Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), with the support of the International Projects team of Fiotec, made agreements with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF), for funding two great projects. The first is for the development of the “Automated platform for selection of pharmaceutics against helminthes (parasite worms)”, by researcher Floriano Paes from Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC). The other project, developed by the Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos), is about the production of vaccine for measles and rubella for poor countries.
Fiotec supported the negotiations from the beginning, a complex work between the International Projects, Legal Advisory and Financial and Accounting Management teams, for the registration of the institution as supporting foundation of B&MGF. From now on, the International Projects team will monitor the researches.
“A new way is open with the registration of Fiotec before B&MGF, which has provided wonderful opportunities to our planet and we all are honored to contribute behind these events”, said the International Projects Supervisor, Flávia Estill.
Production of vaccine for measles and rubella for poor countries
During the 9th Grand Challenges Meeting last Monday (10/28), the agreement between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Bio-Manguinhos was announced for the production, development and export of the vaccine protecting against rubella and measles. The research aims at producing the first Brazilian vaccine for exporting using a fully national technology (against measles and rubella).
The vaccines produced will be distributed in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, serviced by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and by institutions of the United Nations (UN). The expectation is 30 million doses to be available in the market until 2017. The initiative will rely on US$ 1.1 million of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Automated platform for selecting pharmaceuticals against helminthes
The project has as purpose to minimize the scientific challenge present in the studies for selecting new pharmaceuticals against helminthes (parasite worms). In general, the process demands time and includes the risk of subjectiveness of the observer. Characteristics like the movement standard and the parasite format are to be considered for the assurance about the work of the pharmaceutical in test. Despite being very used, the analysis is subject to mistakes and, therefore, this research is very important.
The project to receive funds of US$ 100,000, was chosen as it presents great innovation potential in the scope of the great health challenges, and was selected among 3,000 projects assessed by B&MGF in the notice ‘Grand Challenges Exploration’. This is the first project of Fiocruz contemplated with the funding.
*With information from CCS/Fiocruz and IOC
