Eight projects win €2m Ghana grants for vaccine and drug research

Eight research collaborations have been granted €2 million in funding to create novel vaccines and medications in Ghana, as part of the PharmaVax Ghana initiative. This program facilitates partnerships between local research institutions and pharmaceutical firms, and aims to accelerate drug discovery and development. The initiatives encompass various domains such as child-friendly malaria treatments, plant-based therapies for chronic illnesses, and AI-enhanced antibody discovery for malaria and Mpox.

Beyond the €2 million in grants, the program will offer technical support to aid researchers in transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical health products for local and regional markets. Ghanaian partners will also contribute an additional €425,000. At a Research Meets Manufacturing award ceremony in Accra on August 19th, the grants were announced.

The event, co-hosted by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the German development agency GIZ, recognized the eight winners from among 43 applicants. The selection process involved a competitive proposal call, reviewed by an independent committee of nine Ghanaian experts who evaluated technical merit, public benefit, local manufacturer involvement, and sustainability.

Successful projects will also gain networking opportunities and assistance in commercializing their products. The ceremony drew government officials, academics, and industry representatives, including Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, German Ambassador Frederik Landshöft, and EU Deputy Representative Jonas Claes.