News

April 12, 2021 Leadership

Prof. Kita Kiyoshi steps down from the member of the GHIT Selection Committee

GHIT announced today that Professor Kiyoshi Kita, inaugural Chair and member of the GHIT Selection Committee (SC), has retired from the SC after eight years of dedicated service.

 

A leading infectious disease researcher and Professor and Dean of Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Prof. Kita’s leadership set the standard for the scientific rigor of GHIT’s proposal evaluation and recommendation process, and played a pivotal role in strengthening GHIT’s relationship with Japanese academia. In addition to his leading role in the SC from GHIT’s inception in 2013, Prof. Kita also served as a member of GHIT’s Hit-to-Lead Platform Subcommittee.

 

“Prof. Kita’s vast network, especially in academia, was catalytic in promoting Japanese researchers to be more engaged in sciences for malaria, TB and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), raising awareness and giving them the chance to contribute to global health,” said Ms. Catherine Ohura, CEO & Executive Director. “On behalf of the GHIT Board of Directors, we deeply appreciate his contributions in making difficult scientific decisions in collaboration with other SC members, which resulted in GHIT’s investment of over USD200M for drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for diseases endemic to developing countries.”

 

Prof. Kita recalled, when reflecting on the past eight years, “It was my great honor to work with the GHIT SC’s renowned scientists, who have a wealth of experience in R&D and are very strict and sincere about science. I always enjoyed our rigorous scientific discussions to select quality projects for neglected patients, and I was very proud of being part of the GHIT mission. Throughout the eight years, Japan’s infectious diseases community was brimming with highly motivated researchers with a hungry spirit. The number of young researchers with a global mindset has increased, and their success has been truly remarkable. I hope that GHIT continues to catalyze innovative global partnerships for neglected diseases, and I am looking forward to continuing supporting young scientists’ engagement in global health R&D.”