DeZi: Dengue and Zika Research Network
The Dengue and Zika Immunology and Genomics Multi‑Country Network (DeZi) is an international research consortium launched to improve understanding of how dengue and Zika viruses spread, interact, and cause disease across Africa and Asia. Led by Imperial College London, DeZi is supported by £5.65 million from a Wellcome Trust Infectious Disease Award, with additional funding from Temasek and Singapore’s National Environment Agency.
Bringing together research institutes and public‑health agencies in over 15 countries, DeZi integrates genomics, serology, and modelling to quantify disease burden, track viral evolution and transmission, and inform outbreak risk assessment and public health policy. The network combines long‑standing collaborations in the Americas with expanded partnerships in Africa and Asia, supported by regional hubs in Kinshasa, Luanda, and Singapore.
Through harmonised data, open‑access resources, training, and policy engagement, DeZi aims to strengthen surveillance systems, improve diagnostics, build regional laboratory capacity, and enhance preparedness for future arboviral epidemics in a changing climate.