FNQ scientists in push to eradicate malaria
Via the Cairns Post.
James Cook University’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) has received a $2.8 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the preclinical development of a universal vaccine for malaria.
World Health Organisation figures show there were 214 million cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported worldwide last year, with an estimated 438,000 deaths.
AITHM director Professor Louis Schofield said his team had already commenced work on the vaccine, which was hoped to become a commercial reality within the next few years.
“Up to this point, even though it’s been going for a long time, it’s been funded as an academic or scientific investigation,’’ he said.
“The critical thing about this investigation is it prepares the project to move into a kind of formal regulatory testing process and manufacturing process so we actually end up with a usable, functioning vaccine that can be rolled out, subject to tests.”
He said the project would be of enormous benefit to Cairns in terms of its biotechnological reputation on the world stage.
“The intention with the AITHM, and this project in particular, is to grow the technology to benefit the Far North,’’ he said.
“We very much hope to be doing that.
“Part of the governance issues about the various parties and institutions internationally and nationally is putting together the biotechnology commercialisation.
“This would be something that would be identified as a Far North Queensland biotech initiative.”
Half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria, with the disease imposing a heavy burden in tropical regions, including Australia’s near neighbours.
Prof Schofield said Australia had a duty of care to assist with helping eradicate the disease.
“Cairns was the site of some very, very high quality malaria research during World War II when it was a problem (here),’’ he said.
“And of course it’s still a big problem in our neighbouring countries but I really have to say, our perspective on this is it’s a global disease and we need to work on global malaria eradication.
“That may be a long way off – decades in the making – but certainly the conception of that will be a vaccine that can help lead to global malaria eradication.
“That’s why Australia, which does not have malaria itself, it’s particularly appropriate that we’re involved in a global push.”
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