FIND recently made an agreement with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal to concentrate their united efforts on tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been finalized so they can begin to develop and support important evaluations of TB diagnostics for FIND. The goal is to evaluate specific TB diagnostics models to include the private health sector as they diagnose TB in middle- and low-income nations.
The researchers intend to use the information that they gather to create a new policy review for TB tests.
“Partnerships are critical to all aspects of the work we do,” Bill Rodriguez, FIND’s chief medical officer, said. “While we have worked with McGill for many years, this MOU formalizes the partnership and increases the impact we can have by working together to accelerate access to affordable and accurate TB diagnosis, particularly in countries with the highest TB burden.”
It is vital that TB is diagnosed as early and as accurate as possible.
“Global TB control depends on timely and accurate diagnosis,” Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in Epidemiology & Global Health, said. “There is an urgent need for new TB tests, better access to existing tests and evidence to support both. McGill is pleased to support FIND in its mission to turn complex diagnostic challenges into simple solutions to overcome diseases of poverty such as TB.”
