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Ionian Technologies receives supplemental funding from the Gates Foundation

Ionian Technologies, Inc., will continue its efforts to develop a rapid point-of-care diagnostics platform for use in the developing world with supplemental funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant from the Foundation will extend the total commitment to this program, which was initiated in November 2008, to $3 million over two years.

18 Nov 2009

MSF's volunteer physicians receive free access to Elsevier's electronic CDS tool

The physicians of the world renowned Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, will receive free access to MD Consult (www.mdconsult.com), Elsevier's premier electronic clinical decision support (CDS) tool, as the result of a special new Elsevier campaign.

18 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: Global corruption; HIV vaccine; smoking; DRC aid

A new report from Transparency International says the fight against corruption worldwide is slowing as urgency to address the global economic downturn recedes, Bloomberg reports.

17 Nov 2009

Business professors available for expert commentary on how PPPs can help fight HIV/AIDS

The following professors from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business are available for expert commentary on how public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help win the fight against HIV/AIDS in cities throughout the United States.

17 Nov 2009

Global Alliance for Chronic Disease to fight against chronic non-communicable diseases

An alliance of institutions collectively managing an estimated 80 percent of all public health research funding worldwide today announced their first targets for concerted action in the fight against "chronic non-communicable diseases" (CNCDs).

17 Nov 2009

NIH grant to establish East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics

A $1.3 million grant to Indiana University from the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center will establish the East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics.

16 Nov 2009

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

"For too long, global health funding has gone to diseases like AIDS with the most vocal lobby groups and not to the diseases with the greatest need," Philip Stevens, a senior fellow at International Policy Network, writes in a Business Daily opinion piece.

16 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS in Uganda; medical equipment in Tanzania; birth control in Afghanistan; Ethiopia malaria fight

"The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) is revamping its national HIV information campaign after HIV prevention messages were less successful than hoped," PlusNews reports. "Campaigns aimed at ending cross-generational sex will be abandoned in favour of generic warnings about engaging in risky sex because of fears that young people may believe that sex within their own generation is risk-free. Officials have also said factors such as alcohol abuse, which predispose people to risky sexual behaviour, must be tackled alongside HIV prevention" (11/16).

16 Nov 2009

Low-cost, simple interventions could save 2.5 million child lives a year: World Vision

Almost a third of the children under age five who die each year could be saved if governments rebalance health spending to ensure low-cost, simple interventions such as safe water and hygiene, bed nets and basic maternal and newborn care, leading aid agency World Vision said today. Currently, 8.8 million children a year die before age five, most of preventable causes.

16 Nov 2009

TIME examines efforts to combat malaria resistance along Thai-Cambodia border

TIME reports on evidence along the Thai-Cambodia border that the malaria parasite is gaining resistance to artemisinin - "the only remaining effective drug in the world's arsenal against malaria's most deadly strain."

16 Nov 2009

Recent releases in Global Health

As a follow-up to a survey conducted in May 2009, this poll examines Americans' attitudes toward U.S. global health investments and priorities.

16 Nov 2009

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Secrets of Massachusetts' Success - "By the summer of 2008, less than two years after Massachusetts' health reform law became effective, only 2.6 percent of state residents were uninsured—the lowest proportion ever recorded for any state." This study by the RWJF-funded State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) initiative "explains how national reforms can use similar methods to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other coverage expansions."

13 Nov 2009

George W. Bush Institute to include global health focus; University of California system launches Global Health Institute

Former President George W. Bush will deliver a speech on Thursday marking the launch of the "George W. Bush Institute as a forum for study and advocacy in four main areas: education, global health, human freedom and economic growth," the New York Times writes.

13 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise estimated number of U.S. H1N1 deaths

Ahead of the anticipated CDC release of revised U.S. H1N1 (swine flu) death toll estimates, Reuters examines how the agency and WHO measure the impact of the virus, after both organizations "stopped trying to count actual cases months ago, once it became clear that H1N1 was a pandemic that would infect millions."

12 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: Funding shortfall in Philippines; WHO-approved ARV

Bloomberg examines the U.N.'s continued appeal for aid for the people of the Philippines "after three tropical cyclones left almost 1,000 people dead" and an estimated 1.7 million people displaced or living in flooded areas. "The UN's humanitarian agency issued a 'flash appeal' for $74 million in October and has received $26 million, according to the world body's newswire," the news service writes.

12 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

The New York Times: "About 4,000 Americans - rather than about 1,200 - have died of swine flu since the disease emerged in April, according to new figures being calculated by [CDC] epidemiologists" - an estimate that combines the number of "deaths from laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and deaths that appear to be brought on by flu, even though the patient may have ultimately died of bacterial pneumonia, other infections or organ failure."

12 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: RUTF; global hunger; preventing natural disasters; El Salvador floods

"Rich nations should do more to help vulnerable countries prepare for natural disasters if they want their stretched humanitarian funds to go further during the economic downturn, a report said Tuesday," Reuters/New York Times reports

11 Nov 2009

Global Health partners with Eira Hospital to start obesity treatment operations in Finland

In collaboration with Eira Hospital in Helsinki, Global Health Partner (STO:GHP) has started up obesity treatment operations and the first bariatric surgery procedure has now been performed. Finland has the highest obesity prevalence in the Nordic countries. However, the number of bariatric surgery procedures has so far been very low. “We see Finland as a very exciting market with great potential and are happy to be doing this in collaboration with the well-reputed Eira Hospital,” says Per Båtelson, Global Health Partner’s CEO.

11 Nov 2009

Duke University, Jubilant Organosys sign letter of intent for drug development partnership

Duke University and Jubilant Organosys Limited, the largest integrated Custom Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) and leading Drug Discovery and Development Services (DDDS) company in India, through its subsidiary, Jubilant Biosys Limited, today signed a Letter of Intent to develop a multi-faceted partnership that will expedite translation of discoveries by Duke scientists into clinical therapies.

11 Nov 2009

"Microsoft Health Tech Today" showcases how software innovation is improving global health

Microsoft Corp. today announced "Microsoft Health Tech Today," a fast-paced online video series designed to showcase how software innovation is improving health around the world. The show, at the intersection of health and information technology, highlights the latest industry trends and features examples of proven solutions that are improving health and changing lives for clinicians, patients and consumers worldwide.

11 Nov 2009

Global Health News and Research

Ionian Technologies receives supplemental funding from the Gates Foundation

MSF's volunteer physicians receive free access to Elsevier's electronic CDS tool

Also in global health news: Global corruption; HIV vaccine; smoking; DRC aid

Business professors available for expert commentary on how PPPs can help fight HIV/AIDS

Global Alliance for Chronic Disease to fight against chronic non-communicable diseases

NIH grant to establish East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS in Uganda; medical equipment in Tanzania; birth control in Afghanistan; Ethiopia malaria fight

Low-cost, simple interventions could save 2.5 million child lives a year: World Vision

TIME examines efforts to combat malaria resistance along Thai-Cambodia border

Recent releases in Global Health

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

George W. Bush Institute to include global health focus; University of California system launches Global Health Institute

CDC expected to revise estimated number of U.S. H1N1 deaths

Also in global health news: Funding shortfall in Philippines; WHO-approved ARV

CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

Also in global health news: RUTF; global hunger; preventing natural disasters; El Salvador floods

Global Health partners with Eira Hospital to start obesity treatment operations in Finland

Duke University, Jubilant Organosys sign letter of intent for drug development partnership

"Microsoft Health Tech Today" showcases how software innovation is improving global health

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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