Commitment to Vaccines for the Developing World
Novel advances in vaccine technology fail to reach the developing world in a timely manner. The premise of the Innovation Bridge (IB) project is that vaccine developers (biotech companies and academic or government groups, mostly in the industrialized world) will partner with a rapidly growing group of developing country vaccine manufacturers (DCVMs) -- if provided with key information, communication support, technology transfer expertise and financial partners.
The goal of these novel new vaccine partnerships is to move cutting-edge vaccine research from the laboratory and clinical trials to manufacturing and eventual market delivery in the developing world -- more quickly and efficiently than in the past.
Funding for the Innovation Bridge
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds the Innovation Bridge.
- The Innovation Bridge consists of two key components:
- (1) a novel communication network designed to connect biotech firms and others creating novel vaccines with vaccine manufacturers in developing countries; this website is the core of the communication network
- (2) a financing information resource through which companies and groups that wish to partner can identify possible ways to support their collaboration.
Priority Areas for the Innovation Bridge
The Innovation Bridge focuses on vaccine development and manufacturing in five priority areas identified by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, pneumonia-related diseases).
If you have questions about the Innovation Bridge or want to request that your organization be added to the lists of active vaccine developers or developing country vaccine manufacturers, please click here.
