Busquin calls for concerted research effort to combat disease in developing countries
EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has called for Europe to play a key role in efforts to eradicate diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria which are 'ravaging' developing countries. Speaking at the 'Health for all' event in Antwerp, Belgium, on 26 October, Commissioner Busquin said that European scientific research has a crucial role to play in combating such illnesses, which currently present a huge health risk in developing countries. He added that in spite of the enormous potential of modern scientific research, 'there is a cruel lack of research on the specific needs of developing countries' and 'we still haven't developed measures needed to eradicate diseases associated with poverty.' He said that 'more than ever, scientific and technical cooperation needs to be focused on exploiting scientific potential for the benefit of all,' as 'it is only through a coherent approach that we can hope to have an effect against the scourges which are ravaging developing countries.' Mr Busquin said that the Commission's Research DG has invested more than 120 million euro in research on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis since 1999 and that the INCO programme, covering R&D (research and development) cooperation with third countries and international organisations, has helped to create a wealth of multilateral north-south and south-south cooperative links. He pointed to projects on haemorrhage-inducing fevers and animal models for HIV infection and immunisation which have brought together researchers from European and developing countries. Mr Busquin emphasised that efforts such as these need to be stepped up in the future, with resources concentrated on a few major diseases which 'require a targeted and coordinated research effort.' He said it was for this purpose that he proposed the creation of the European clinical trials platform, which will form the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis research in the next RTD framework programme, FP6. The project will have three main objectives - improving the efficiency of European investment in clinical trials, encouraging resource allocation and accelerating the development of treatments in these areas. Mr Busquin said that so far, 14 European countries and the European Parliament have given their backing to the clinical trials platform, due to be operational by the end of 2002. Mr Busquin will discuss the initiative further at a round table co-organised by the forthcoming Spanish Presidency and the European Commission in March 2002. He said that the European group on ethics in science and technology has also been asked for their opinion on ethical questions concerning research in developing countries. Mr Busquin said that the opening up of EU research programmes to researchers throughout the world under the proposed European research area will play a key role in tackling disease in developing countries.