NIH, Gates Foundation Launch Global Initiative

On Oct. 23, NIH announced plans to invest at least $100 million over the next 4 years toward the goal of developing affordable, gene-based cures for sickle cell disease (SCD) and HIV. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will also invest $100 million toward this goal. The intention is for these cures to be made globally available, including in low-resource settings.

On hand for the announcement were NHLBI director Dr. Gary Gibbons, Dr. Trevor Mundel, president of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and NIH director Dr. Francis Collins (NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci participated by phone). They hope to see clinical trials in the United States and relevant countries in sub-Saharan Africa within the next 7 to 10 years. For more details, visit https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-new-collaboration-develop-gene-based-cures-sickle-cell-disease-hiv-global-scale.