Swiss Government’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) Awards 5-Year Grant to FIND for Innovative Malaria Testing

The FIND Board is pleased to have received notice of an award from the Swiss Government of a grant to develop an innovative point-of-care rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for P. vivax malaria.

“We are very pleased to be notified of this award from the Swiss Government’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and we thank the Secretariat for this award. This unique opportunity not only allows FIND to continue and build upon our previous work with the Swiss Government, but it plays to our strengths – innovation and the power of partnership to ensure new diagnostics are developed and that they get to the people that need them most,” said Dr Ayoade Alakija, Chair of the FIND Board. “At this time of turmoil in global health, we are firmly focused on the opportunities within the crisis as we strengthen the organization and broaden our partnerships to save lives caught in the midst of this geopolitical turmoil”.

The purpose of the funding is to support FIND’s participation in the EDCTP project PvSeroRDT under Horizon Europe.The award is a direct subsidy granted through the mechanism established under the transitional measures (Übergangsmassnahmen) for Switzerland’s participation in Horizon Europe. FIND will work with partners to develop a digital reader to support accurate interpretation in field settings, facilitate the transfer of technology from the laboratory to a local manufacturing partner, diaTROPIX (Institute Pasteur de Dakar’s new regional diagnostics manufacturer) and conduct a comprehensive market assessment and regulatory mapping exercise to guide future deployment.

“FIND is committed to closing diagnostic gaps wherever they exist as part of its vision to achieve #DiagnosisForAll. Though less common, P. vivax is a major challenge for malaria control and elimination because the tools for proper diagnosis at the point of care (in communities) are lacking, stated Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, CEO. “FIND welcomes this grant from the Swiss government, which will have a catalytic impact on efforts to close the P. vivax diagnostic gap. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with our partners and other stakeholders to bring about innovation in this space”.

This project is part of a larger response to malaria diagnosis known as P. vivax Serology RDT overseen by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and awarded to a consortium led by Institut Pasteur Paris.

The five-year project will focus on detecting P. vivax malarial infections while they are in the dormant liver stage. What distinguishes P. vivax malaria from other types is its ability to remain dormant and causing relapses months or even years later. More than 50% of all P. vivax malaria cases stem from dormant infections hidden in the liver.
P. vivax malaria is widespread in Asia and Latin America. According to WHO, there were 263 million cases of malaria worldwide (all types included) in 2023 and approximately 600,000 deaths.