On September 9, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ghana Ophelia MENSAH-HAYFORD, CEO of Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) in Senegal Amadou SALL, and a delegation of Gates Foundation visited Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (SIII) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Meanwhile, Director of International Cooperation Committee of Chinese Society of Biotechnology Jinghua CAO, representatives from Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development and Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences participated in the event. Director General of SIII Lubin JIANG, representatives of scientific researchers and heads of relevant administrative divisions attended the meeting, and the meeting was hosted by Deputy Director Xiaoming ZHANG.
Prof. ZHANG welcomed the delegations and gave remarks. Deputy Directors of Beijing Representative Office of Gates Foundation Grace LANG and Scott BOYD delivered remarks respectively.
On behalf of SIII, Prof. JIANG introduced the Institute's research disciplines and directions, achievements, supporting platforms, talent cultivation, and Modern Vaccine R&D Center. He focused on SIII's development plan on international cooperation, hoped to further strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with Ghana’s research institutions and IPD, and take full advantage of the international platform built by Gates Foundation.
Minister MENSAH-HAYFORD introduced Ghana's major research institutions in immunity and infection, infectious disease research, drug development and clinical research. She also shared Ghana's scientific research progress, achievements and international cooperation in the fields of malaria, tropical diseases, yellow fever, etc. She particularly expressed the desire to cooperate with the Institute.
As Prof. SALL said, IPD is committed to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, scientific research and training, which has played an important role on fighting against infectious diseases in West Africa. He introduced IPD briefly, shared current research status and development prospects on vaccines and diagnostic products, and hoped to further strengthen the cooperation with the Institute.
Senior Programme Officer of Beijing Representative Office of Gates Foundation Bo SUN introduced the Foundation’s vision and objectives, core programs and partners, and cooperation effectiveness. Gates Foundation will further advance global health innovation, equity and accessibility by expanding cooperation.
The participants had an in-depth discussions focusing on scientific and technological cooperation on malaria, tuberculosis, vaccines and diagnostics for the African region. SIII’s PIs Prof. Yanjie CHAO, Prof. Jiaming LAN and Prof. Wei HUANG gave brief descriptions of their research progress respectively. The attendees have reached constructive consensus on strengthening infectious disease research, clinical research, and international cooperation.
