DIScovery via CARTA OUtcomes-based Research training and Scientific Excellence
The DISCOURSE Hub is a research initiative that brings together the disciplines of infectious diseases and oncology. Hosted within the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, the hub is driven by the urgent need to address the rising burden of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Cancer remains a major public health challenge in the region, with an estimated 700,000 cancer-related deaths in Africa in 2018, a number projected to double by 2040. Notably, microbial infections play a significant role in cancer development, with hepatitis B and C viruses linked to liver cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV) driving cervical cancer.
However, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly in cancer risk assessment, early detection, and treatment outcomes. The DISCOURSE Hub is designed to bridge these gaps through rigorous research, training, and stakeholder engagement.
Cancer-related deaths in Africa (2018)
Projected increase in cancer deaths by 2040
The hub’s research agenda is structured around three thematic areas:
Mapping oncogenic infectious agents and their link to various cancers to generate foundational data for large-scale interventions.
Addressing barriers to screening for high-priority cancers, such as cervical cancer, and evaluating cost-effective diagnostic approaches.
Examining the interconnections between human health, environmental changes, and disease outbreaks to promote holistic solutions.
The DISCOURSE Hub collaborates with multiple institutions to ensure a strong regional focus, with research findings tailored to the realities of African health systems:
Host institution through the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI)
Contributing expertise in cancer surveillance and data collection
Providing clinical expertise and research infrastructure
Supporting epidemiological research and data sharing
The DISCOURSE Hub aligns with CARTA’s research capacity-building mission, integrating its training methodology into its framework. Fellows affiliated with the hub will benefit from world-class mentorship, participation in CARTA’s Joint Advanced Seminars (JAS), and hands-on training in research design, data analysis, and policy engagement.
World-class mentorship connecting early-career researchers with established scientists
Hands-on training in research design, data analysis, and policy engagement
Support for high-impact, multi-country research initiatives
Collaboration with health institutions and policymakers to translate research into action
Furthermore, the hub is committed to supporting early-career researchers in developing high-impact, multi-country research projects that will drive evidence-based interventions for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The hub also fosters strong stakeholder engagement, working closely with African public health institutions, ministries of health, and cancer control agencies to translate research into actionable policies.
By integrating cutting-edge research with CARTA’s proven capacity-strengthening approach, the DISCOURSE Hub is positioned to transform cancer research and control strategies in Africa, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and strengthened scientific leadership across the continent.
P.O. Box 10787 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
cartaenquiries@aphrc.org
+254 (20) 400 1000, 266 2244, 266 2255