Fraunhofer USA's Center for Molecular Biotechnology Receives Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Trypanosomiasis Research
Fraunhofer USA's Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB), a non- profit research organization based in Newark, Delaware, has received a $1.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine against African trypanosomiasis. The disease, 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. It is reaching epidemic proportions and is having a devastating impact on local economies there. 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." About Fraunhofer USA CMB Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is a non- profit research organization that is part of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., a Rhode Island incorporated, 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 newly developed/developing cutting edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases. Web site: http://www.fraunhofer-cmb.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Source: Fraunhofer USA CMB ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/TzSHvD/SOnJAA/79vVAA/H4xqlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> http://www.arizonabiotech.com/ <a href="http://www.arizonabiotech.com/";>Arizona Biotech</a> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biotech-news/ <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biotech-news/";>Biotech News</a> http://www.arizonaentrepreneurs.com/ <a href="http://www.arizonaentrepreneurs.com/";>Arizona Entrepreneurs</a> http://www.azhttp.com/ <a href="http://www.azhttp.com/";>Arizona High Tech</a> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biotech-news/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
