News

FIND partner, Becton Dickinson & Company, receives award for business excellence in TB diagnosis

4 June 2008

Scientists in Geneva make a major breakthrough in staging sleeping sickness

30 May 2008

Scientific team at the University of Geneva

With backing from FIND, scientists at the University of Geneva have made an exciting discovery that could help determine whether sleeping sickness patients are in the early or late stage of the disease. This would have important ramifications for treatment and follow-up.

More
University of Geneva makes progress against the tse tse fly, Bilan, 18 June 2008 L'UNIGE progresse contre la mouche tsé-tsé, Bilan

FIND and bioMérieux to collaborate on infectious disease diagnostics

15 May 2008

A U.S. National Public Radio interview with Drs. Neel Ghandi, Giorgio Roscigno and Peter Small

27 March 2008

World TB Day commemorated at closing of NYSE

25 March 2008

WHO TB control report shows that despite progress, diagnosis of TB patients still too slow

18 March 2008

In light of World TB Day, which is being memorialized on March 24^th, the World Health Organization just released the Global TB Control 2008 report. Findings concluded that the pace in the progress to control tuberculosis slowed somewhat in 2006, indicating that people with TB often escape traditional means of detection. According to the report, between 2001 and 2005 the average rate at which new TB cases were detected was increasing by 6% per year, but that between 2005 and 2006 the rate of increase was cut in half, to 3%.

Launch of improved fluorescence microscope scheduled for later this year

17 March 2008

Zeiss microscope

With technical support from FIND, Carl Zeiss has developed the Primo Star iLED fluorescence microscope which should allow faster and more sensitive detection of TB and some parasitic infections than traditional microscopes. The microscope has been engineered with flexibility and robustness in mind. Both brightfield and fluorescence applications depend on low-energy LED illumination, which allows uninterrupted function despite power outages and years of use between bulb changes. The wavelength of light used in the fluorescent application excites the most common stains used for clinical fluorescent detection of mycobacteria and parasites. Initial data on a prototype version of the microscope showed that it could be used outside of a darkroom and gave images of superior clarity and brightness to conventional fluorescent microscopes costing many times as much.

Eiken and FIND announce major advance in rapid diagnostic test

6 March 2008

Visual detection using LAMP technology

In partnership with the Japanese manufacturer of clinical diagnostics, Eiken Chemical, Ltd., FIND announces a major technical advance in their collaboration to further develop the LAMP assay, a rapid and simple test for the detection of active tuberculosis.

More
Press release (Nikkei Net)
LAMP, India, Dec 2007
Study reveals efficacy of LAMP, June 2007
LAMP and sleeping sickness
First partnership agreement, June 2005

Great hope for rapid MDR-TB diagnosis

February 2008

Photo courtesy of Andreas Hillemann
Laboratory technicians engaged in rapid molecular screening

In a partnership with Hain Lifescience, a diagnostics systems developer, FIND has committed to undertake large-scale demonstration projects for the rapid screening of multidrug-resistant TB in several regions worldwide. The largest of these is underway in South Africa where the Hain GenoType® MTBDRplus test is being used to screen 20,000 at-risk patients over the course of one year.

H.E. Mrs. Khadija Rachida Masri, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the African Union in Geneva visits FIND

February 2008

Collaboration opportunities between FIND, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) office were discussed during Mrs. Masri's visit to the FIND office in Geneva.

New WHO Report shows TB Drug Resistance rates at highest to date

26 February 2008

The World Health Organization’s global report, Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World, which was launched today, shows that the rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are the highest to date. The study is the largest on the scale of drug resistance in TB and is based on information gathered from more than 90,000 TB patients in 81 countries. For the first time, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is also addressed in the report.

FIND invited to congressional briefing on urgent need for new TB diagnostics

14 January 2008

A congressional briefing on The Urgent Need to Stop Tuberculosis: Increasing Diagnostic Testing and Developing New Diagnostic Tools is to be held before the United States Congress on 22 January 2008 in Washington, D.C.

FIND moves its technologies nearer to patient needs

3 December 2007

LAMP technology being tested in microscopy center in Agra, India (Photo courtesy of R. Linke)

With the Eiken LAMP technology, FIND is bringing molecular sensitivity, coupled with robustness and simplicity, as close as possible to the health system level where patients first seek care.

The Kingdom of Lesotho and partners inaugurate renovated TB reference laboratory

16 November 2007

Mathato Mosisili (First Lady of Lesotho), Dr. Mario Raviglione (Director, Stop TB), Dr. Kekeletso Kao (Director Laboratory Services, MOHSW, Lesotho), Dr. M. Ramatlapeng (Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare), Dr. Salmaan Keshavjee (Deputy Director, PIH, behind Dr. Raviglione) with members of the FIND team

Earlier this week in Maseru, FIND participated in the inauguration of the renovated national TB reference laboratory of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The first lady of Lesotho and the Minister of Health and Social Welfare presided over the well attended ceremony.

In response to the growing concern over the upsurge in MDR and XDR TB, the WHO’s STOP TB Department, Partners In Health (PIH) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare invited FIND to join them in a project to prepare the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) facility for speedier diagnosis of TB cases.

FIND and Zeiss develop affordable fluorescence microscope for diagnosis of TB

7 November 2007

Carl Zeiss, a global leader in high-quality optics, and FIND are collaborating to develop a high-performance, durable, fluorescence microscope based on LED technology for the detection of TB and other infectious diseases. The instrument, which is destined for both the public and private non-profit sectors of high burden countries, will be based on the new ZEISS Primo Star® platform.

BD and FIND address problem of XDR-TB

5 November 2007

BD BACTEC^TM MGIT^TM 960 system

BD and FIND announce a new pricing agreement for the BD BACTEC^TM MGIT^TM 960 system and reagents for 39 high-burden, low-income countries. This method can dramatically shorten mycobacterial culture recovery time, leading to improved patient management.

FIND invited to participate in key conference on African trypanosomiasis

October 2007

The International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) held its 29th biennial conference in Luanda, Angola from 1-5 October 2007. Several hundred experts in tsetse and trypanosomiasis assembled during this forum to exchange information on national and international efforts, the challenges ahead, and the progress being made towards elimination of trypanosomiasis in Africa.

FIND interrupts Demonstration projects using phage-based assays for detection of rifampin resistance

October 2007

FIND has decided to interrupt Demonstration Projects using phage-based assays for detection of rifampin resistance as currently configured. Demonstration Projects are designed to demonstrate that the product under trial can be implemented in actual field conditions and can be used to direct patient care. During the initial phase of the Demonstration Projects which FIND started early this year at two trial sites in South Africa, the product under test failed to meet required performance targets and the causes for this technical failure are being investigated by the company. As a consequence, FIND has decided to discontinue all activities with this assay until improvements or satisfactory alternatives are available.

FIND opens office in India

October 2007

Dr. Giorgio Roscigno lighting the lamp of knowledge at the opening ceremony

On October 1st, FIND CEO Dr. Giorgio Roscigno attended a simple but meaningful ceremony to inaugurate the opening of a FIND office in New Delhi to oversee the coordination of evaluation and demonstration studies in collaboration with the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health, Government of India. This project will be managed according to ISO certified FIND standard operating procedures and the first project management meeting is planned for the end of November 2007. Mr. Jacques Debayle will serve as Liaison Office Manager for FIND (India).

GC#6_74 Biomarkers of protective immunity against TB within the context of HIV/AIDS in Africa

October 2007

FIND Senior Technology Officer, Dr. Gerd Michel, and Dr. Rick O’Brien, Head of Product Evaluation and Demonstration at FIND, were invited to give an update on product development activities at Biomarkers for TB, a meeting organized by the Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Cape Town this month. Dr. O’Brien was asked to join the Scientific Advisory Board of the GC#6_74.

FIND staff visit the Desmond Tutu TB Center at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, to monitor progress on QuantiFERON evaluation studies

October 2007

Dr. Madhukar Pai, Dr. Rick O'Brien, and Dr. Heidi Albert

Led by Rick O’Brien, Head of Product Evaluation at FIND, and Madhukar Pai (FIND Consultant for LTBI diagnostics), FIND is supporting several field studies to evaluate the utility and applicability of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QGIT) assay for the diagnosis of LTBI in HIV-infected persons and in adult and childhood contacts of TB patients, as well as for active TB in young children and neonates. These projects are ongoing in South Africa, Zambia and India.

These studies will provide useful data on the key question of predictive value of IGRAs (interferongamma release assays) among high-risk populations such as contacts, children and HIV-infected persons, address the issue of whether QFT-G can contribute to the diagnosis of TB in infants, and assess the utility of IGRAs among young children with TB/HIV co-infection in a high endemic, resource-limited setting.

During a recent site visit, the FIND team visited several study sites, including the Desmond Tutu TB Center (DTTC) based at Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa. Under the leadership of Dr. Nulda Beyers, the DTTC is enrolling patients into the CREATE ZAMSTAR project, a large-scale household contact study in Zambia and South Africa http://www.tbhiv-create.org/Studies/ZAMSTAR.htm. As part of a ZAMSTAR QGIT sub-study, this project will recruit over 5000 TB cases and contacts and determine the predictive value of QGIT in a high risk population.

Gates Foundation commits $280 million for research to fight global TB epidemic

18 September 2007

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced today that 11 grants, totaling $280 million in the fight against tuberculosis, will speed research and development on promising vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments aimed at reducing the global TB burden.

FIND is to receive $62 million over the next five years to develop TB tests that are more accurate and simpler to use in developing country settings.

FIND proud to become one of the first non-profit medical device organizations to receive ISO 13485:2003 and 9001:2000 certifications

29 June 2007

As a result of a giant stride in its quality and project management of the design, development and manufacture of in vitro diagnostics, as well as evaluation and demonstration of the devices for roll-out in developing country health systems, FIND has been awarded ISO 13485:2003, for Medical Devices, Quality Management Systems, and Requirements for Regulatory Purposes, and ISO 9001:2000, for Quality Management Systems, and Requirements.

FIND convenes scientific expert panel on detection of volatiles for diagnosis of TB

21 June 2007

Participants in FIND's panel discussion on volatiles for TB diagnosis

Advances in physical detection technologies could make it possible to sniff out cases of TB without the requirement for complex reagents or sample processing. FIND brought together experts in the fields of biosensors, chromatography, and spectrometry to evaluate the feasibility of applying these methods for TB detection and to map out a research agenda in this area.

Preliminary data suggest that several of these methods may be broadly useful for the detection of infectious diseases, but development of a TB application and adaptation of the technologies for developing world settings still needs to be done.

The meeting was attended by sixteen experts from six countries on June 19, 2007 at the FIND office in Geneva.

FIND’s liquid culture media tests for TB diagnosis recommended for inclusion in WHO guidelines

19 June 2007

A laboratory technician scans MGIT^TM tubes in a BACTEC^TM 960 system

With the end of demonstration studies of three technologies - liquid culture growth detection, liquid culture-based drug susceptibility testing and a lateral flow assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis species complex identification – FIND submitted in March 2007 the results of the studies to the World Health Organization’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis (STAG-TB). Consistent with the large body of published literature on liquid culture, the projects notably showed higher rates of mycobacterial isolation and a shorter time-to-detection compared to culture on solid media.

During its seventh meeting held in Geneva on 11-13 June 2007, the STAG-TB reviewed the data provided by FIND and has recommended the use of liquid culture for TB diagnosis. The meeting also resulted in several recommendations regarding the global response to address outbreaks of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant TB.

FIND study shows successful use of LAMP technology at peripheral levels of the health system

7 June 2007

FIND Medical Officer, Dr. Catharina Boehme, supervising a LAMP training for laboratory technicians in Mbeya, Tanzania

Further to the recently announced collaboration with Eiken Chemical Co. Ltd., a Japan-based manufacturer of clinical diagnostics, to develop a rapid and simple test for the detection of active tuberculosis, FIND has sponsored a study demonstrating the first clinical evaluation of the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the detection of pulmonary TB in microscopy centers in Peru, Bangladesh and Tanzania. Compared with sputum smear microscopy, clinical sensitivity and specificity were good and the operational hands-on time was similar.

WHO's 60th World Health Assembly

14 May, 2007

The World Health Organization's annual assembly was held on 14-23 May 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland at the Palais des Nations. Key issues discussed included polio eradication, tuberculosis, health systems and emergency-care systems, oral health, gender strategy as well as avian and pandemic influenza.

Lancet report suggests emergence of interferon-γ release assay is welcome development and presents a comprehensive research agenda

18 April, 2007

Laboratory professionals at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, get ready to process clinical specimens for T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assays

Latest research findings indicate that T-cell-based interferon-γ release assays have higher specificity for detecting latent tuberculosis infection than the century old tuberculin skin test. A group of experts convened by the Stop TB Working Group on New TB Diagnostics, and co-organized by FIND and the WHO, met in March of last year to discuss the research evidence on these assays, their clinical usefulness, limitations, and directions for future research, with a specific focus on resource-limited and high HIV prevalence settings. The up-to-date report, entitled: T-cell assays for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection: moving the research agenda forward, by M. Pai, K. Dheda, J. Cunningham, F. Scano, R. O’Brien, has been published in the April 17, 2007 issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Roche Diagnostics and FIND sign agreement of collaboration in diagnostics for poverty-related diseases

3 April, 2007

Roche Applied Science, a business area of Roche Diagnostics, and FIND have signed a Letter of Intent to further explore possibilities for the development or support of projects in the area of in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) products for poverty-related diseases in developing countries.

World TB Day 2007

24 March, 2007

Events in New York included a press conference to announce the launch of WHO's Global TB Control 2007 Report as well as the official opening of “A World Free of TB” photography exhibit.

FIND and the Government of Lesotho sign an agreement for an effective response to XDR-TB in the southern African region

23 March, 2007

Due to the sudden rise of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and the WHO's call for a rapid response, FIND, together with several of its partners, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Lesotho, effective April 1, 2007, to strengthen laboratory services.

FIND and Columbia University's Earth Institute to collaborate on Millennium Villages Project

22 March, 2007

FIND signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York, to introduce, as part of a research project, new tools for diagnosis of tuberculosis in low-resource settings identified by the Millennium Villages project.

BD and FIND announce expanded collaboration to improve tuberculosis diagnostics worldwide

22 March, 2007

Building on their two-year relationship to improve access to diagnostics in the developing world, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and FIND establish new collaboration in response to the emergence in many countries of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.

FIND, the SAMRC and NHLS seal MOU to begin trial of two new tests for MDR-TB in South Africa

12 March, 2007

A Memorandum of Understanding was established on 12 March 2007 in Pretoria between FIND, the South African Medical Research Council and the National Health Laboratory Service to undertake large scale demonstration studies in anticipation of the roll-out of two new tests for the rapid diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Project preparation is underway in five South African provinces most affected by the disease.

FIND in the News

1 March, 2007

Two news articles recently highlighted FIND's work to address the outbreaks of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in South Africa.

The Independent - February 24, 2007
TB patients misdiagnosed

The Kaiser network - February 22, 2007
Diagnostic test for XDR-TB could be available in South Africa by end of 2007, official says

FIND joins EDMA

5 February, 2007

Reinforcing its objective to promote the development of new and affordable tools that are urgently needed to fight poverty-related diseases, FIND became in January 2007 a member of the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association.

Applications now open for research projects on new staging methods for HAT

26 January, 2007

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, with the potential of leading to epidemics. The disease is fatal if patients are not treated.

Part of the diagnosis of the disease involves performing a lumbar puncture and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid to determine whether parasites have entered the brain. Follow-up to confirm that patients are cured also relies on repeated lumbar punctures, over a period of up to 24 months after treatment.

FIND is now calling for applications for research projects in this area to encourage the development of new and more accurate staging methods of HAT as well as for follow-up after treatment.

Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey of Africa Matters Limited visits FIND

25 January, 2007

From left to right: Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey, FIND Chief Executive Officer Giorgio Roscigno, Senior Policy and Implementation Officer, Vinand Nantulya, Chief Operations Officer, Debbie Goldthorpe

Chairman of Africa Matters Limited, Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey and Chief Operations Officer, Debbie Goldthorpe, visited FIND on 22 January 2007 to better familiarize themselves with the work of the Foundation and to explore future collaboration opportunities.

FIND and Hain Lifescience plan worldwide demonstration projects of recently approved new test for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

11 January, 2007

FIND and Hain Lifescience announced today that the Hain "GenoType® MTBDRplus", a new improved molecular test for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), has been approved in Europe and that they have signed an agreement to begin large-scale demonstration projects of the test in high burden countries.

FIND receives $9.8 million grant for malaria diagnostics from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

14 December, 2006

The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), whose mission is to promote the health of people affected by poverty-related diseases by developing safe, affordable and easy-to use diagnostics, will expand its current malaria portfolio with a $9.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates Foundation Announces Major Commitment to Global Fight Against Malaria

12 December, 2006

On the eve of a major White House summit on malaria, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed $83.5 million in new grants to combat the disease, which claims more than one million lives every year. The grants will expand access to bednets, treatment, and other malaria control tools; speed research on vaccines and other new prevention methods; and boost global advocacy to fight the disease. Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, will speak at the White House summit on December 14.

FIND obtains 7.9 Million Euro Grant from the Dutch Government for TB, HIV and Malaria Diagnostics

10 November, 2006

The Dutch Government recently approved FIND's application for a grant to develop improved diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria. The grant amounts to 7.9 million euros over a period of 4 years, beginning November 2006. This grant is to finance gaps in existing plans and programs to develop simple, highly accurate and rapid molecular tests for TB, HIV and malaria.

The products to be developed by FIND for point of care will include chemical sensor arrays for the detection of volatile compounds in the sputum of TB infected individuals, an improved lateral flow assay to diagnose malaria in a finger prick blood sample, and a lateral flow assay to diagnose TB by detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) antigens in urine.

Furthermore, FIND is to develop molecular platforms for HIV, TB, and malaria, which will include a simple nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of TB in urine, a simple amplification test for the detection of malaria from whole blood, and a hands-free automated NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) to develop an assay for HIV viral load in blood at first referral laboratory level.

In addition to the above-mentioned developments, a project on laboratory preparedness for the introduction of new technologies will be launched in Uganda in the first quarter of 2007, with the aim to strengthen laboratory diagnostic services in the country.

FIND's donors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, the European Union and now the Dutch Government.

Dr Margaret Chan nominated WHO Director General

8 November, 2006

FIND congratulates Dr. Margaret Chan upon her nomination as next Director General of the WHO. Dr. Chan has an outstanding record of leadership in public health globally. We look forward to working closely with Dr. Chan and the WHO to advance the fight against poverty-related diseases and by so doing uplift the health and well being of populations in the developing world as they struggle to break the cycle of ill health and poverty.

US $95 million needed to combat XDR-TB in 2007

2 November, 2006

WHO Director of the Stop TB Department, Dr. Mario Raviglione, and other TB and HIV leaders recently announced that US$ 95 million is urgently needed from government and funding agencies to stop the spread of XDR-TB. From this amount, at least US$ 5 million is required for the development of rapid TB diagnostic tests. The announcement was made during a press conference on 31 October at the Centre d'Accueil de la Presse Etrangère in Paris.

The Stop TB Department will collaborate with FIND to demonstrate diagnostic TB test equipment and methodology to enable rapid culture and drug susceptibility testing. This should reduce the time required to confirm a diagnosis of TB drug resistance from as long as 3 months to a few days.

FIND and other PDPs receive funding from the Dutch government

2 November, 2006

Responding to a tuberculosis (TB) pandemic that is growing more threatening and deadly, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) today announced more than €30 million investment in three nonprofit “Product Development Partnerships” (PDPs) that are leading the global effort to develop new TB drugs, vaccines and diagnostics.

A significant and largely untapped global market exists for more effective and affordable TB tests

25 October, 2006

A significant and largely untapped global market exists for more effective and affordable tests to diagnose tuberculosis in low and middle income countries, where most TB cases today occur. This is the major finding of a new report, Diagnostics for Tuberculosis: Global Demand and Market Potential, released today by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and the Special Programme for Tropical Disease Research and Training (WHO/ TDR)

Additional news:
Call for hi-tech TB tests in Third World

FIND and Hain Lifescience agree to fast track a rapid molecular screening test for MDR and XDR tuberculosis

9 October, 2006

In light of recent outbreaks of potentially rapidly fatal tuberculosis with extensive drug resistance, notably in South Africa, FIND and Hain Lifescience, a German manufacturer of modern diagnostics systems, have decided to collaborate to accelerate the availability of a screening test.

FIND benefits from collaboration with Dr. Madhu Pai of McGill University

26 September, 2006

FIND is pleased to announce that in September of this year, Dr. Madhu Pai joins FIND as a consultant for latent TB infection (LTBI) diagnostics. In this capacity, he will provide technical and epidemiologic expertise in support of evaluation and demonstration projects of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). These projects include studies to evaluate the performance of the QuantiFERON TB-Gold assay for the diagnosis of LTBI in selected high-risk groups and demonstration studies to assess the utility of IGRAs in public health settings in medium- and low-income countries.

FIND Commitment on laboratory services strengthening

21 September, 2006

The Clinton Global Initiative has highlighted FIND's and the Ugandan Government's Commitment. FIND commits to create a public-private partnership model for sustainable improvement of diagnostic services in developing countries. The model will improve laboratory performance and the quality of testing using existing technologies, and will prepare the ground for introducing and implementing superior diagnostic technologies as they become available.

FIND developing diagnostics to identify drug-resistant tuberculosis

12 September, 2006

The BD MGIT system of rapid liquid culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) is being assessed in four FIND demonstration projects in Russia, Uzbekistan, Nepal and the Philippines. With this system, DST results are available in less than one month in contrast with two to three months required for standard culture and DST on solid media.

The FASTPlaque assay for rifampicin susceptibility provides results in only two days with a high degree of accuracy for predicting MDR-TB. This rapid system was evaluated in a large study in Peru and is now moving into demonstration projects.

Emergence of XDR-TB causes WHO concern

7 September, 2006

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the emergence of virulent drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) and is calling for measures to be strengthened and implemented to prevent the global spread of the deadly TB strains. This follows research showing the extent of XDR-TB, a newly identified TB threat which leaves patients (including many people living with HIV) virtually untreatable using currently available anti-TB drugs.

A two-day meeting of TB experts on 6-7 September in South Africa included a press conference that generated worldwide publicity about the severity and extent of the problem.

FIND at Geneva Health Forum

30 August – 1 September, 2006

FIND, together with numerous national and international participating organizations, took part in a three-day forum on Global Access to Health, 30 August – 1 September 2006. FIND works with a wide range of academic and industrial partners around the world, including the Swiss Tropical Institute and the Geneva University.

Presentation of Dr. Roscigno [pdf]
More about Geneva Health Forum

Announcement: Dr. Gerd Michel appointed Senior Technology Officer

10 July, 2006

FIND is consolidating two diagnostic approaches, lateral flow technology and molecular diagnostics. As a result, two senior positions have opened for immunodiagnostics and molecular diagnostics. Dr. Gerd Michel has been appointed to fill the post of Senior Technology Officer (Immunodiagnostics), effective 1 July 2006. Dr. Gerd Michel has been a consultant for product development at FIND since October 2005. In this new position, he will be responsible for bringing technical and industry skills to bear on the development of antigen and antibody-based point-of-care diagnostic tests across the entire FIND disease portfolio.

The molecular diagnostics appointment will be announced later this fall.

Proteome Systems reaches third milestone in the development of a rapid diagnostic test to detect active TB infection

26 June, 2006

Proteome Systems has completed the characterization of multiple mycobacterium TB proteins in a pilot study of both positive and negative clinical samples. The partnership with FIND is providing critical support to speed the development of this test.

Print this page  Add to favorites  Send to a friend

---

© Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics 2008. Click here to see the copyright notice