| Dear Centre Leaders,
Greetings from the INDEPTH Secretariat. We hope you have had a good week.
We have the following items for your attention:
1. First malaria vaccine given green light by European regulators
In this 2014 photograph Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete listens to a scientist when he visited
Bagamoyo,
one of RTS,S trial sites, which is part of Ifakara Health Institute, an INDEPTH member centre.
The world's first malaria vaccine has been given the green light by European regulators and could protect millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa from the life-threatening disease.
The European Medicines Agency recommended RTS,S, or Mosquirix, should be licensed for use in young children in Africa who are at risk of the mosquito-borne disease. The shot has been developed by UK drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline and partly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It has taken 30 years to develop the shot, at a cost of more than $565m (£364m) to date.
It will now be assessed by the World Health Organisation, which has promised to give its guidance on how and where it should be used before the end of the year. GSK will then apply to the WHO for a scientific review of the vaccine, which will be used by the UN and other agencies to help make purchasing decisions. The rollout of the vaccine, which also has to be approved by national health authorities in sub-Saharan Africa, is expected to be funded by Gavi, the vaccine alliance founded by the Gates Foundation.
Sir Andrew Witty, GSK's chief executive, said the EMA decision was a further important step towards making the world's first malaria vaccine available for young children.
He added: "While RTS,S on its own is not the complete answer to malaria, its use alongside those interventions currently available such as bed nets and insecticides, would provide a very meaningful contribution to controlling the impact of malaria on children in those African communities that need it the most."
The trial was conducted in seven African countries: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. INDEPTH member centres – Nanoro, Kintampo, Kilifi, Kombewa, Manhica and Ifakara were part of the trial.
Read more: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2015/07/news_detail_002376.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1
And
http://indepth-network.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1980
2. ISC/AGM 2015 Registration
 All sites/centres that have not registered for the ISC 2015 are encouraged to do so.
The ISC will take place from 11 - 13, November 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Arrival: 10 November 2015, Departure : 14 November 2015
Annual General Meeting: 14 November 2015 for Centre Leaders (Departure : 15 November 2015)
The registration link is http://indepth-network.org/isc2015.php
Please note that it is a membership requirement to attend the AGM in Addis Ababa.
3. ABCs of NIH Funding
Are you considering applying for an NIH fellowship or grant? Then take a look at this 13-minute video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOiZvFDkeR4 featuring Dr. David Banks, Programme Director for Training with NINR's Office of Extramural Activities discussing the mission, mechanisms and Science of NIH funding.
4. WHO Grant for Healthcare implementation in West Africa on Trialect
 The purpose of this Call for Proposals is to build and strengthen regional, national, institutional and individua l capacities to conduct high quality health research (e.g. clinical trials, operational and/or implementation research) in West African Countries.
Proposals should complement current and future research initiatives for treatment, prevention and containment of emerging infectious diseases of particular relevance to Africa. This Call for Proposals is a joint initiative between EDCTP, TDR and the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). The requested contribution per activity shall not exceed € 250,000. This is a single-stage application procedure. A full proposal must be submitted via EDCTP grants by 6 August 2015 at 17:00 CET (16:00 GMT)
Please click to read further details
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