UWI St. Augustine Campus Unveils the Vision for its EDGe Centre and launches their PANPRO Fellowship Programme: A Part of the Pandemic Fund-Supported TT ONE LAB+ project

Port of Spain, 18 October, 2026 (PAHO): A new generation of One Health leaders is emerging as Trinidad and Tobago strengthens its ability to identify, track, and respond to disease outbreaks.

In a major milestone for the TT ONE LAB+ project that is developing an integrated One Health laboratory system for Trinidad and Tobago, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus officially launched the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PANPRO) Fellowship Programme and unveiled the vision for the One Health Molecular Epidemiology and Genomics (EDGe) Centre, a newly established Campus centre of excellence in infectious disease genomic surveillance, molecular epidemiology and bioinformatics .

Supported by PAHO/WHO as the project's Implementing Entity, these initiatives mark the first key deliverables under the Pandemic Fund-supported project and represent an important step toward strengthening the country's capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.

The Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, delivers his address at the event, reaffirming the Government's commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and response.

The launch ceremony brought together senior leaders from government, academia, international organizations and civil society, including the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health; Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries; and The UWI St. Augustine Campus Principal, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine. Their participation reflected a shared commitment to advancing the One Health approach, which recognizes the close connection between human, animal and environmental health.

Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago, delivers his address at the event, highlighting the importance of a whole-of-government approach to safeguarding human, animal and environmental health and strengthening Trinidad and Tobago's preparedness for emerging disease threats

The EDGe Centre will support research, innovation, workforce development, laboratory strengthening and collaborative surveillance efforts across One Health sectors.

Delivering the Opening Address, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, described the EDGe Centre as the latest chapter in the Campus' long record of service to public health. Citing the Campus' leadership in genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, she emphasised that the Centre builds on "decades of scholarship, research, and regional service by this campus," and affirms The UWI's proven ability to respond to complex challenges facing the region.

At the heart of this investment in the future are the programme's nine Fellows of the inaugural PANPRO cohort of emerging One Health leaders, emerging One Health leaders from the human, animal and environmental health sectors. The PANPRO Fellowship Programme was developed to build resilience and preparedness for pandemic threats by fostering transdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge translation and capacity building among professionals in human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The fellowship will develop the Fellows' leadership skills and build the relationships and trust needed for effective cross-sectoral collaboration. It will also broadening their knowledge to bridge disciplinary gaps and drive informed, coordinated action and will create a lasting network of One Health professionals.

Professor Christine Carrington, Director of the EDGe Centre and Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology at the UWI, introduces the Centre's vision. Working in partnership with public health and veterinary institutions, the Centre will strengthen capacity for epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response by bringing modern genomic and molecular epidemiology tools to the One Health interface through research, training and laboratory support.

TT ONE LAB+ is a country-led, multi-sectoral initiative of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago aimed at strengthening national capacity for One Health disease surveillance and the early detection of pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential.

Funded by the Pandemic Fund, the project focuses on strengthening diagnostic and laboratory testing capabilities and building related human resource capacity. The Ministry of Health serves as the lead Beneficiary Entity, working alongside co-Beneficiary Entities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.

PAHO/WHO facilitates the financial mechanisms required to access and manage grant resources and also supports the monitoring and evaluation of the three-year project.

Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean underscores the transformative potential of the TT ONE LAB+ project and its role in strengthening the country's capacity to anticipate, detect, and respond to future health challenges

As Implementing Entity for the TT ONE LAB+ project, PAHO/WHO is proud to support national partners in advancing sustainable investments in laboratory systems, workforce development and innovation.

The launch of the EDGe Centre and PANPRO Fellowship Programme marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the country's journey toward stronger pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

Photo credit: The University of the West Indies , St. Augustine Campus

Country News

Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean Islands