Japan based Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has announced a total of 3.29 billion yen (US$30 million) to invest in 11 partnerships to develop new lifesaving drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and mycetoma. This includes five new projects and six that will receive continued funding.

The 5 new projects involve-

• Preclinical and Clinical Development of SJ733, a Novel PfATP4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Severe Malaria- Eisai Co., Ltd., University of Kentucky
• Production, validation and use of Leishmanin skin test (LST) for detection of Leishmania exposure and immunity- Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) Nagasaki University, The Ohio State University, McGill University, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, US-FDA
• Development of a novel Pvs25 nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that induces potent and long-lasting transmission blocking immunity- Ehime University, Mahidol University, University of Pennsylvania
• Made-in-Japan next-generation vaccine platform effective for multistage Plasmodium for infants- Kanazawa University, Hokkaido University, Jichi Medical University, Toyama University, University of Cambridge
• MycEXomics aims to develop a field-friendly point-of-care diagnostic test for mycetoma- RIKEN, Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC), University of Khartoum, Erasmus University Medical Center, Hospital General de Mexico

"Although we are in the midst of unprecedented COVID-19 crisis globally, GHIT works closely with our product development partners more than ever to conduct research and development for neglected patients. I believe that innovative technologies and approaches in partnership with Japanese and overseas entities will advance science steadily and contribute to the development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for neglected patients," said Ms. Catherine Kaseri Ohura, the CEO of GHIT.