Strategic Partnerships and Research Capacity
Collaboration involving scientists from diverse disciplines is necessary to accelerate malaria research. Over the next several years, creating global opportunities for basic scientists, epidemiologists, vector biologists, clinicians, and product development experts to interact and coordinate research efforts will be critical to advancing an interdisciplinary approach to malaria research.
NIAID has long-established interactions with other organizations and agencies. The Institute will continue to partner with organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Commission of the European Community, the European-Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, the European Malaria Vaccine Initiative, the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Malaria Vaccine Initiative, and the Medicines for Malaria Venture to advance the development of new interventions for malaria.
NIAID is also participating in multi-organization partnerships to accelerate malaria research. For example, NIAID is collaborating with the NIH Fogarty International Center, the National Library of Medicine, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at WHO, and other institutions as a part of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM), which is working to increase and enhance multinational research and career development and research efforts of African scientists working in malaria-endemic areas. In 2007, NIAID launched a new initiative, the NIAID Partnerships with Public-Private Partnerships, to join with public and private partnerships to develop new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria and other neglected tropical diseases.
Building Research Capacity
One of the key elements to the NIAID malaria research program is to develop and strengthen sustainable research capacity in disease-endemic countries. NIAID provides scientists working in the United States and in malaria-endemic countries with access to critical malaria research resources and, working with the Fogarty International Center, it helps train and educate new investigators in the field. In addition, NIAID supports research and training in malaria-endemic countries through the NIAID-supported Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC) in Bamako, Mali and other international research programs. A growing malaria research effort will require an expanded capacity to undertake translational and clinical research in disease-endemic areas. As additional drugs, vaccines, and vector management strategies require clinical and field testing, this need is likely to grow.
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