A new project, co-funded with EUR8.5m from the European Commission is underway to accelerate the development of new vaccines, drugs and microbicides to fight against many poverty-related diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, malaria, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Co-ordinated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), the collaborative infrastructure program 'European Research Infrastructures for Poverty Related Diseases' (EURIPRED) aims to strengthen the knowledge infrastructure across diseases.
Scientists and researchers from 17 research partners in ten countries will collaborate in the new EURIPRED program.
Despite substantial efforts to reduce the burden of poverty-related diseases, HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria still account for 3.4 million deaths globally every year.
According to NIBSC, underdiagnosis and tough treatment courses are two of the reasons for the continued prevalence.
EURIPRED includes a team of European scientists, institutes and networks in the field of poverty related diseases.
The project is strengthened by major partners in the endemic countries of China, Russia and Kenya.
Other objectives of the project include collaboration on the selection, development, production, and validation of reference reagents, assays, and standards and training.
Image: European Commission funding will be used to speed up the development of new vaccines, drugs and microbicides to fight against many poverty-related diseases. Photo: courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/kdshutterman.