US program aims to transform medical research and education in Africa

Earlier this month, US and African global health leaders hosted the inaugural meeting of a program that aims to transform and increase medical research and education in Africa. Called the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the program assists institutions in sub-Saharan African countries that receive support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and its partners to develop and enhance models of medical research and education.

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USAID launches Grand Challenges for Development

The US Agency for International development announced a new program called Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development. The program is designed to foster breakthrough ideas for  prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in low-resource settings through grants to a variety of partners. The program leverages funds from international governments and international nongovernmental organizations and aims to provide $14 million for the first round of grant funding, with a goal of providing $50 million in grants over five years.

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Agency spotlight: US Department of State

The US Department of State (State Department) is the federal agency charged with managing international relations for the United States. The State Department manages a number of health-related projects and has recently shown interest in emphasizing the role of science diplomacy in US foreign policy through programs such as the Global Health Initiative. Most recently, the State Department hosted a symposium with private and public sector partners to discuss finding innovative solutions to global health challenges.

Read more about the US Department of State and its recent symposium on global health

 Photos (top to bottom):Richard Lord, Mike Wang, and Phillipe Blanc

March 2011

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 30, 2011
Improving TB diagnosis: knowing the path is not the same as walking

March 31, 2011
The polio vaccine: A dose of prevention

April 4, 2011
Innovation in vaccine financing: Assessing progress and envisioning future progress

April 16-17
Unite for sight global health and innovation 2011 conference

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

GHTC director and USAID advisor stress importance of science and technology in international development

Center for Global Health R&D Policy Assessment releases new report on prizes

Bill introduced in Senate to amend FDA’s priority review voucher program 

HIV/AIDS vaccine research contributing to development in Kenya, blog post says

Experts examine gaps in global health research

Science and technology should be leveraged to improve women's health worldwide, opinion piece says

Presidential commission announces panel to examine current protections for global clinical trials

Obama Administration releases new details on the Global Health Initiative

FDA head calls for bolstered regulatory efforts to ensure drug safety worldwide

New resource demonstrates the benefits of global health research

MEMBER FOCUS

GHTC member the Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH) recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted iOWH permission to begin Phase I trials for a drug to treat secretory diarrhea. The experimental treatment could be the first synthetic drug of its kind for diarrheal diseases.

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The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) is a group of more than 30 nonprofit organizations working to increase awareness of the urgent need for tools that save lives in the developing world. These tools include new vaccines, drugs, microbicides, diagnostic tests, and other devices. The coalition advocates for increased and effective use of public resources, incentives to encourage private investment, and improved regulatory systems. Learn more at www.ghtcoalition.org.

To see a list of GHTC members, click here.

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