Research Roundup: Smart power, TB research, female condoms, HIV resource tracking, and more

  Senate supports global health R&D in defense appropriations bill and report. Photo: Ken Kistler Earlier this month, we reported that both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees included language supporting global health research and development (R&D) in their reports concerning funding for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs. Last week, we heard even more good news for global health R&D out of the Senate Appropriations Committee—this time related to the Department of Defense (DoD). The fiscal year (FY) 2015 defense appropriations bill—which was approved by the Committee last Thursday—includes a $7 million increase for peer-reviewed medical research—from $200 million in FY 2014 to $207 million this year—despite reducing overall DoD funding from FY 2014 levels. In addition, in the accompanying report, the Appropriations Committee includes very strong language recognizing DoD’s substantial contributions to global health R&D and the need to support sustained US investments in this area. The committee report includes language submitted by GHTC recognizing “the critical contribution that the department’s [R&D] portfolio makes in protecting our troops from infectious and neglected diseases they may encounter on missions around the world” and noting “the need to sustain and support US investment in this area by fully funding those R&D programs that carry out this work.” Committee recognizes role of infectious disease research in improving US security The committee report also recognizes the threat that neglected infectious diseases—such as malaria, dengue fever, and Chikungunya—pose to the effectiveness of US forces deployed overseas and expresses concern over reductions in research funding for these disease areas. In the report, the committee notes that it is “concerned with the department’s decisions over recent years to precipitously decrease funding for malaria research” and that it “encourages the department to address diseases of military importance and invest in research for chemoprophylaxis, surveillance, and other countermeasures.” Photo: PATH/Gabe Bienczycki Report calls for DoD to improve coordination across R&D programming The committee report also includes language—submitted by GHTC—which directs each DoD program involved in infectious disease research to submit a report of its R&D activities to the House and Senate Defense Committees outlining the program’s funding and accomplishments from FY 2011 through 2014. As well, the committee urges DoD to partner with other organizations involved in infectious diseases research—including other federal agencies—to mitigate the duplication of research efforts and maximize the use of DoD resources. It is GHTC’s hope that these reports and activities will lead to improved coordination across DoD global health R&D programs, as well as improved coordination across all US agencies involved in global health R&D, which will in turn help fill current gaps in research programming and assure US investments are used most effectively. GHTC is glad to see the Senate recognizing DoD’s critical role in global health R&D, as well as advocating for sustained funding and improved coordination for global health R&D programming at DoD. We are hopeful that the language included in the Senate defense appropriations report will be included in whatever final legislation is passed.

During the past year, leaders from the US Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC)—an advocacy organization promoting diplomacy and development—have traveled across America seeking out innovators and innovations that best demonstrate how strategic US investments in global development can enhance America’s foreign policy and security interests—an approach USGLC calls “smart power” diplomacy. The VVM is a health innovation that is saving lives and money. Photo: Umit Kartoglu Not surprisingly, USGLC leaders discovered that investments in global health innovation are an essential part of America’s “smart power” toolbox. As USGLC leaders traveled from city to city, they discovered numerous examples of how American businesses and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working with the US government to deliver global health innovations that are not only improving lives worldwide, but also creating jobs here in the United States and enhancing America’s global leadership. In fact, nearly half of the 30 programs USGLC identified as “leading American innovators” in its Innovations in Smart Power report—released today—focused on improving global health and nutrition. The report featured two innovations developed by GHTC members, including the PATH-developed Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM), which indicates whether vaccines have been damaged from exposure to heat. The VVM not only saves lives, but also produces an estimated $14 million annual savings by preventing undamaged vaccines from being discarded. USGLC also featured the Global Health Fellows Program II—led by the Public Health Institute—which brings private sector experts from America to low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia—for up to three months—to share their expertise in research and medical technologies with healthcare workers in local communities. Two interns sponsored by the Global Health Fellow Program help build a house for an HIV expectant mother in Uganda. Photo: Global Health Fellows Program II/PHI Other creative global health innovations featured in the report include low-cost toilets to reduce diarrheal disease, fortified peanut paste to combat malnutrition, and an easy squeeze pouch to help HIV-positive mothers deliver antiretroviral drugs to their newborn babies. All of these projects were supported by the US government, and demonstrate how American ingenuity and investments can tackle some of the world’s greatest global health problems. It’s clear that sustained American investment in global health innovation not only supports domestic and international health improvements and economic growth, but also serves as an important diplomatic tool and a demonstration of America’s character. In other worlds, investing in global health innovation=smart power.