World TB Day: EDCTP investments in TB research rise to EUR 127 million

22 March 2019

World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 2019 is themed ‘It’s time’. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) explains, the theme underlines “the urgency to act” on the commitments made by global leaders in September 2018. At the United Nations TB summit, world leaders agreed to do what was necessary to end TB, i.e. to scale up access to prevention and treatment; ensure enough financing (including for research); and promote a rights-based and people-centred response. This World TB Day, WHO calls on governments and all other partners involved to unite and to find and treat all.

The emphasis on proper testing, proper treatment and leaving no one behind is fully justified. Notwithstanding the successes of the global effort to fight TB, this stealthy epidemic takes 4500 lives every day in many countries driven by poverty, stigma and the HIV epidemic. Research remains necessary.

“Tuberculosis, a preventable, treatable and curable disease, continues to disproportionately blight the lives of the poor and vulnerable, and its drug-resistant strains present a global threat. EDCTP has maintained high priority for TB research & development of new and more patient-friendly treatment strategies, as well as transformative diagnostics and vaccines, while paying special attention to the vulnerable populations at highest risk of TB. The European Union and its member states continue to play an important role in TB research. Part of that response is supported by the African-European partnership EDCTP.”

Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director

EDCTP-funded TB research 2014-2018

The infographic above (large PDF here) gives a detailed overview of EDCTP-funded TB research in the period 2014-2018

In 2018, three major grants were committed to support the development of several candidate TB vaccines: a total of EUR 31.5 million for three large clinical trials. Currently, these clinical trials conducted by 28 research institutions from sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and India, are well underway. The projects are:

  • PORTB (prevention of recurrent TB; grant identifier RIA2016V-1631)
  • priME (improved version of BCG; grant identifier: RIA2016V-1645)
  • MTBVAC-Newborns (infant efficacy trial of MTBVAC; grant identifier: RIA2016V-1637)

 

The infographic below (large PDF here) shows the many international collaborations that support the EDCTP-funded TB research in the period 2014-2018. The map highlights the African-European partnership that underpins the programme.

Countries with EDCTP TB research 2014-2018

More information