EDCTP Panel Discussion at World Health Summit 2019

26 October 2019 - 29 October 2019
Kosmos Karl-Marx-Allee 131a, 10243 Berlin
Type of event International meeting
Scope Tackling Unmet Medical Needs of Vulnerable and Neglected Populations

On 29 October 2019, EDCTP and the Max Planck Society will host a high-level panel discussion on ‘Tackling Unmet Medical Needs of Vulnerable and Neglected Populations: Accelerating R&D of Innovative and Effective Medical Interventions through Partnerships and Strategic Alliances’. The meeting is chaired by Prof. Stefan H.E. Kaufmann and Dr Michael Makanga and is part of the World Health Summit 2019 in Berlin, Germany from 26-29 October 2019.

Despite much progress, poverty-related infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and the neglected and emerging diseases, still impose a high economic burden on countries and individuals. Achieving most if not all Sustainable Development Goals will depend on effective control of infectious diseases. Therefore, the development of fast, reliable, user-friendly and cost-effective medical technologies is needed to streamline diagnostic processes in resource-limited settings, support preventive measures, reduce unnecessary referrals, and ensure early initiation of treatment when needed.

The effectiveness of promising new generations of medical technologies needs to be evaluated in real-life situations to establish their potential contribution to clinical decision-making and working practices in current healthcare systems. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is already having a major impact in developing countries, especially in Africa. Key to reducing the threat of AMR is the development of better diagnostic and prognostic tools.

This session will discuss general strategies and provide practical examples of the clinical development of novel medical technologies for poverty-related infectious diseases through partnerships and strategic alliances.

Speakers:

Dr Angela Loyse
Senior Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Infectious Diseases Consultant, St George’s University of London

Prof. Veronika von Messling
Director Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul Ehrlich Institute Langen

Catherine Kaseri Ohura
CEO and Executive Director, GHIT Fund  

Peter Sands
Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Chief Scienist, World Health Organization

Prof. Gerhard Walzl
Department Head: Biomedical Sciences, Division Head: Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University