Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) was established in 1994 as a not-for-profit US scientific organization to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for a range of diseases of the developing world.

Buruli Ulcer: IDRI scientists are interested in leveraging expertise in mycobacterial diseases (diseases from the same family of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy) to assist members of the Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative (GBUI) and BU research community;

HIV/AIDS: The Infectious Diseases Research Institute (IDRI) has been a partner in the MSD Fellowship for Global Health.  The MSD Fellowship for Global Health is three-month, field-based corporate pro bono program designed to leverage the skills and talents of MSD employees worldwide.  MSD Fellows worked with IDRI on developing a global stakeholder engagement strategy and addressing issues associated with HIV R&D as part of the HIV Cure Initiative, and developed a strategic plan for production and commercialization of vaccines and bio therapeutics in African countries.

Chagas: IDRI’s research on Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, has emphasized diagnostic tests, vaccines and therapeutics to treat Chagas disease. In collaboration with GSK, IDRI scientists have developed an effective blood test for Chagas disease, which is now being used in South America;

Leishmaniasis: In March 2000, IDRI received a USD 15 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund development of a leishmaniasis vaccine. IDRI, working with GSK, developed the world’s first defined vaccine candidate for leishmaniasis, which has been tested in the USA, Peru, Brazil and Colombia, and is currently being tested in India, Sudan, and Venezuela. IDRI has one diagnostic test for leishmaniasis which has US FDA approval and is now used extensively in India. It is working on another, for canine leishmaniasis, with Fiocruz in Brazil;

Leprosy: In a partnership with the American Leprosy Missions, IDRI has embarked on an aggressive program to develop an effective vaccine and better diagnostic tests for leprosy;

Malaria: Using its adjuvant and formulation capabilities, IDRI has joined forces with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and others in the global effort develop a safe and effective malaria vaccine;

Tuberculosis: IDRI’s research efforts to fight tuberculosis encompass vaccine discovery, drug discovery and diagnostics, including work with the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. In 2016, Lilly extended its long-term IDRI collaboration with a new $15 million commitment. This is intended to accelerate early-stage drug discovery and preclinical development for potential new TB medicines.

Zika: IDRI scientists were given a two-year grant in October 2016 to develop a safe and effective Zika vaccine. IDRI scientists will create a new RNA-based vaccine for candidates with the Zika virus.

IDRI currently has 14 vaccines in clinical trials and over 500,000 compounds have been screened for drugs.