Day: October 24, 2022

Taconic Biosciences Launches First and Only Super Immunodeficient Mouse Models Lacking Residual Murine Fc Gamma Receptors, for Improved Antibody Therapy Assessment

FcResolv™ NOG Models Provide Greater Clarity and More Translatable Data

RENSSELAER, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing drug discovery animal model solutions, has launched the FcResolv™ NOG portfolio, the first and only super immunodeficient mouse models lacking residual murine Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) known to confound results in antibody-based therapy studies.

Murine FcγRs can cause false positives or false negatives, leading to incorrect conclusions and derail drug discovery. FcResolv NOG models knock out these receptors for greater clarity in antibody-based drug studies, affording investigators greater confidence and more translatable data with fewer studies and fewer animals. With applicability in oncology, immuno-oncology, and autoimmune disease, FcResolv NOG models are suitable for engrafting a wide range of human cells and tissues, including simultaneous human tumor engraftment and immune system humanization.

“Antibody-based therapies represent one of the fastest-growing classes of drugs, creating a pressing need for better preclinical tools to assess therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific antibodies,” said Dr. Michael Seiler, vice president of commercial products at Taconic. “Taconic’s FcResolv NOG portfolio enables researchers to evaluate drug candidates like these on their own merits, free of interference from residual murine Fc gamma receptor activity.”

FcResolv NOG models eliminate the false negatives that occur when an antibody-based therapeutic’s Fc domain interacts with murine FcγRs as well as the false positives that result when FcγRs trigger residual murine immune activity. They also eliminate costly deconvolution steps otherwise needed to distinguish true drug efficacy from off-target effects mediated through the mouse immune system. With more reliable answers, researchers can target their drug discovery investments more strategically and effectively.

The FcResolv NOG model portfolio is based on the super immunodeficient CIEA NOG mouse®. The portfolio currently includes two models:

  • FcResolv NOG, for tumor xenografts using cell lines or patient-derived tumors, engraftment of other normal or pathological human cells and tissues, and immune system humanization studies
  • FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, which supports engraftment of human NK cells and is suitable for efficacy studies on antibody-based therapeutics with an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism of action

To learn more about the FcResolv NOG portfolio, visit www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Or call 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) in the US, +45 70 23 04 05 in Europe, or email info@taconic.com.

About Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

Taconic Biosciences is a fully licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions so that customers can acquire, custom-generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, microbiome, immuno-oncology mouse models, and integrated model design and breeding services, Taconic operates service laboratories and breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.

Media Contact:

Louise Baskin, Senior Director New Product Pipeline

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670208

Taconic Biosciences lance le premier et le seul modèle de souris super immunodéficientes dépourvus de récepteurs Fc Gamma murins résiduels, pour une évaluation améliorée de la thérapie par anticorps

Les modèles FcResolv™ NOG offrent une plus grande clarté et des données plus traduisibles

RENSSELAER, New York, 24 oct. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, un leader mondial dans la fourniture de solutions de modèles animaux pour la découverte de médicaments, a lancé le portefeuille FcResolv™ NOG, les premiers et seuls modèles de souris super immunodéficientes dépourvus de récepteurs Fc Gamma murins résiduels (FcyRs) connus pour fausser les résultats dans les études thérapeutiques à base d’anticorps.

Les FcyRs murins peuvent provoquer de faux positifs ou de faux négatifs, ce qui conduit à des conclusions erronées et fait dérailler la découverte de médicaments. Les modèles FcResolv NOG éliminent ces récepteurs pour une plus grande clarté dans les études médicamenteuses à base d’anticorps, offrant aux chercheurs une plus grande confiance et des données plus traduisibles avec moins d’études et moins d’animaux. Avec une applicabilité en oncologie, en immuno-oncologie et en maladie auto-immune, les modèles FcResolv NOG sont adaptés à la greffe d’un large éventail de cellules et tissus humains, y compris la greffe de tumeurs humaines simultanée et l’humanisation du système immunitaire.

« Les thérapies à base d’anticorps représentent l’une des classes de médicaments à la croissance la plus rapide, créant un besoin urgent de meilleurs outils précliniques pour évaluer des traitements tels que les anticorps monoclonaux, les conjugués anticorps-médicaments et les anticorps bispécifiques », a déclaré le Dr Michael Seiler, vice-président des produits commerciaux chez Taconic. « Le portefeuille de récepteurs FcResolv NOG de Taconic permet aux chercheurs d’évaluer des médicaments candidats tels que ceux-ci selon leurs propres mérites, sans interférence de l’activité résiduelle du récepteur Fc Gamma murin. »

Les modèles FcResolv NOG éliminent les faux négatifs qui se produisent lorsqu’un domaine Fc thérapeutique à base d’anticorps interagit avec les FcyRs murins, ainsi que les faux positifs qui en résultent lorsque les FcyRs déclenchent une activité immunitaire murine résiduelle. Ils éliminent également les étapes de déconvolution coûteuses nécessaires pour distinguer une véritable efficacité médicamenteuse des effets hors cible induits par le système immunitaire de la souris. Grâce à des réponses plus fiables, les chercheurs peuvent cibler leurs investissements dans la découverte de médicaments de manière plus stratégique et plus efficace.

Le portefeuille de modèles NOG FcResolv est basé sur la souris® NOG CIEA super immunodéficiente. Le portefeuille comprend actuellement deux modèles :

  • FcResolv NOG, pour les xérogreffes tumorales utilisant des lignées cellulaires ou des tumeurs dérivées des patients, la greffe d’autres cellules et tissus humains normaux ou pathologiques, et les études d’humanisation du système immunitaire
  • FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, qui supporte la greffe des cellules NK humaines et convient pour des études d’efficacité sur les thérapies à base d’anticorps avec un mécanisme d’action de cytotoxicité cellulaire dépendant des anticorps (ADCC)

Pour en savoir plus sur le portefeuille de FcResolv NOG, rendez-vous sur www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Vous pouvez également appeler le 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) aux États-Unis, le +45 70 23 04 05 en Europe, ou envoyer un e-mail à l’adresse info@taconic.com.

À propos de Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

Taconic Biosciences est un leader mondial pleinement agréé dans les modèles et les services de rongeurs génétiquement modifiés. Fondée en 1952, Taconic offre les meilleures solutions animales afin que les clients puissent acquérir, générer d’une manière personnalisée, élever, pré-conditionner, tester et distribuer des modèles de recherche précieux dans le monde entier. Spécialiste des modèles de souris et de rats génétiquement modifiés, du microbiome, des modèles de souris pour l’immuno-oncologie et des services de conception de modèles intégrés et d’élevage, Taconic exploite des laboratoires de services et des établissements d’élevage aux États-Unis et en Europe, entretient des relations de distribution en Asie et dispose de capacités d’expédition mondiales pour fournir des modèles animaux presque partout dans le monde.

Contact auprès des médias :

Louise Baskin, directrice principale du nouveau Pipeline de produits

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670426


Taconic Biosciences Lança Primeiro e Único Modelo de Camundongo Super Imunodeficiente Sem Receptores Gama Fc Murino Residuais, para Avaliação de Terapia de Anticorpo Aprimorada

Modelos FcResolv™ NOG proporcionam dados mais claros e mais traduzíveis

RENSSELAER, NY, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Taconic Biosciences, líder global no fornecimento de soluções de modelo animal para descoberta de medicamentos, lançou o portfólio FcResolv™ NOG, o primeiro e único modelo de camundongo superimunodeficiente sem receptores Fc gama murinos residuais (FcγRs) conhecidos por confundir os resultados nos estudos de terapia com base em anticorpos.

Os FcγRs murinos podem causar falsos positivos ou falsos negativos, levando a conclusões incorretas e afetar a descoberta de medicamentos. Os modelos FcResolv NOG eliminam esses receptores para maior clareza nos estudos de medicamentos com base em anticorpos, proporcionando aos investigadores maior confiança e dados mais traduzíveis, com menos estudos e menos animais. Com aplicabilidade em oncologia, imuno-oncologia e doença autoimune, os modelos FcResolv NOG são adequados para enxertos de uma ampla gama de células e tecidos humanos, incluindo enxerto simultâneo de tumor humano e humanização do sistema imunológico.

“As terapias com base em anticorpos são uma das classes de medicamentos de crescimento mais rápido, criando uma necessidade urgente de melhores ferramentas pré-clínicas para a avaliação terapêutica, como de anticorpos monoclonais, conjugados anticorpo-droga e anticorpos biespecíficos”, disse o Dr. Michael Seiler, vice-presidente de produtos comerciais da Taconic. “O portfólio FcResolv NOG da Taconic permite que pesquisadores avaliem candidatos a medicamentos como esses por si próprios, sem interferência da atividade residual do receptor Fc gama murino.”

Os modelos FcResolv NOG eliminam os falsos negativos que ocorrem quando o domínio Fc de um terapêutico com base em anticorpos interage com os FcγRs murinos, bem como os falsos positivos que resultam quando os FcγRs desencadeiam atividade imune murina residual. Eles também eliminam as etapas dispendiosas de desconvolução que normalmente são necessárias para distinguir a verdadeira eficácia do medicamento dos efeitos fora do alvo mediados pelo sistema imunológico do camundongo. Com respostas mais confiáveis, os pesquisadores podem direcionar seus investimentos em descoberta de medicamentos de forma mais estratégica e eficaz.

O portfólio do modelo FcResolv NOG tem como base o CIEA NOG mouse® superimunodeficiente. Atualmente, o portfólio inclui dois modelos:

  • FcResolv NOG, para xenoenxertos de tumores com linhagens celulares ou tumores derivados de pacientes, enxerto de outras células e tecidos humanos normais ou patológicos, e estudos de humanização do sistema imunológico
  • FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, que aceita enxertos de células NK humanas e é adequado para estudos de eficácia em terapêutica com base em anticorpos com um mecanismo de ação de citotoxicidade celular dependente de anticorpos (ADCC)

Para mais informação sobre o portfólio FcResolv NOG, visite www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Ou ligue para 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) nos EUA, +45 70 23 04 05 na Europa, ou envie email para info@taconic.com.

Sobre a Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

A Taconic Biosciences é uma líder global totalmente licenciada em serviços e modelos geneticamente modificados. Fundada em 1952, a Taconic oferece as melhores soluções/modelos de pesquisas em murinos, para que os clientes possam adquirir, customizar, criar, pré-condicionar, testar e distribuir valiosos modelos de pesquisa em todo o mundo. Especializada em modelos de camundongos e de ratos geneticamente projetados, microbioma, modelos de camundongos imuno-oncologia, e serviços de design e criação de modelos integrados, a Taconic opera laboratórios de serviços e instalações de criação nos EUA e na Europa, mantém relações com distribuidores na Ásia , e tem capacidades de entrega em nível global para oferecer modelos em quase qualquer lugar no mundo.

Contato com a Mídia:

Louise Baskin, Diretora Sênior de Pipeline de Novos Produtos

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670426

Rishi Sunak Wins Race to Be Next UK Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak ran for Britain’s top job and lost. Then he got another shot — and the chance to say, “I told you so.”

The former U.K. Treasury chief was runner-up to Liz Truss in the contest to replace the scandal-plagued Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and prime minister.

But Truss quit after a turbulent 45-day term, and Johnson has abandoned a comeback attempt.

That left Sunak out front, and he won the race Monday to be leader of the Conservative Party and will assume the office he missed out on less than two months ago.

Victory in the Conservative leadership contest is vindication for Sunak, who warned in the last campaign that Truss’ tax-cutting economic plans were reckless and would cause havoc. And so, they did.

Truss resigned last week after her package of tax cuts spooked financial markets, hammered the value of the pound and obliterated her authority.


Sunak will be Britain’s first leader of color and first Hindu to take the top job. At 42, he’ll also be the youngest prime minister in more than 200 years, a political prodigy whose youthful looks, sharp suits, and smooth, confident manner saw him dubbed “Dishy Rishi” by the British media.

To win, Sunak had to overcome allegations by opponents that he was a turncoat for quitting Johnson’s government as it foundered amid ethics scandals.

The near-simultaneous resignations of Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on July 5 set off a chain reaction. Within 48 hours, some 50 members of the government had quit, and Johnson was forced to step down.

Sunak painted it as a matter of principle, saying he wanted to repair the “breakdown of trust” in politics. He also accused Truss of offering “fairy tales” by promising immediate tax cuts when he felt curbing soaring inflation was a bigger priority.

Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton on England’s south coast to parents of Indian descent who were both born in East Africa. He grew up in a middle-class family, his father a family doctor and his mother a pharmacist, and says he inherited their hard-working ethos.

He has described how his parents saved to send him to Winchester College, one of Britain’s most expensive and exclusive boarding schools.

After high school, Sunak studied politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford — the degree of choice for future prime ministers – then received an MBA at Stanford University.

He worked for the investment bank Goldman Sachs as a hedge fund manager and lived in the United States, where he met his wife, Akshata Murty. They have two daughters.

Returning to Britain, Sunak was elected to parliament for the safe Tory seat of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015. In Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum, he supported leaving the European Union — a risky career move, since it went against the Conservative government’s policy.

When “leave” unexpectedly won, Sunak’s career took off. He served in several junior ministerial posts before being appointed chancellor of the exchequer – head of the Treasury – by Johnson in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit.

An instinctively low-tax, small state politician who idolizes former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he nonetheless forked out billions in government money to keep people and businesses afloat during the pandemic.

His furlough program, which paid the salaries of millions of workers when they were temporarily laid off, made him the most popular member of the government — a status he burnished with slick social media messages that rivals and critics said stressed his own brand more than the government’s.

Sunak, however, has had his wobbles over the years. Critics said a campaign to get people to eat in restaurants after lockdown restrictions were eased in the summer of 2020 contributed to another wave of COVID-19.

Others have said Sunak’s family’s vast wealth and Silicon Valley past put him out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people.

He also faced questions about his finances and those of his wife. Murty is the daughter of the billionaire founder of Indian tech giant Infosys, and the couple is worth 730 million pounds ($877 million), according to The Sunday Times’ Rich List.

In April 2022, it emerged that Murty did not pay U.K. tax on her overseas income.

The practice was legal, but it looked bad at a time when Sunak was raising taxes for millions of Britons. Sunak also was criticized for holding on to his American green card, which signifies an intent to settle in the U.S., for two years after he became Britain’s finance minister.

Sunak was cleared of wrongdoing, but the revelations still hurt.

He was fined by police, along with Johnson and dozens of others, for attending a party in the prime minister’s office in 2020 that broke coronavirus lockdown rules.

Outrage over those parties at a time when Britons were forced to stay home contributed to Johnson’s downfall. Sunak has said he attended inadvertently and briefly.

In his first leadership campaign, he depicted himself as the candidate of grown-up decisions and fiscal probity, criticizing Truss’ plans to lower taxes and increase borrowing, and vowing to get inflation under control.

That’s now a harder job than ever.

 

 

 

Source: Voice of America

Cholera outbreaks threaten children’s survival in the Middle East [EN/AR]

AMMAN– “The fast pace of the cholera outbreak in Syria and Lebanon is alarming and the risks of the disease further spreading to other countries in the region call for immediate action. Urgent support is needed to respond and contain the spread of the disease.

 

“The acute epidemic in Syria has left over 20,000 suspected cases with acute watery diarrhoea and 75 cholera-associated deaths since its start [1]. In Lebanon, confirmed cholera cases reached 448 in just two weeks, with 10 associated deaths [2].

 

“Several neighbouring countries are already affected with a high number of acute watery diarrhoea cases and may be at risk of cholera.

 

“Cholera outbreaks and acute watery diarrhoea add to children’s struggles in these countries. Malnourished children are more vulnerable to developing severe cholera disease, and the cholera outbreak is yet another blow to already overstretched health systems in the region.

 

“Cholera doesn’t know borders and lines of control, and spreads along population movements, including displacements. In hard-hit countries, the spread of the disease is fueled by weak water and sanitation systems, poor water management, increased poverty, climate change, and conflicts – all of which make safe water more and more scarce for families and their children and reliance on unsafe water exposes them to the risk of contracting the water-borne disease.

 

“Since the start of the outbreak, UNICEF has been delivering lifesaving health and water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies and services to affected areas, while helping families improve their hygiene practices. Simultaneously, preparedness and response efforts are being stepped up in neighbouring countries.

 

“UNICEF urgently needs US$40.5 million[3] to expand its emergency cholera response in Syria and Lebanon alone. This includes support in health, water, hygiene and sanitation, risk communication and community engagement in the next three months.”

 

Notes to editors:

 

In Syria, UNICEF:

 

Is distributing 7 million water treatment tablets to 350,000 people in affected governorates.

Distributed 408 tons of sodium hypochlorite during the first two weeks of October to increase chlorine dosages and concentration. Since the beginning of the cholera response, a total of 1,095 tons of sodium hypochlorite have been distributed, providing 13.5 million people with safe and clean water.

Delivered acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) kits to support treating an estimated 12,700 moderate cases and 11,700 severe AWD cases and distributed 244 kits in affected governorates.

Trained 438 health care workers and hygiene promotion teams, 160 religious leaders and 161 school health education officers on Interpersonal communication and community mobilization skills to prevent cholera outbreak.

The social behaviour change outreach teams have engaged 159,000 people through community dialogues with influential leaders, community health workers and volunteers and 71,000 children through health education sessions in schools, while 93,161 people were reached via door-to-door visits with key messages and actions on cholera prevention in Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Al Hasakeh, Al Raqqa, Damascus city and Damascus Rural.

In Lebanon, UNICEF:

 

Distributed 98,800 litres of fuel to water pumping stations and waste-water treatment stations in locations with confirmed and suspected cholera cases

Procured emergency medical supplies including 150,000 Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and 40 Cholera Treatment Kits to support the treatment of 5,000 cholera cases and symptoms including moderate to severe diarrhoea

Delivered Chlorinated Trucked water, wastewater desludging and ensuring disinfection in informal settlements with suspected or confirmed cases.

Trained over 4,369 frontline workers and partners on cholera awareness, including transmission, symptoms, treatment, prevention and referral mechanisms.

Scaled up safe water deliveries and increased desludging to over 250,000 people living in informal settlements.

In Iraq, UNICEF:

 

Supported capacity strengthening of laboratories with water testing and sampling instruments to reach 1 million people, as well as scaling-up on-site chlorine generation, and advocate for the establishment of local factories for chlorine.

Distributed 1.5 million units of ORS in affected governorates.

Trained over 700 frontline workers on issues ranging from water, sanitation and hygiene infection, prevention and control measures to cholera prevention messages.

Has been conducting social mobilization on the ground in the areas with high cases, as well as the airing of awareness-raising messages across TV, radio, social media and SMS, with over 14 million people reached so far.

[1] WHO, Syria, as of 15 October 2022.

[2] Ministry of Public Health, as of 21 October 2022.

[3] US$11.14 million in Syria and US$29.38 in Lebanon.

 

 

Source: UN Children’s Fund

WHO Says a Polio-Free World Within Grasp

In marking World Polio Day, advocates for a polio-free world are urging nations to commit to a new five-year strategy to eradicate this crippling disease and consign it to the trash bin of history.

An estimated 350,000 children were paralyzed by polio when the World Health Organization launched its Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. In the world today, polio is endemic only in Pakistan, and Afghanistan. So far this year, 29 cases have been recorded, putting the possibility of a polio-free world within reach.

The WHO notes the final stretch is the most difficult and cautions nations against letting down their guard too soon. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the 29 recorded cases include a small number in southeast Africa linked to a strain originating in Pakistan.

“While it does not affect the WHO African region’s wild polio free certification, it shows us that as long as polio continues to circulate anywhere, it is a threat to children everywhere. Despite this news, we have a unique window of opportunity right now to end polio for good.”

The WHO warns polio also can spread within communities through circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. These variants, it notes, can emerge in places where not enough people have been immunized against this crippling disease. It reports these variants continue to spread across parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe and new outbreaks have been detected in Britain, Israel and the United States in recent months.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell says the new polio eradication strategy is designed to take the world to the finish line. She says the strategy includes tactics to protect children from variant outbreaks and stop their spread to other countries.

“We are also working with governments to speed up our response to these outbreaks, acting immediately to ensure that they do not harm more children,” Russel said. “And we continue working to integrate polio activities with other immunization and health programs so we can reach high-risk children who have never received vaccines before. The new strategy will help us end all forms of polio. It will also help prepare countries to respond to future health threats.”

If this goal is reached, polio will become only the second disease after smallpox to have been wiped off the face of the Earth. U.N. health agencies say it will cost $4.8 billion to achieve this historic milestone.
The economic returns, they say, will be significant. They estimate eradicating polio would result in savings of more than $33 billion.

 

 

Source: Voice of America

Global Migration Media Academy Brings Students, Communications Professionals Together to Address Ethical Coverage of Migration

Las Palmas de Gran Canarias (Spain) — Fifty communication professionals, including journalists, graphic designers, photographers, and marketing professionals, as well as students of Communication Sciences from Senegal, Morocco, Guinea, and Spain are meeting today in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, to analyze how to promote a more ethical approach to media reporting and communicating information on migration.

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized the five-day workshop “Ethical Communication on Migration in the Media” in conjunction with IOM’s Global Media and Migration Academy (GMMA) and “Migrando Miradas” project, which promotes ethical communication on migration in the media through training courses for university students.

 

“We are thrilled to see such strong interest from the students and professionals here today to exchange knowledge and skills that can improve how we communicate about migration in the media,” said María Jesús Herrera Ceballos, IOM Head of Office for Spain.

 

“This level of engagement is encouraging and inspiring. Together we can contribute to a better global conversation about migration.”

 

The event is taking place in “Casa África”, a conference space and public diplomacy consortium that works to bring Africa and Spain closer together.

 

Participants will analyze migration-related content with contributions and guidance from experts such as Blanca Tapia, Information and Communication Officer at the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA); Pepe Naranjo and Nicolás Castellano, journalists with experience working in Africa; Dounia Mseffer, journalist and member of the Moroccan Network of Migration Journalists (Morocco) and, Salif Sakhanokho, a journalist from PressAfrik (Senegal).

 

“Being part of this initiative is really exciting,” said Mabinty Touré, a journalism student at the Higher Institute of Information and Communications (ISIC) in Guinea. “I hope to take advantage of this meeting and, from what we have learned, produce content in local languages, and create a program dedicated to the subject within our student radio,”

 

The GMMA is jointly financed by the IOM Development Fund and Irish Aid. The “Migrando Miradas” project is financed by the Ministry of Social Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain.

 

 

Source: International Organization for Migration

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announces Additional Support to Promote Locally Led R&D; Calls for Proposals 

BRUSSELS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a series of initiatives and a call for proposals to advance locally-led innovation that supports work by scientists and researchers in developing economies. The announcement was made at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting earlier today.

This year’s meeting focuses on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for high-impact R&D platforms, partnerships, and policies that effectively bridge the gap between innovation and equitable access. The meeting brings together researchers from around the world to share work, learn about cutting-edge advances in the health care field, and collaborate with other investigators.

“Health equity shouldn’t just be a statement of why we do this work. It should guide how we do it,” said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, deputy director of Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “When we support locally led innovation, we maximize impact by bringing different kinds of knowledge and perspectives to the fore.”

As part of the Grand Challenges Global Call to Action, a 10-year initiative announced at last year’s meeting to help ensure scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) play a central role in shaping the global R&D agenda, the foundation announced two new Grand Challenges initiatives:

  • Pathogen Genomic Surveillance and Immunology in Asia : This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in South and Southeast Asia to design and pilot a genomic surveillance program or develop capacity for immunology and immune sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to inform epidemic response. Up to $300,000 per year for up to two years will be available for each project, with potential additional funding for projects that include a focus on monoclonal antibody discovery.
  • Building Data Modeling Capacity for Gender Equality : This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in low- and middle-income countries for projects aimed at addressing disparities and gaps affecting women and girls in health. This initiative is focused on innovative approaches to modeling that advance gender equality. Each project will receive up to $500,000 over one to three years.

“Societies measure what they value, and for most of history, society hasn’t valued women. This means we’re trying to tackle global health and development challenges with missing information,” said Anita Zaidi, president of the Gender Equality division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “It is long past time to put women and girls at the center of the data modeling that guides our solutions.”

In partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the foundation will also provide grants to researchers investigating and detecting emerging pathogens in LMICs. Researchers will receive up to $200,000 each for up to two years, as well as operational support and technical training from the ChanZuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub). This funding commitment builds on a 2018 partnership between the foundation, CZI, and the CZ Biohub that is focused on building metagenomics capacity in LMICs through a Global Grand Challenges initiative.

The 2022 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Brussels is hosted by Global Grand Challenges and the European Commission, and co-sponsored by Grand Challenges Canada, USAID, Wellcome, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The two-day event features dozens of leaders from across the global health innovation landscape, as well as Gates Foundation leadership, including Bill Gates (co-chair and trustee); Anita Zaidi; and Trevor Mundel (president, Global Health Division). The plenary sessions will be posted shortly after the meeting at grandchallenges.org/annual–meeting.

About Grand Challenges

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recognizes that solving the most pressing challenges in global health and development requires more of the world’s brightest minds working on them. The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to engage innovators from around the world to solve these challenges. Grand Challenges initiatives are united by their focus on fostering innovation, directing research to where it will have the most impact, and serving those most in need. To learn more, visit grandchallenges.org.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.

Media contact: media@gatesfoundation.org