US Fraunhofer Center receives Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology in Delaware receives $1.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine against African trypanosomiasis.

African trypanosomiasis, known in cattle as Nagana and in humans as Sleeping Sickness, is spread by the bite of the tsetse fly and is fatal if left untreated. It occurs in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, is reaching epidemic proportions and is having a devastating impact on local economies. Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology CMB now has received a $1.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine to fight disease. CMB will apply its newly developed suite of technologies to engineer, produce and evaluate candidate vaccines to combat this disease. This project is a collaborative effort between CMB, the Institute of Parasitology at McGill University in Canada and Makerere University in Uganda.

The new plant-based technology developed at CMB has the potential to provide safe, effective and affordable vaccines against a variety of pathogens. "Our plant-based approach is highly time-efficient and ensures economic production of vaccines", said Vidadi Yusibov, Executive Director of CMB.

"An affordable vaccine against trypanosomiasis could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year," said Dr. Douglas Holtzman, senior program officer for the Infectious Diseases Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We're pleased that the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology is applying its unique expertise to this critical research."

Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology CMB is part of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., a non-profit research organization with Headquarters in Plymouth, MI. CMB is located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, Delaware, and is a unique institution conducting research in the area of plant biotechnology, utilizing developing, cutting-edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases.

Contact:
Dr. Vidadi Yusibov
Phone: +1 302 369 1708
vyusibov@fraunhofer-cmb.org
Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology
CMB
9 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Newark, DE 19711, USA
www.fraunhofer-cmb.org

Further Information:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Topic: Health and Medicine, Biotechnology

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	US Fraunhofer Center receives Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology in Delaware receives $1.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine against African trypanosomiasis. African trypanosomiasis, known in cattle as Nagana and in humans as Sleeping Sickness, is spread by the bite of the tsetse fly and is fatal if left untreated. It occurs in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, is reaching epidemic proportions and is having a devastating impact on local economies. Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology CMB now has received a $1.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine to fight disease. CMB will apply its newly developed suite of technologies to engineer, produce and evaluate candidate vaccines to combat this disease. This project is a collaborative effort between CMB, the Institute of Parasitology at McGill University in Canada and Makerere University in Uganda. The new plant-based technology developed at CMB has the potential to provide safe, effective and affordable vaccines against a variety of pathogens. "Our plant-based approach is highly time-efficient and ensures economic production of vaccines", said Vidadi Yusibov, Executive Director of CMB. "An affordable vaccine against trypanosomiasis could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year," said Dr. Douglas Holtzman, senior program officer for the Infectious Diseases Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We're pleased that the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology is applying its unique expertise to this critical research." Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology CMB is part of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., a non-profit research organization with Headquarters in Plymouth, MI. CMB is located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, Delaware, and is a unique institution conducting research in the area of plant biotechnology, utilizing developing, cutting-edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases. Contact: Dr. Vidadi Yusibov Phone: +1 302 369 1708 vyusibov@fraunhofer-cmb.org Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology CMB 9 Innovation Way, Suite 200 Newark, DE 19711, USA www.fraunhofer-cmb.org Further Information: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Topic: Health and Medicine, Biotechnology	Print page Back