Gates Increases research funding

[Ant]

GATES DOUBLES FUNDS FOR DISEASE RESEARCH



Microsoft founder Bill Gates more than doubled
his financing for key health research to $450
million Monday after telling assembled health
ministers the world had a "historic chance"
to tame killer diseases.



In a speech to the opening session of the
World Health Organization's (WHO) annual
assembly, the world's richest man said a
combination of "astonishing" scientific
advances and rising global awareness of
the suffering caused by disease gave real
hope for progress.



"We are on the verge of taking historic steps
to reduce disease in the developing world ...
(if) we match these accelerating capacities
of science with the emerging moral awareness of
global health inequities," he said.



The Gates Foundation pledge increases its funding
commitment to unearthing solutions for 14 major
health "challenges" to $450 million from an
initial $200 million at the project's launch
in late 2003.



"I am optimistic," Gates said. "I'm convinced
that we will see more ground breaking scientific
advances for health in the developing world in
the next 10 years than we have seen in the last 50."


...cool =)

 

[Blender Bender]

Hmmmm... Almost balances out his crime of monopolising the PC market with a faulty software..

Maybe this goes with the latest "Corporate Responsibility" trend?

Still a VERY good example no matter how you look at it...

 

[RedZebra]

Yeah I have to say, whatever your opinion of Microsoft TM, this is a very, very good initiative, particularly because it is focussing on this biggest WORLDWIDE issues - not just specific diseases of rich western countries where pharmaceutical companies can be assured of profiting from ongoing sales.

Have to hope that other individuals/governments follow his lead.

 

[floatyhippyflower]

I'm feeling cynical again Mr. Zebra

 

[RedZebra]

Published online: 20 May 2005; | doi:10.1038/news050516-12 Zambia vows to cut malaria deaths

Declan Butler

Bill Gates backs national campaign, aiming for 'blockbuster success'.

Malaria is a major cause of death and poverty in Africa.

© Declan Butler The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is backing an ambitious project with the Zambian government to reduce deaths from malaria by three-quarters in just three years. They plan to use existing controls such as bednets, drugs, and house spraying on a much wider scale than ever before.

"We think that this partnership can establish the value of scaled-up, national malaria control as the gold standard in Africa," says Regina Rabinovich, director of the Gates Foundation's Infectious Diseases Program. The world needs "a blockbuster success against malaria," she says to "encourage both donor countries and developing countries to devote greater resources to fighting it."

The new project is known as Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), and will be run by the Seattle-based non-profit organization PATH with a nine-year US$35 million grant from the Gates Foundation.

Brian Chituwo, Zambia's health minister, says his government has pledged to provide insecticide-treated nets for 90% of households, and to ensure that 60% of patients get treated with antimalarial artemisinin drugs within 24 hours. It also hopes to provide prophylactic drugs for 90% of pregnant women, who lose their naturally acquired immunity to severe malaria during pregnancy.




PS: I do not work for Microsoft, or endorse their products in any way!