Technological Innovation for Health

Abdallah S Daar

McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health

UHN/University of Toronto

• Necessary ingredients

• Failures

• Success stories

• Empirical studies

• Innovative solutions

Necessary Ingredients

1. Operational access to good science2. Identification and prioritizing needs3. Confidence in developing ideas4. Supportive environment (policies, entrepreneurship,

ideology, culture, private sector)5. Tech transfer and IP systems6. Total skill sets available for tech development,

commercialization and marketing7. Provision of capital: proof of principle, valley of death,

venture capital8. Supportive health systems capable of internalizing tech

Failure : Hep B Vaccine

Presentation Title / DateUlmer, J.B. and Liu, M.A. 2002. Ethical Issues for vaccines and immunization. Nat Rev Immunol 2 291-296

• discovered- 1967

• 1st vaccine- 1969

• available- in U.S. 1982

Success: Cuba and Meningitis B Vaccine

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Success and Failure: A to Z

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Stagnant Technologies

1. Natural Products

Extraction of Artemisia Annua: Tanzania

Tanzed: an anti-HIV protein based compound in Tanzania

2. Diagnostics

Dip-stick Schistosomiasis: Ghana

Rapid HIV Diagnostic Kits: Kenya

3. Mosquito Repellants: Nigeria , Kenya

4. Pyrethrum-based Mosquito Nets: Rwanda

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Empirical Studies: Ghana, Tanzania and Rwanda

Key findings based on a 110 interviews

1. Lack of synergy and knowledge flows between various stakeholders

2. Inadequate financial incentives/resources for commercialization

3. Unexploited potential to commercialize innovative products

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Innovative Solutions

1. Held stakeholder workshops in Ghana, Tanzania and Rwanda with over 200 participants • Our preliminary findings were validated

and the concept of Convergence Innovation resonated with all stakeholders

2. Developed business plans and presented them to Science Ministers• Ministers appointed local steering

committees to implement Convergence Platforms

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What is Convergence Innovation?

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How might a convergence centre be funded?

“In particular the Bank should support the

development of national and regional centers

of excellence in the health sciences and in

Energy and environmental technologies. There

are significant potential benefits from

strengthening the linkages between life sciences

and the private sector. These centers would

facilitate and incubate innovation, supporting

entrepreneurship and developing technologies.”

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1. We identified very little venture capital invested into life sciences

2. IFC has announced a health venture fund for Africa

3. Plans to mobilize up to $1B, including an $350M equity vehicle with initial investments of $100M

4. Partnerships will be important to mitigate and tier risk and demonstrate that this market failure can be bridged

How Might Technologies Be Funded?

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Thank You

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Additional funding partners for the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health can be found at www.mrcglobal.org