GloPID-R Network Expands with Two New Members

GloPID-R is pleased to announce that the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT) and the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) have joined the network. With the addition of these two leading institutions, GloPID-R is now 25 members strong and continues to broaden its global scope.

The Egyptian ASRT, represented by Dr. Amr Radwan, was established in 1971 as the national authority for science and technology in Egypt. As a funding agency, it has funding programs addressing local societal challenges, and it has recently established the “Knowledge and Technology Alliance” (KTA) program.

KTA funds the “National Viral Hepatitis Innovation Cluster” to tackle innovative clinical research and industrial development pathways. The second cycle of the KTA program addresses other infectious diseases in addition to relevant drug resistance, and has provided a clear focus on biotechnology, molecular biology and innovative screening programs.

Dr. Amr Radwan said: “Indeed, Egypt has particularly high rates of infectious diseases. We are aware of these challenges and we do believe that supporting and investing in collaborative research and innovation will pave the way for effective interventions, prevention and control programs.”

The Medical Research Council, represented by Dr. Mark Palmer, funds research across the biomedical spectrum, from fundamental, lab-based science in all major disease areas through to clinical trials and health systems research. Recently the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research led research providing further understanding about how the Zika virus works. Importantly, they also discovered a Zika-derived molecule that inhibits part of the immune system.  The study, ‘Full genome sequence and sfRNA interferon antagonist activity of Zika virus from Recife, Brazil’ is published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Dr. Mark Palmer said: “Global challenges cannot be tackled by individual nations. Funders and researchers need to work together, sharing information and ideas in a spirit of open collaboration. MRC works with many partners around the world to tackle global health problems and we hope that GLOPID-R will also prove to be a fruitful partnership”