World TB Day: the promise of ending the TB epidemic
World TB Day puts the spotlight on tuberculosis (TB), a poverty-related infectious disease of epidemic proportions. Currently, it causes more deaths than any other infectious disease, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Every year, an estimated 10 million people fall ill; in 2019, 1.4 million people died from TB. All members of the United Nations committed to ending TB as an epidemic by 2030. However, the 2020 WHO progress report concluded that the world is not on schedule to achieve the 2022 targets. The COVID-19 pandemic even threatens to reverse recent progress towards global TB targets. Chronic global underfunding of TB research means that cheap, accessible point-of-care tests, better vaccines and simple, short treatment regimens are lacking. Ending TB depends on the development and rapid uptake of new tools and innovation.
“Our steady commitment to fight TB has led to a growing R&D portfolio of grants on novel diagnostics, more patient-friendly treatments, and experimental vaccines for pre-and post-exposure use – especially targeting vulnerable populations. Moreover, we have invested in international coordination of TB vaccine R&D, and preparation of ground for a new global TB vaccine roadmap. EDCTP is convinced a concerted global R&D effort will end TB.”
Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director
Visit https://www.edctp.org/news/world-tb-day-promise-ending-tb-epidemic/ to learn more about EDCTPs efforts to end TB.
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Edctp Fellow Awarded Wellcome Leap Grant For Tb Research
EDCTP Career Development Fellow Dr Virginie Rozot, a research officer at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), has been awarded a multi‑year contract under Wellcome Leap’s Delta Tissue (∆T) programme. Her research will investigate how the human immune system responds to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the thoracic lymph nodes, and why these responses sometimes fail, allowing the bacteria to spread to other organs. The findings are expected to inform future TB vaccine design and vaccination strategies.
Applications Are Now Open For The Edctp Prizes 2027
Global Health EDCTP3 is now inviting applications for the EDCTP Prizes 2027, recognising outstanding individuals and research teams from Africa and Europe for their achievements in global health research and innovation.
The 2027 edition will award four prize categories, highlighting excellence in scientific leadership, collaborative team research, and gender-balanced scientific contributions. Prize winners will be announced at the EDCTP Forum 2027 in Madrid, Spain. Submissions are open until 2 September 2026.
Edctp Forum 2027: Calls For Abstracts, Scientific Symposia And Workshops Now Open
Global Health EDCTP3 has opened the calls for abstracts, scientific symposia and workshops for the EDCTP Forum 2027, one of the leading global health research events focused on infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. The deadline for submissions is 2 September 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time).
Under the theme ‘Innovating together for resilient global health', the 13th edition of the EDCTP Forum, taking place from 5-9 April 2027 in Madrid, Spain, will offer researchers, policymakers, funders and implementers the opportunity to showcase their work at a flagship global health event.
The Forum offers a unique platform to share research findings, build partnerships and help shape discussions on global health priorities. Currently, submissions for abstracts, scientific symposia and workshops are open.