$1M grant to McGill scientist for parasite fight

CBC News

Parasitic disease treatment research received a $1-million Canadian grant on Monday aimed at tackling the serious global health issue.McGill University scientist Timothy Geary's investigation focused on parasitic worms, or helminths, which live inside the body.'The drugs we plan to develop through this research will combat growing resistance to existing therapies, an important next step in the treatment and control of parasitic disease.'— Tim Geary

Geary is working with African scientists in Cape Town and Botswana to conduct the research.More than one billion people, or one-sixth of the world's population, suffer from so-called neglected tropical diseases.Some of the diseases are considered neglected because the victims lack a political voice and rarely affect travellers, according to the World Health Organization.The diseases cause disfigurement, disability and death in the developing world.

Now Grand Challenges Canada, Canada's International Development Research Centre, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are providing a $1-million grant that aims to address parasitic disease."The drugs we plan to develop through this research will combat growing resistance to existing therapies, an important next step in the treatment and control of parasitic disease," Geary said in a statement.The Montreal scientist is focused on identifying compounds in African plants and microbes that could lead to new drugs to eliminate parasitic worms from the body.

The $1-million award comes from three funders:

• $500,000 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

• $250,000 from Grand Challenges Canada through the Canadian government's Capital Development Innovation Fund.

• $250,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Grand Challenges Canada calls itself a unique and independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people in developing countries by integrating scientific, technological, business and social innovation.The organization aims to support global partnerships to solve the developing world's most difficult and pressing health challenges.

Grand Challenges is getting $225 million in federal funding over five years — money announced in 2008.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2011/01/24/parasite-tropical-disease.html#ixzz1C0fRWOCk