| Session title | Collaborative biomedical innovation in Africa to eliminate infectious diseases | ||
| Coordinator | Linet Atieno Otieno, Senior Communications Manager, DNDi Africa | ||
| Hosts | Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) | ||
| Session Format (select one) | Panel Discussion | Workshop | Plenary |
| Chairs | Chair: Dr. John Amuasi, ARNTD and Lancet Commission | ||
| Speakers | Title | Organization | Status |
| Speaker 1 (Policy/Govt) | Dr. Khadija Yahya Malima | Commission on Science and Technology, Tanzania | Invited |
| Speaker 2 (Academia) | Dr. Kelly Chibale | H3D | Invited |
| Speaker 3 (Civil Society) | Dr. Monique Wasunna | Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative | Confirmed |
| Speaker 4 (Private sector) | Dr. Isaac Chikwanha | Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund | Confirmed |
| Speaker 5 (Policy/Govt) | Dr. Janet Byaruhanga | AUDA-NEPAD | Invited |
| Session Objectives | 1. To present existing African-led innovation initiatives and chart a course for future work. 2. To rally the global health community around African led innovation initiatives | ||
| Session Abstract | Biomedical research in Africa is rapidly growing in innovation such as producing affordable and accessible medicines that meet African priority health needs. It also includes a focus on basic science, diagnostics, and vaccines. This panel brings together leading actors from the continent developing, delivering, and funding current and future biomedical research that is led by African researchers, working hand in hand with affected communities, in Africa, for Africa and beyond. Their efforts target some of the most neglected diseases on the planet, for which treatments, when available, are ineffective, unsafe, or unaffordable and the people hit hardest by these diseases are poor, vulnerable, and stigmatized. Diverse research partnerships have, in African tradition, pooled and harnessed scarce resources to impressive ends, tackling malaria, worms, bacterial and fungal diseases that cause disfigurement and stigma. The panelists will share lessons learnt from powerful partnerships in Africa as well as African-led innovation initiatives and how this approach contributes to building research collaborations and Africa’s pandemic preparedness as witnessed during the COVID 19 pandemic. Additionally, they will propose how to ensure continued success and progress in reaching the target of eliminating NTDs as a public health problem in in Africa by 2030. Speaker topics Dr. Kelly Chibale H3D: Leading integrated Drug Discovery in Africa Dr. Khadija Yahya-Malima Commission on Science and Technology, Tanzania: From drug development to Implementation Dr. Janet Byaruhanga AUDA-NEPAD: Innovative regulatory approaches Dr. Monique Wasunna DNDi Africa: Innovative Platforms to tackle NTDs in Africa. Dr. Isaac Chikwanha GHIT Fund: Funding end-to-end approaches to beat NTDs Funding medical innovations for neglected populations. |
Event Timeslots (1)
ROOM 5 MEERA
-
WS 1