MacArthur Awards $100 Million to Pardis Sabeti for Transformative Pandemic-Prevention Project

The MacArthur Foundation has awarded a $100 million grant to Sentinel, a global infectious-disease surveillance initiative co-led by Professor Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University in Nigeria. The project, announced November 18th, was selected from five finalists, in a pool of 869 proposals, in MacArthur’s highly competitive 100&Change program.

“With this support, we can build a future where every community has the tools, knowledge, and power to detect and stop outbreaks before they spread,” Sabeti said. “It’s an opportunity to show what’s possible when science, innovation, and a sense of solidarity come together to protect humanity.”

Sentinel has trained more than 3,000 public health workers across 53 African nations. With the MacArthur grant, the initiative will strengthen its operations in Nigeria and Sierra Leone while expanding into three additional countries over the next five years.

Sabeti, known for her work during Ebola, Lassa fever, and COVID-19 outbreaks, has long argued that early detection remains one of global health’s most effective but underfunded strategies. Sentinel’s model incorporates rapid diagnostics, real-time data sharing, and partnerships with community health networks to identify emerging viral threats quickly.

Happi said the award underscores the importance of African-led innovation in global health. MacArthur Foundation president John Palfrey said Sentinel stood out among the five finalists for its collaborative approach and potential for systemic change.

Launched in 2017, 100&Change has previously funded efforts addressing education in conflict zones and homelessness. With the Sentinel award, the foundation is turning its attention to one of public health’s central challenges: preventing future pandemics before they take hold.