The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) was selected as one of two finalists for the Rockefeller Foundation’s “Next Century Innovators Awards”, recognizing innovative organizations working to improve conditions for vulnerable populations around the world.
From among 1000 nominations, DNDi was chosen for its innovative approach to research and development (R&D) to develop new treatments addressing the urgent health needs of the world’s most neglected people, and in particular its unique model, which pulls together existing research capacity around well-defined goals in a way that de-links the cost of R&D from the price of the final product, guaranteeing patient access and affordability.
Both finalists have now entered a public online voting process through May 31. The finalist with the most votes will be a recipient of one of the Next Century Innovators Awards and will be honored at the 2013 Innovation Forum in addition to having the opportunity to apply for a $100,000 grant.
DNDi was created 10 years ago by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and five public sector research organizations to discover and develop new, effective, affordable, and field-adapted treatments for some of the most neglected patients suffering from diseases like African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. Since 2003, DNDi has delivered six new treatments for neglected patients, which have reached millions of people – placing patients, not profits, at the center of drug development.
DNDi information and voting page (individuals may vote once per day May 1-31): http://centennial.rockefellerfounda…
