Dr. Shiro Konuma, Director of Global Health Policy Division, MOFA, Japan (center) and Dr. BT Slingsby, CEO of the GHIT Fund (first from right)

Announcement of the establishment of the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund at Global Health Product Development Forum organized by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Product Development Forum (PD Forum) was convened in Seattle, WA from April 30 to May 2, 2013.

Dr. Shiro Konuma (Director of Global Health Policy Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) and Dr. BT Slingsby (CEO, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund) announced the establishment of the GHIT Fund at the PD Forum.

More than 300 participants from across governments, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and NGO/NPO gathered at the PD Forum and discussed past experiences and lessons learned, strategy and challenges, and further promotion of partnership between stakeholders in terms of research, product development, regulatory affairs and delivery for medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases in developing and emerging countries.

Dr. Konuma and Dr. Slingsby as a panelist of “New Partners, New Programs: Investing in Global Health R&D” made a presentation about background of the GHIT Fund’s establishment, encouragement of global R&D partnership for innovative health technologies, Japan’s further contribution and investment to global health and future prospects of the GHIT Fund.

Overseas various stakeholders hoped acceleration of discovery and product development for new medicines in global health arena and many participants commented on possibility of collaboration with the GHIT Fund in the future.