Advancing Health Equity by Reducing the Burden of Infectious Diseases
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can only attain health equity by eliminating their disproportionate burden of infectious diseases. The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) was created by BVGH to address this burden with a sustainable public-private partnership model focused on, and driven by, LMICs’ needs. Central to GIA is the belief that lasting solutions emerge from within, and in collaboration with, LMIC research institutions and healthcare systems.
Building on BVGH’s 15+ years of infectious disease partnering, alliance management, and capacity building expertise—through initiatives including the Pool for Open Innovation Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (POINT) and WIPO Re:Search—GIA will:
Catalyze & Fund Early-Stage Research and Development (R&D) Partnerships
Catalyze early-stage R&D partnerships—through intellectual property (IP) asset sharing and funding for LMIC scientists—defined by LMIC researchers’ priorities and aligned with endemic countries’ needs.
Build and promote clinical trial capabilities and inclusion in LMICs through training programs; publication of LMIC sites’ clinical trial readiness profiles; and facilitation of clinical trial partnerships between LMIC investigators and GIA sponsors and members.
Elevate scientific expertise in LMICs—and empower more LMIC scientists to participate in infectious disease R&D—through tailored capacity building and knowledge sharing programs.
Communicate program outcomes and impacts to targeted audiences, including but not limited to United States Congress, United Nations agencies, public, and mainstream media.
Alliance sponsors choose how they want to participate in and contribute to GIA. Participation is tailored to each sponsor’s interests, priorities, and assets contributed.
GIA’s priority diseases are:
Antimicrobial-resistant diseases
Diseases of pandemic potential
Neglected tropical diseases with unmet need (e.g., Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, trachoma, visceral leishmaniasis)
What do our partners say about GIA?
“For more than a decade, BVGH has validated the essential role of intellectual property (IP)-sharing partnerships in catalyzing infectious disease innovation through programs such as WIPO Re:Search. I am proud of the Consortium we built during my tenure leading WIPO—especially its successes in empowering low- and middle-income country (LMIC)-driven research through IP-sharing collaborations and, with the support of the Australian government, fellowships at leading companies and academic laboratories. Through WIPO Re:Search, we achieved a great deal, but there is still much to be done to support LMICs in addressing the burden of infectious diseases and establishing partnerships of mutual interest. I am pleased to champion a new BVGH-led program to ensure that the momentum and progress achieved together will expand to have even greater impacts on innovation, research equity, and health equity in LMICs.”
Dr. Francis Gurry, Former Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), 2008-2020; Special Advisor, Global Innovation Alliance (GIA)
BVGH is thrilled to be part of the Clinical Trials Community Africa Network project, a bold step towards a coordinated and sustainable clinical trials network in Africa. This joint effort with Global Health EDCTP; Science for Africa Foundation; Fondation Mérieux; Medicines Development for Global Health; The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson; and nuvoteQ.io aims to amplify the capacity of African trial sites and laboratories, while providing essential data and regulatory information through the Clinical Trials Community platform. Together, we can bring life-changing treatments to those who need them most. BVGH will support site and laboratory network development; coordinate and implement capacity building programs; and develop and disseminate targeted communications materials to raise visibility. Read about the initiative here.
In sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with high burdens of malaria, patients presenting with fevers are often prescribed antimalarial drugs without a confirmed diagnosis to avoid treatment delays. However, many infectious diseases cause fevers, and inappropriate use of antimalarial medicines for patients who do not have malaria fuels development of drug resistance. While malaria diagnostic tests are widely available, there is a critical need for accurate, affordable, and rapid diagnostics for other febrile diseases to inform proper treatment. Read about the research here.
