Post by Wayne Hall on Nov 9, 2011 9:04:00 GMT -5
Press release
14.05.10
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research receives a proposal from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Innovative Nanoparticles release vaccine utilizing perspiration
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HCI) has received a proposal in the current round of the “Grand Challenges Explorations” research programme.of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme supports a global health project for the development of nanoparticles that will release vaccine on contact with human sweat. The Helmholtz Centre in Braunschweig is conducting the POLMITRANSVAC (Pollen Mimetic Transcutaneous Vaccination) programme in co-operation with the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research (HIPS). Éf the research is successful, the Gates Foundation will take the project into its second phase with up to a million US dollars of financing.
“This is the first time that we at the HCI are linking our expertise in the development of vaccines with the years of experience in devising potentially usable active substances with nanoparticles that is possssed by the HIPS scientists in Saarbrücken” say scientists Carlos Alberto Guzmán of the HCI, Claus-Michael Lehr and Steffi Hansen of HIPS and Ulrich Schäfer of the University of the Saarland. “What is novel about our method is the way the vaccine gets into the body. The nanoparticles press through hair follicles into the skin, burst on contact with human sweat and release the vaccines – as with pollen sensitization. This method of vaccination obviates painful injection with a needle and has the potential to trigger an immune response in the mucous membrane.”
This HCI research project is one of 78 research projects being promoted by the Gates Foundation in the Fourth Round of the “Grand Challenges Explorations“. The Initiative supports researchers throughout the world seeking to develop strategies for diagnosis and prevention of infectious disease and improving family health. Selection was made from among 2,700 proposals submitted for consideration. The Foundation supports research projects in a total of 18 countries on six continents. .
“Grand Challenges Explorations”
“Grand Challenges Explorations” provides continuing support to original and creative ideas that can assist in the campaign against health problems” explains Tachi Yamada, President of the World Health Programme of the Gates Foundation. “We are convinced that some of these ideas will lead to new innovations and ultimately to solutions that will save lives.”
Grand Challenges Explorations
Grand Challenges Explorations is a five-year-long initiative with a budget of over 100 million dollars promoting innovation in the field of World Health. It is part of the “Grand Challenges in Global Health” initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and seeking to bring about important innovations in global health care services. Grand Challenges Explorations is thus accepting applications by 19th May 2010 for the next round. Detailed prerequisites for applications, including a list of subject areas in which applications will be accepted are to be found at the Grand Challenges Explorations website.
14.05.10
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research receives a proposal from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Innovative Nanoparticles release vaccine utilizing perspiration
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HCI) has received a proposal in the current round of the “Grand Challenges Explorations” research programme.of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme supports a global health project for the development of nanoparticles that will release vaccine on contact with human sweat. The Helmholtz Centre in Braunschweig is conducting the POLMITRANSVAC (Pollen Mimetic Transcutaneous Vaccination) programme in co-operation with the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research (HIPS). Éf the research is successful, the Gates Foundation will take the project into its second phase with up to a million US dollars of financing.
“This is the first time that we at the HCI are linking our expertise in the development of vaccines with the years of experience in devising potentially usable active substances with nanoparticles that is possssed by the HIPS scientists in Saarbrücken” say scientists Carlos Alberto Guzmán of the HCI, Claus-Michael Lehr and Steffi Hansen of HIPS and Ulrich Schäfer of the University of the Saarland. “What is novel about our method is the way the vaccine gets into the body. The nanoparticles press through hair follicles into the skin, burst on contact with human sweat and release the vaccines – as with pollen sensitization. This method of vaccination obviates painful injection with a needle and has the potential to trigger an immune response in the mucous membrane.”
This HCI research project is one of 78 research projects being promoted by the Gates Foundation in the Fourth Round of the “Grand Challenges Explorations“. The Initiative supports researchers throughout the world seeking to develop strategies for diagnosis and prevention of infectious disease and improving family health. Selection was made from among 2,700 proposals submitted for consideration. The Foundation supports research projects in a total of 18 countries on six continents. .
“Grand Challenges Explorations”
“Grand Challenges Explorations” provides continuing support to original and creative ideas that can assist in the campaign against health problems” explains Tachi Yamada, President of the World Health Programme of the Gates Foundation. “We are convinced that some of these ideas will lead to new innovations and ultimately to solutions that will save lives.”
Grand Challenges Explorations
Grand Challenges Explorations is a five-year-long initiative with a budget of over 100 million dollars promoting innovation in the field of World Health. It is part of the “Grand Challenges in Global Health” initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and seeking to bring about important innovations in global health care services. Grand Challenges Explorations is thus accepting applications by 19th May 2010 for the next round. Detailed prerequisites for applications, including a list of subject areas in which applications will be accepted are to be found at the Grand Challenges Explorations website.