The India Health
Fund (IHF), an initiative by Tata Trusts, in collaboration with the Global Fund
has come forward to financially support innovations and technologies designed
to combat tuberculosis and malaria.
The IHF aims to
support new products and strategies that impact the entire lifecycle of TB and
malaria, from prevention to post-cure recovery. It has recently invited project
proposals.
“The IHF aims to
support individuals and organisations with already germinated innovative
strategies, services, products, such that they become sustainable and scalable
solutions in addressing TB and malaria. It is not a fellowship to do research
from scratch,” said Jayeeta Chowdhury, programme head-IHF, Tata Trusts.
While not
disclosing the quantum of funding earmarked for the initiative, Ms. Chowdhury
said a “large partnership building is under way” and it is a “long-term
exercise” aligned with the country’s goal of eliminating TB by 2025 and malaria
by 2030.
“IHF will
promote innovative solutions such that they are widely accessible and are
affordable,” she added.
Tough challenge
TB and malaria
pose long-standing health challenges for India.
The two diseases
account for over 4.23 lakh deaths and around 15 million lab-confirmed cases
every year.
The quantum of
funding might increase in the future depending on new partners joining the IHF
initiative. “Effort will be made to expand the partnership and have a wider
base of donors/investors,” Ms. Chowdhury said.
The four areas
of research for which applications are invited are: use of technology and data
science to strengthen surveillance of TB and malaria, inform early warning
systems, and improve early detection and prompt treatment; promotion of robust
molecular diagnostic facilities feasible for primary healthcare in low-resource
settings; innovations on effective communication strategies that will prevent
transmission of TB and malaria, and enable people to protect themselves from
the diseases, and, finally, research on innovative approaches to vector
surveillance.
On whether it
will fund innovations and technologies only in the four designated areas, Ms.
Chowdhury said: “IHF will continue to focus on TB and malaria, but the areas
may or may not be the same. It will evolve as it grows. But this time, it will
be restricted to the areas mentioned.”
The last date
for submission of applications is March 19. More details can be found at www.indiahealthfund.org .
Source: THE HINDU-10th February,2018
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/india-health-fund-to-boost-research-on-tb-malaria/article22709633.ece
