Enhancing capacities in genomic surveillance capabilities for SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus: A South-South collaborative partnership

Latin American countries have faced limited access to new scientific technologies for many years due to restricted budgets for research programs, which has hindered local scientific development. These research disparities became especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) like Ecuador and Nicaragua had restricted access to genomic surveillance protocols, sequencing technologies, and adequate infrastructure, compromising global pandemic preparedness and response. In response to the urgent need for SARS-CoV-2 research capabilities in these countries, the Asian-American Center for Arbovirus Research and Enhanced Surveillance led the initiative, collaborating with the NGO Sustainable Sciences Institute and LMIC stakeholders, including universities and Ministries of Health, to develop pandemic-related research programs, provide resources, and conduct peer training workshops for local health scientists. Over the past five years, collaborative efforts have enabled teams in Ecuador and Nicaragua to establish sustainable research capacity and technology-sharing initiatives, as showcased by the institutionalization of government-led genomic surveillance efforts. This has opened new research opportunities in genomic surveillance for other emerging and reemerging pathogens and strengthening South-South collaboration.