CEO Website: www.medaman.org
Ghent University
Ghent University (UGent) is a top 100 university, founded in 1817, and one of the major universities in Belgium with more than 50,000 students and 15,700 employees. Our 11 faculties offer more than 200 programmes and conduct in-depth research within a wide range of scientific domains. Our credo is ‘Dare to Think’, challenging everyone to question conventional views and to dare to take a nuanced stand. We are a pluralistic university open to all, regardless of their ideological, political, cultural or social background. Ghent University Global Campus is also the first European university in Songdo, South Korea. Mission: Ghent University occupies a specific position among the Flemish universities. This position is defined in the UGent Mission Statement, which serves as the basis for the process of change and strategic policy planning at all levels. It is also the touchstone for the day-to-day management of the university. Ghent University… Distinguishes itself as a socially committed and pluralistic university that is open to all students, regardless of their ideological, political, cultural or social background; Defines itself in a broad international perspective, all the while accentuating its individuality in terms of language and culture; Aims to encourage its students to adopt a critical approach within a creative, development-oriented educational and research environment; Offers a broad spectrum of high-quality research-based educational programmes that are constantly being adapted to the most recent scholarly and scientific developments; Aims to develop in a selective manner the advanced degree programmes, as well as postgraduate and permanent education; Aims to situate its educational and research activities within the broader social context and to remain in continual dialogue with all parties concerned; Aims to promote and further develop fundamental independent research in all faculties and to be a world player in the selected fields of endeavour; Aims to be an enterprising university with a focus on the social and economic applications of its research findings; Attaches particular importance to the social facilities made available for students; Creates a stimulating environment for its staff and provides them with the fullest scope of opportunities for developing their potential; Attaches particular importance to the participation of students, staff and social representatives in the formulation of policy; Desires strong interaction with its alumni; Opts for a decentralised, dynamic organisation model. Team lead: Work Package 1: Project coordination ADDRESS: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25 – 9000 Gent, Belgium PRIMARY CONTACT: Prof. Dr. Petra De Sutter, Rector WEBSITE: https://www.ugent.be/en
Negga Asamene Abera
Pacifique Nizeyimana
BRIDGE NETWORK – Post-doctoral fellow Pacifique Nizeyimana completed his PhD in Statistics (Bioinformatics Modeling) at Kyungpook National University in South Korea in 2022, after earning his M.Sc. in Statistics from Hallym University in 2018 and a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Rwanda. He has over a decade of experience in statistical modeling, epidemiological analytics, machine learning, and applied data science. He has worked as a researcher, lecturer, consultant, and data analyst in both Korea and Rwanda. Currently, he serves as a Senior lecturer at the Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA) and as a postdoctoral fellow at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). He conducted research and provided technical expertise in epidemiology, data science, machine learning, and Bayesian modeling. At RBC, his work focuses on the BRIDGE NETWORK project, supporting national health data systems and analytics. At AUCA, he teaches bachelor’s and master’s level courses such as Machine Learning, Data Mining, Statistical Computing, Advanced Research Methodology, and R for Data Science. He also leads and participates in collaborative research projects in bioinformatics, surveillance analytics, maternal health modeling, infectious diseases, machine learning applications, and public health data systems. Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Kigali
The University of Cape Town (UCT)
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (CoE) The University of Cape Town (UCT) The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public research university in Cape Town, SouthAfrica. Established in 1829 and granted full university status in 1918. The Centre forIntegrated Data and Epidemiological Research (CIDER) conducts multi-disciplinaryresearch on priority health conditions in Southern Africa, in order to improve diseaseprevention and management. The center has strong links to service providers at bothprovincial and national levels and has supported the Western Cape Department ofHealth in establishing the provincial health data center, consolidating and linking allperson level digital health data.The Division of Computational Biology (CBIO) provides bioinformatics support toresearchers in other centers within the University of Cape Town and is a group ofresearchers themselves, developing cutting-edge methods and approaches tobioinformatics pipelines and open-source tools. Projects include metagenomics andhuman genome and exome sequencing.Both CBIO and CIDER collaborate on the BRIDGE NETWORK Project to train futureleaders in innovative integrated health informatics, data science and infectious diseaseskills.Vision: To be an inclusive, research-intensive African university that addresses thechallenges of our time with cutting-edge teaching and by both protecting andencouraging curiosity-driven research that has a real impact on our communities andenvironment. TEAM LEAD: Work Package 5: Training, Competencies Transfer and ResearchADDRESS: University of Cape Town, University Crescent, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701,South AfricaPRIMARY CONTACTS: Dr Meg Osler and Prof. Andrew BoulleWEBSITE: https://www.uct.ac.za PHD FELLOW ATTACHED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT) We have one PHD Fellow attached to the University of Cape Town (UCT) Centre of Excellence as below Ndinda Tandinda Makina Ndinda Tandinda Makina is a public health researcher with a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Pretoria (2015) and a Bachelor of Science in Demography and Computer Science from University of Malawi(2006). Over the past 15 years, she has worked in research and program implementation, turning evidence into practical actions that improve health outcomes. She designs and conducts research and evaluation studies in public health, focusing on areas such as reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH), TB, HIV, nutrition, food security, and tobacco control. Her work involves developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems, collecting and analyzing both primary and secondary data, and translating findings into actionable recommendations for health programs and policies. She has conducted research and program evaluations in multiple settings across South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique, working and collaborating with Anova Health Institute, John snow, ministries of health, agricultural agencies, universities, and international organizations. Her projects have ranged from large-scale population surveys and cohort studies to program-specific evaluations and implementation science initiatives. She has also provided technical support for data management, capacity building, and dissemination of research findings. Ndinda Tandinda Makina PHD Fellow@the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa
Amos Kipkorir Langat
BRIDGE NETWORK – Post-doctoral fellow Amos Kipkorir Langat is an assistant Professor of Statistics and applied researcher with a PhD. in Mathematics (Statistics) from the Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (2024) funded through the Africa Union Scholarship, a Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (2017) funded through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) postgraduate scholarship, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics from Kabarak University (2014). Over the past decade, he has worked across academia, research institutions, and capacity-building programs, applying statistical modeling and data-driven approaches to address health, policy, and development challenges. His work focuses on the development and application of advanced statistical and computational methods, including Bayesian modeling, infectious disease dynamics, missing data frameworks, financial time-series analysis, and health policy analytics. He teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students in statistics, mathematics, and research methods at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), The Technical University of Kenya and has supervised graduate research at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Cameroon and at the Pan African University (PAUSTI). He has served as an Adjunct Research Scientist at the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), where he contributed to multi-country research projects and methodological training in data science and applied statistics. He also secures and leads funded capacity-building initiatives, including hosting the 2024 and 2025 Summer Institutes in Computational Social Science (SICSS), coordinating international training programs that support early-career researchers in data science and computational research across Africa. He is additionally trained as a Public Policy Analyst through the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
Work Package 8 (WP8): Ethics Requirements
Work Package 8 (WP8) Ethics Requirements At BRIDGE NETWORK, Work page 8 (WP8) has the responsibility of upholding the highest ethical standards is paramount to everything we do. Our objective is clear: “To ensure full compliance with all ethics requirements as meticulously outlined within this work package”. This commitment means we: Adhere to rigorous ethical guidelines: Every aspect of our project, from research and data handling to training and dissemination, is conducted in strict accordance with established ethical principles. Prioritize responsible conduct: We foster a culture where ethical considerations are at the forefront of every decision and action. Maintain transparency and integrity: Our operations are built on a foundation of openness and honesty, ensuring trust among all stakeholders. By consistently meeting these ethics requirements, BRIDGE NETWORK ensures that our work is not only scientifically robust but also morally sound and socially responsible. We believe that ethical practice is fundamental to achieving our mission and making a meaningful, positive impact.
Work Package 7 (WP7): Dissemination, Exploitation, communication and public engagement
Work Package 7 (WP7) Dissemination, Exploitation, communication and public engagement At BRIDGE NETWORK, Work Package 7 (WP7) is all about effectively communicating our mission, sharing our discoveries, and maximizing the impact of our work. Our main objective is to coordinate all dissemination and communication activities to raise awareness about the BRIDGE NETWORK project and its achievements. We’re dedicated to communicating our findings and core outcomes, with a special focus on promoting our scientific results and the valuable toolkits we develop. Here’s how we’re making it happen: Engaging Online Presence: We’ve created and maintain a dynamic program website to provide timely updates on our activities and accomplishments to both the scientific community and the general public. We also leverage social media channels to boost project awareness and encourage stakeholder participation. Our website even includes an intranet for seamless internal communication and links to online learning resources. Strategic Communication and Exploitation: Early in the project, we developed a comprehensive communication plan. This plan builds sound approaches for networking and outreach, recognizing that the success of BRIDGE NETWORK heavily relies on our ability to communicate our findings and create strategies for the long-term, sustainable use of our database and developed frameworks. Stimulating Dissemination Materials: We produce engaging dissemination materials like awareness sheets, newsletters, and info sheets. These are distributed across multiple online and print channels to promote the BRIDGE NETWORK project to various stakeholder groups, from researchers and policymakers to the general public. Importantly, all our communication materials are developed with a gender and diversity-friendly approach. Impactful Stakeholder Workshops: We organize stakeholder workshops to raise awareness, co-create, refine, and present our developed frameworks and other project outcomes. These workshops also encourage the use and provision of cohorts to our project’s database. This effort facilitates the mobilization of relevant target groups, focusing on the scientific community, health practitioners, governments, and regulatory agencies.
Work Package 6 (WP6): Regulatory, Ethics, Data Privacy, Intellectual Property, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion
Work Package 6 (WP6) Regulatory, Ethics, Data Privacy, Intellectual Property, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion At BRIDGE NETWORK, Work Package 6 (WP6) is responsible for data management, ethical conduct, and inclusive practices are fundamental to our mission. Our commitment to these principles is outlined in our comprehensive governance framework, ensuring the integrity and impact of all our initiatives. Key aspects of our governance include: Data Privacy and Protection (Deliverable 6.1 – D6.3): We develop and rigorously implement guidelines for managing data privacy and protection measures. This includes: Obtaining necessary consent: Ensuring all data collection adheres to strict ethical and legal standards, with appropriate consent secured from participants. Ensuring secure data storage: Implementing robust security protocols to protect all data under the BRIDGE NETWORK, safeguarding its confidentiality and integrity. Intellectual Property Guidance: We provide clear guidance on the management of intellectual property generated within the consortium, fostering innovation while respecting ownership. Promoting Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment within the project, actively promoting gender equality and embracing diversity in all its forms. Upholding Ethical Practices: Ethical considerations are at the core of our program. We are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all research, training, and operational activities. Through these comprehensive governance measures, BRIDGE NETWORK ensures that our work is not only scientifically rigorous but also ethically sound, socially responsible, and built on a foundation of trust.
Work Package 5 (WP5): Training, Competencies, Transfer & Research
Work Package 5 (WP5) Training, Competencies, Transfer & Research At BRIDGE NETWORK, Work Package 5 (WP5) serves as our crucial training monitoring dashboard, providing a comprehensive overview of our program’s progress and impact. WP5 is instrumental in showcasing the diverse areas our BRIDGE NETWORK trainees are exploring, the advancements in their research, and the knowledge exchange plans that fuel collaborative research in critically under-served areas of infectious diseases across Sub-Saharan Africa. WP5 ensures all training components are aligned, complementary, and function as a cohesive whole, maximizing the effectiveness of our program. A core aspect of WP5 involves our four post-doctoral fellows. They play a vital role in: Selecting high-quality research topics that address the most pressing unmet needs in infectious diseases within Sub-Saharan African countries. Strongly mentoring and supervising other PhD and MSc trainees at their respective institutions. This dedicated mentorship is crucial for individual career development, preparing trainees to eventually operate their own independent research labs and significantly increasing the number of students trained within the BRIDGE NETWORK. Identifying critical research problems that can be effectively solved through the use of observational data. These problems are directly linked to addressing the real needs of local health systems. Through WP5, we’re not just monitoring progress; we’re actively fostering groundbreaking research, cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, and ensuring our efforts directly address the most urgent health challenges in the region.
