GHIT awarded US$ 1.4 million to Dartmouth College (US), Tanzania's Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) to conduct a randomized clinical trial in Tanzania aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of a booster TB vaccine known as DAR-901. DAR-901 will be administered to 13-15-year-old participants who received the standard TB vaccine at birth - BCG. Newborn immunization with BCG is generally only effective for 10-15 years and DAR-901 is designed to boost and prolong this protection against TB. The study is currently undergoing appropriate regulatory and ethical evaluations in Tanzania. This is the second TB vaccine in the GHIT portfolio.
Undoubtedly we need better and more effective tools to control and eliminate these four diseases, and alongside, we need to use existing tools and technologies as judiciously as possible. Investment in global health research should not be on the decline and this yet another push for innovations and research by GHIT Fund is indeed a promising one!
Bobby Ramakant - CNS (Citizen News Service)
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