Held against the serene backdrop of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, the 2025 CESORA Symposium, hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Spatial Multi-Omics Research in Africa (CESORA) brought together leading scientists, technologists, and global health stakeholders for four days of deep engagement on the future of spatial multi-omics. With the theme “Advances in Spatial Multi-Omics: Navigating Technological Hurdles to Accelerate Tissue Biology and Infectious Disease Research,” the symposium showcased cutting-edge science and catalysed new partnerships aimed at pushing the boundaries of tissue-based research in Africa.
The symposium opened on Sunday evening with a visit to the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI). Delegates were welcomed by Prof. Zaza Ndhlovu, CESORA Director, who set the tone for the coming days: collaborative, forward-looking, and rooted in African scientific leadership. An optional AHRI laboratory tour gave attendees an inside look at the technologies and infrastructure driving regional innovation in infectious disease research. The evening concluded with registration and a shared dinner an informal yet energizing prelude to the intensive scientific programme ahead.
2025 CESORA Symposium held in Ballito, South Africa
Dr. Milton Mogotsi arriving at the 2025 CESORA Symposium in Ballito, South Africa
The 2025 CESORA Symposium in Ballito, South Africa, brought together leading scientists, funders, and technology innovators for four days of dialogue on advancing spatial multi-omics and accelerating infectious disease research in Africa. Beginning with a warm welcome at AHRI, participants were introduced to the vision of the Centre of Excellence for Spatial Multi-Omics Research in Africa (CESORA), which aims to expand access to cutting-edge technologies and strengthen African scientific leadership. Early discussions highlighted the crucial role of strategic partnerships between local institutions, international collaborators, and major global health funders in enabling researchers across the continent to harness advanced multi-omics tools to tackle persistent health challenges.
Throughout the meeting, speakers presented new insights into tissue environments associated with HIV persistence, HPV infection, tuberculosis pathology, and rotavirus immunity. Researchers from Africa and abroad showcased how spatial transcriptomics, high-plex profiling, single-cell multi-omics, and bioinformatics are reshaping understanding of infection, immunity, and disease progression. Discussions explored not only the biological discoveries emerging from these tools but also the technological hurdles that must be navigated to translate these insights into improved interventions. Presentations on organoid and organ-chip innovations underscored the growing importance of engineered human tissue models for studying immune responses and viral reservoirs in controlled settings.
2025 CESORA Symposium Presentations
Dr. Milton Mogotsi arriving at the 2025 CESORA Symposium in Ballito, South Africa
A major highlight of the symposium was the platform given to African-led research, particularly during the showcase of CESORA-funded projects. Investigators presented breakthroughs in areas such as macrophage heterogeneity in pre-eclampsia, cervical immune landscapes in HIV/HPV co-infection, and spatial profiling of HPV clearance and cervical immunity across East and Southern Africa. These contributions demonstrated the rapidly expanding capacity on the continent to generate sophisticated, multimodal datasets and apply them to pressing public health questions.
Importantly, the attendance of Dr. Milton Mogotsi representing the UFS-NGS Unit served not only to strengthen the University of the Free State’s engagement with continental multi-omics networks but also to contribute to the expert panel on rotavirus research. “With rotavirus remaining a major cause of morbidity and mortality among African children, the opportunity to participate in scientific dialogue at this level was essential for aligning national sequencing capacity with regional research efforts” says Dr. Mogotsi.
“My involvement ensured that the UFS-NGS Unit is positioned as an active collaborator in emerging spatial multi-omics initiatives, particularly those aiming to understand mucosal immunity, vaccine responses, and correlates of protection in African populations. This engagement will help drive future partnerships, inform our local research strategies, and strengthen South Africa’s contribution to rotavirus immunology and vaccine science”, he added.
Dr. Milton Mogotsi representing the UFS-NGS Unit in discussions
