ABU Zaria wins €5 million EU grant to create AI-powered microscope for diagnosing tropical diseases.
The innovation aims to deliver fast, affordable parasite detection in rural communities using smartphone-based tools.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has secured a €5 million grant from the European Union through the Horizon Europe EDCTP3 program to develop an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered microscope aimed at detecting parasitic diseases, including malaria, African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and filariasis.
The project, titled MultiplexAI, was formally announced in a statement on the university’s official website on Monday. It seeks to advance early and accurate detection of parasitic infections in underserved and remote African communities by leveraging AI and smartphone-enabled diagnostics.
ABU’s entry was selected as one of only four successful proposals out of 240 submissions under the Horizon Europe call themed “Innovative Digital Health Solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa.” This marks a historic achievement as the university’s first digital health initiative to be supported under the Horizon Europe framework.
“Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, has made history by securing a prestigious €5 million grant… to develop an AI-powered microscope for diagnosing parasitic diseases… especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas,” the statement noted.
Led by Renowned Parasitologist Dr. Gloria Dada Chechet
The project is under the scientific direction of Dr. Gloria Dada Chechet, a molecular parasitologist and Reader in the Department of Biochemistry. She will lead the research through ABU’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB). Dr. Chechet is widely recognized for her contributions to tropical disease research and has received multiple international fellowships that support global health and female scientists in STEM fields.
The AI diagnostic platform will combine a microscope, a smartphone, and a specialized mobile app, enabling community health workers to screen for multiple parasitic infections on-site. This eliminates the need for centralized laboratory infrastructure, offering faster and more affordable diagnoses in rural areas with limited medical access.
The development supports Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda in healthcare and is expected to improve health outcomes in previously neglected regions significantly. ABU describes it as “a new benchmark for digital health innovation on the continent” that enhances the university’s international profile and research leadership in AI-enabled health technologies.
