The CAIDERA consortium is built on the expertise and collaboration of three core partner institutions:

• Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL)
• University of Tübingen
• Institut Pasteur / Institut Pasteur International Network

Together, the consortium develops and delivers a tailored, multidisciplinary training and research programme focused on emerging and re-emerging viral, bacterial, and parasitic infectious diseases. Built around the One Health approach, the programme aims to strengthen research capacity, promote scientific excellence, and foster long-term collaboration across the predominantly francophone Central African region.

Our objectives
We aim to consolidate our existing internationally recognised strengths in infectious disease research and regional networking and to amplify their impact. To achieve this, we established a unique in the region, internationally competitive M.Sc. programme in Infection Biology and Control tailored to the specific capacity building needs of Central African countries. This is complemented by a sandwich Ph.D. programme focused on Controlled Human Malaria Infection using local parasites, and the update of two massive open online courses (MOOCs) offered by the Institut Pasteur.

M.Sc. in Infection Biology and Control (IBC)
The CAIDERA Master’s programme in Infection Biology and Control (IBC) admits up to 20 students every two years. It is open exclusively to non-EU applicants and focuses on the major infectious diseases affecting sub-Saharan Africa, with particular emphasis on parasitic diseases, as well as emerging and re-emerging viral infections. The programme integrates the translational aspects of infectious disease prevention and control within the Central African context.

Students gain interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills across key fields, including parasitology, microbiology, virology, entomology, epidemiology, biostatistics, immunology, clinical trial design, and scientific communication. A distinctive feature of the programme is its strong research-oriented approach, combining academic teaching with hands-on laboratory training through rotations within ongoing international research projects at CERMEL. These experiences expose students to a broad range of research activities, from applied cell biology and immunology to Phase I–IV clinical trials, preparing graduates for careers in infectious disease research and global health.

Grants and How to Apply