Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics) 501(c)(3) is a non-profit foundation that develops and implements new diagnostic tests for infectious and neglected diseases in developing countries. FIND headquarters are located in Geneva (Switzerland), with offices in Kampala (Uganda) and New Delhi (India).[1]
In 2011, FIND was recognized as an “Other International Organization” by the Swiss Government, alongside DNDi and Medicines for Malaria Venture.[2]
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[edit] History
FIND was founded at the World Health Assembly in 2003, with an initial five-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.[3][4]
[edit] Activities
FIND focuses mainly on tuberculosis, malaria and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).[5][6][7]
[edit] Research and development
FIND supports the R&D of promising reagents or platforms and oversees their evaluation and demonstration in both laboratory and field trials. FIND also collaborates with public health authorities in developing countries to demonstrate the feasibility and programmatic impact of new technologies on patients and disease control programmes. New products are then submitted to WHO's Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) for assessment.[8]
[edit] Implementation
In 2006, FIND and partners also started working on laboratory strengthening and implementation of WHO-approved diagnostic technologies in disease-endemic countries, in accordance with WHO policy recommendations.[9]
[edit] Partnerships
Although it has its own unique business model, FIND functions in a similar way to Product Development Partnerships. The design, development, manufacture, evaluation and demonstration of diagnostic tools are achieved entirely through its partner organizations.
FIND has over 250 partners, including ministries of health, bilateral and multilateral organizations, research and academic institutes, commercial partners, NGOs and over 80 clinical trial sites.[10]
[edit] Funding
FIND is financed by both the private and public sectors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[11], Government of the Netherlands, the European Union, UNITAID, UK Department for International Development[12], National Institutes of Health and others.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.finddiagnostics.org/about/
- ^ http://www.dndi.org/press-releases/2010/741-international-status-granted.html
- ^ http://www.who.int/trypanosomiasis_african/partners/find/en/index.html
- ^ http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2003/Pages/FIND-OPP28766.aspx
- ^ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/tb_test_20101208/en/
- ^ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr08/en/
- ^ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2010/malaria_20100423/en/
- ^ http://sciencespeaksblog.org/2010/12/08/rapid-tb-test-gets-nod-of-approval-from-who/
- ^ http://www.finddiagnostics.org/media/press/lesotho_mar07.html
- ^ http://www.finddiagnostics.org/partners/collaborating/
- ^ http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2007/Pages/FIND-OPP44822.aspx
- ^ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/SearchResearchDatabase.asp?ProjectID=60703
