Call for Applications - Malaria Vaccine Trials
----------------------------------------------
First Call for Capacity Strengthening for African Malaria Re-
search Institutions and Conduct of Malaria Vaccine Trials
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The Current failure of efforts to contain malaria calls for re-
search in other potential intervention tools. Currently there
are many malaria vaccine candidate molecules at various stages
in the development pipeline. Those that eventually reach clini-
cal testing stages will require to be tested in malaria endemic
African populations before licensure and deployment. Unfortu-
nately, very few African-led institutions have the capacity and
technical ability to undertake malaria vaccine trials. In recog-
nition of these problems, the African Malaria Network Trust
(AMANET) seeks to contribute to the speedy development of effec-
tive malaria vaccines by preparing African owned and led malaria
research institutions for vaccine testing as well as identifica-
tion and sponsorship of promising vaccine candidates. Over the
next five years AMANET intends to support several centres to be
able to conduct vaccine trials from phase-1 (safety) to phase3
multi-centre trials across various eco-epidemiological malaria
settings. It is a matter of policy that AMANET will ONLY fund
African owned and led research institutions in this regard.
We announce two opportunities for African research institutions
wishing to participate in malaria vaccine development activi-
ties.
1. Capacity strengthening grant for malaria vaccine testing site
preparedness.
This is a call intended to assist an African malaria research
institution to develop capacity for conducting malaria vaccine
trials at phases 1-3. This grant which may last 1-3 years should
allow a research institution which is strategically placed but
is incapacitated by infrastructural weaknesses, inadequate
skilled personnel or lack of equipment, to undergo capacity de-
velopment so as to upgrade it, while at the same time undertake
wholesome characterization of its intended field site.
Interested institutions should submit a detailed two to three
page letter of intent. The letter should outline a plan to meet
the expected objectives. It is critically important to show how
limiting weaknesses will be overcome through this grant i.e.
limited human resources, poor infrastructure, functioning of
ethical review bodies and care for research participants. Apply-
ing institutions must clearly demonstrate national commitment to
their development, preferably within the framework of the minis-
tries of health in their country.
Only applications submitted by institutional heads/leaders will
be considered.
2. Phase 1b malaria vaccine trial of the Glutamine Rich Protein
(GLURP) malaria vaccine candidate
AMANET is preparing to sponsor a phase 1b trial of GLURP start-
ing later this year. Applications are invited from African-led
malaria research institutions wishing to conduct such a vaccine
trial. This call is directed at sites that are at such a stage
that they can conduct a malaria vaccine trial with little addi-
tional preparation. Such a centre should have most of the criti-
cal staff and the necessary infrastructure including a well-
characterized testing field site already in place.
Institutions applying for this must submit a two to three page
letter of intent detailing the capability of the centre to un-
dertake a vaccine trial, highlight inadequacies that may require
correcting and demonstrate how participants would be cared for
and protected. The application must also include appendices
showing the following documents:
* Curriculum vitae of the Principal Investigator and of all
other senior members of the project team;
* Summary information (one page) on their characterized field
site;
* Documentation on the operations of the institutional or na-
tional ethics review committee;
* Letter of commitment from the head of the institution.
HOW TO APPLY
Completed applications with the above requirements must be sent
by e-mail and received at the AMANET secretariat by 30 April,
2004.
All applications must be directed to:
The Managing Trustee, AMANET
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology Building,
Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road,
P O Box 33207, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-2700-018
Fax: +255-22-2700-380
mailto:info@amanet-trust.org
mailto:wlkilama@amanet-trust.org
http:// www.amanet-trust.org
Short listed applicants will be requested to submit their de-
tailed proposals by 30th May 2003