


We bring interdisciplinary experience to the pursuit of saving lives.
Inspires and enables the organization to achieve its global mission
My role is to set the vision for the Gates MRI and inspire the organization to achieve it. I am responsible for mission clarity, steering our strategy in the right direction, and ensuring there are sufficient resources to reach our goals.
I am at the Institute because I fervervently believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a productive life. My passion for infectious diseases is life-long, stemming from my father’s near-death from tuberculosis. The results of a surveillance study I conducted in western Kenya further ignited this passion; there I witnessed firsthand the high mortality from diarrheal and respiratory diseases that can occur in a setting with limited healthcare resources. These experiences drove me to a career in the private sector, where I spent nearly fifteen years developing vaccines against diseases such as rotavirus, a diarrheal disease that once claimed the lives of half a million infants and young children annually. The impact of rotavirus vaccines globally has been nothing short of phenomenal, projected to save 1.7 million lives over the next 10 years. I want to see that same extraordinary outcome for other infectious diseases. Although technically more difficult, why can’t we find solutions for tuberculosis, malaria, and other enteric diseases?
Every day I think what an incredible privilege it is to lead an organization whose sole reason for existing is to use cutting-edge technology and science to find solutions for these diseases, and make them accessible to all.
Expertise
Building and leading teams and organizations, leading strategy development and execution.
Integrated product development, clinical trials, vaccinology, infectious diseases, global health.
Credentials
Director, Vaccines Development,
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Global Head, Clinical Research Clusters,
Novartis
Chief Medical Officer & VP, Development
Novavax
Senior Director, Vaccines Clinical Research
Merck & Co.
Advances strategic priorities to deliver on our mission.
As Chief of Staff, I support the CEO in driving the rhythm of the organization, and in developing and advancing strategic initiatives to help realize our vision as a global health biotech. In line with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation stance that all lives have equal value, our job at the Gates MRI is to apply the latest breakthrough science and technology to some of the world’s most intractable diseases affecting the poor.
Prior to joining the Gates MRI, I worked on multiple healthcare initiatives in Mali and in Tanzania between 2007-2009. I later served in Kigali, Rwanda from 2010-2013 as Research Fellow to Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho and to Harvard University Professor Dr. Paul Farmer. Returning to the United States, I consulted for industry and non-profit entities on global access to oncology products and services, leading multi-country studies and coordinating an effort resulting in the 16-drug expansion of the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines for Cancer. Building on experience and training in global health, medicine, and business management, I was drawn to the Gates MRI by its vision to chart a new course forward in pharmaceutical product development. My goal is to contribute to the Gates MRI’s efforts to make a tangible and enduring impact across the globe.
Expertise Global health equity and health systems strengthening
Access to products and services in low- and middle-income countries
Building and strengthening public-private partnerships
Business management and strategic planning
Credentials M.D. / M.B.A. Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School
Co-author of 40+ scientific publications, published in journals including Lancet, Nature, NEJM
Fellowships with the Union for International Cancer Control in Geneva, Harvard Business School’s Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, Harvard Medical School’s Center for Global Health Delivery-Dubai and its Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
Responsible for Clinical Development
Throughout my career I’ve been involved with public health, both globally and locally in anti-infective drug development. The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is largely devoted to infectious disease as well as other areas, and I felt I could meaningfully contribute to the health and well-being of the world’s poorest populations. As founder, board member and Chief Science Officer at Iterum Therapeutics, my group proudly developed the antibiotic sulopenem. Prior to that, as a founder and Chief Medical Officer of Durata Therapeutics, we developed the antibiotic dalbavancin. Before joining Durata, I worked at Pfizer, and engaged in the in the development and registration of a number of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and HIV therapeutics. I served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development as well as a member of the Expert Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medicines for Malaria Venture. I currently chair the Board of Health in my local community.
I studied economics as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and earned my MD from the SUNY Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn. I was a resident in Internal Medicine at Hartford Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital and completed fellowship training at Yale in Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine.
Every day I think what an incredible privilege it is to lead an organization whose sole reason for existing is to use cutting-edge technology and science to find solutions for these diseases, and make them accessible to all.
Expertise Leadership of a biotechnology enterprise
Anti-infective drug development
Infectious diseases
Credentials Chief Scientific Officer, Iterum Therapeutics
Vice President, R&D, Actavis, plc
Chief Medical Officer, Durata Therapeutics
Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head of Clinical Development, Pfizer, Inc
As human resources leader, I remain a member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation human resources group, but my entire focus is leading the Gates MRI HR team.
Under construction
Ensuring delivery of highly needed medicinal products by driving strategic planning and execution of development programs.
Understanding the mechanisms that make complex systems work has always been a passion of mine. Applying these insights to research and the development of prophylactic and therapeutic products to solve global health challenges has been the key focus of my professional career. I believe that a planful approach to managing a portfolio of programs and integrating complex drug development processes is instrumental in ensuring the success of the end product. Enabling organizations to deliver transformational, life-saving medicinal products has always been my priority. To that end, I have devoted my energy to planning, coordinating and optimizing the development of life saving therapies in a nimble, digestible, efficient and deliverable manner.
At the Gates MRI, I am privileged to be able to apply my professional focus to accelerate product development for populations with high unmet needs. It takes a well-integrated and aligned team with broad research, clinical, regulatory, quantitative, technical and operational expertise to complete this challenging task. I am thrilled to be part of this effort and to work with those who have devoted their lives to helping underserved populations globally!
Expertise New Product Development (biologics, small molecules, device and drug-device combination products)
Program and Portfolio Management
Project Management Best Practices
Building, developing and mentoring effective teams
Credentials VP, Program Management, Intarcia Therapeutics
Head Business Operations, Global Clinical Development, Baxalta
Sr. Director, Program Management Office R&D, Baxter Medical Products
Director, Global Program & Portfolio Management Vaccines, Baxter BioScience
Description: Drives and executes practical legal strategies to enable impact
I am responsible for delivering efficient and reliable legal guidance, managing legal risk, and supporting the development of solutions that accelerate impact. My team collaborates across the Gates MRI with a laser focus on developing and using legal agreements, tools, and strategies in practical and creative ways that advance our mission. In structuring deals, our focus is the lives of people with greatest need.
I am a business, technology, and global health attorney with 20+ years’ experience working with highly innovative companies and nonprofits to achieve their business and charitable objectives. For five years, I supported the Global Health Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where I helped to structure and negotiate some of the foundation’s most substantial investments and collaborations in TB, HIV, and vaccine development.
As Lead Counsel, I remain a member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation legal group, but my entire focus is leading the Gates MRI legal team.
Expertise Corporate, IP and non-profit law
Biotechnology
Deal making
Team building
Credentials Associate General Counsel, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Partner, Technology Transactions & Privacy Group, Perkins Coie LLP
Drives the progress of drug and vaccine discovery
My team's role is pretty straightforward: work closely with our partners around the globe to ensure that a steady stream of exciting assets are ready to move into clinical development to treat the most serious diseases and help the neediest patients.
I accidently ended up in the Chlamydia laboratory at the University of Texas the summer I was 15, and I was immediately hooked on microbiology and research. I'm lucky to have found my passion early and to have been able to pursue it throughout my career. My time at Cubist gave me the opportunity to do everything from target selection to meeting with physicians to talk about our drugs; most importantly, it gave me the chance to meet people whose lives had been saved by our antibiotics. There is no greater reward for a scientist than to know that their work has changed lives, and it is the desire to do this on a global scale that drew me to the Gates MRI, and inspires me every day.
I get up in the morning, and go to bed each night, asking questions.
Expertise Drug Discovery
Microbiology
Antibiotic mechanism of action and mechanism of resistance
Microbiome
Credentials
SVP, Research,
Kaleido Biosciences
Vice President, Biology,
Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Editor,
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Board of Directors,
Auspherix
Makes innovative medicines accessible and affordable to all
Pharmaceutical supply chains are unique among industries, because failure to deliver medicines when and where they’re needed means not just disappointment but suffering. At Gates MRI our urgency is especially acute, because we are serving the poorest and most vulnerable.
While scientific innovation is the basis of our work, in the end we must provide a tangible product in the form of a pill, a vial, a syringe, maybe an autoinjector. The Drug Supply team is focused on effectively translating the science into physical drugs, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies and finding ways to guarantee affordable access for everyone. Innovation in our manufacturing methods and supply chain is a must, because access and affordability are so critical. I've spent my career in pharmaceutical operations, both in academia and industry, thinking about cost and efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing. While pharmaceutical operations has been a major driver of value in our industry over the past decades, I firmly believe that with the patients we seek to serve, efficiency and cost of drug supply has a level of criticality that is very much different from what I’ve seen before.
We cannot pursue innovative medicine that is not accessible to all the people we strive to serve. I can’t tell you how excited I am to meet this challenge head on.
Expertise Process and analytical development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, engineering
Credentials
Senior Vice President,
Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology, Visterra
Senior Vice President Engineering & Technology,
Biogen
Habilitation "Technische Biochemie," University of Dusseldorf, Germany
Enables a quality culture & efficient enterprise operations
In my role as Head of Quality Assurance & Enterprise Operations at Gates MRI, I’m responsible for enabling and sustaining a culture built on quality principles and committed to protecting the safety and rights of investigational study participants, quality in investigational product development and manufacturing, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulatory requirements and guidance ensuring data integrity in study conduct. As a registered nurse by training, I believe that everyone has the right to access to treatments that will either treat their condition or cure them. In our discovery of these treatments, we must take caution in continuing to protect the rights of those participating in our clinical trials, especially those in the vulnerable populations. Towards our ongoing objective of ensuring efficiency and productivity I also oversee centralized operations including Compliance & Risk Management, Finance, Procurement, IT, and systems support, Facilities, Strategy, Administrative Support, Regulatory Operations and Human Resources Operations.
My diverse background ranges from conducting clinical trials in an academic environment to working in large and small pharmaceutical companies, where I travelled worldwide auditing clinical trial activities and leading global QA organizations. I know the importance of partnering with others to ensure a clear understanding of good pharmaceutical practices and how to implement them across regions to ensure success.
As a leader, inspiring teams to deliver their best every day is equally critical to success.
I’m honored to be part of the institute's commitment to quality in service of saving lives of the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations.
Expertise Leading QA strategy and execution to compliantly achieve business objectives
Credentials
Group VP, R&D Quality Assurance,
Shire Pharmaceuticals
QA Professional at Merck & Co., Inc
Adjunct Professor,
GCP Temple University
Inspires and enables the organization to achieve its global mission
My role is to set the vision for the Gates MRI and inspire the organization to achieve it. I am responsible for mission clarity, steering our strategy in the right direction, and ensuring there are sufficient resources to reach our goals.
I am at the Institute because I fervervently believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a productive life. My passion for infectious diseases is life-long, stemming from my father’s near-death from tuberculosis. The results of a surveillance study I conducted in western Kenya further ignited this passion; there I witnessed firsthand the high mortality from diarrheal and respiratory diseases that can occur in a setting with limited healthcare resources. These experiences drove me to a career in the private sector, where I spent nearly fifteen years developing vaccines against diseases such as rotavirus, a diarrheal disease that once claimed the lives of half a million infants and young children annually. The impact of rotavirus vaccines globally has been nothing short of phenomenal, projected to save 1.7 million lives over the next 10 years. I want to see that same extraordinary outcome for other infectious diseases. Although technically more difficult, why can’t we find solutions for tuberculosis, malaria, and other enteric diseases?
Every day I think what an incredible privilege it is to lead an organization whose sole reason for existing is to use cutting-edge technology and science to find solutions for these diseases, and make them accessible to all.
Expertise
Building and leading teams and organizations, leading strategy development and execution.
Integrated product development, clinical trials, vaccinology, infectious diseases, global health.
Credentials
Director, Vaccines Development,
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Global Head, Clinical Research Clusters,
Novartis
Chief Medical Officer & VP, Development
Novavax
Senior Director, Vaccines Clinical Research
Merck & Co.
Drives the progress of drug and vaccine discovery
My team's role is pretty straightforward: work closely with our partners around the globe to ensure that a steady stream of exciting assets are ready to move into clinical development to treat the most serious diseases and help the neediest patients.
I accidently ended up in the Chlamydia laboratory at the University of Texas the summer I was 15, and I was immediately hooked on microbiology and research. I'm lucky to have found my passion early and to have been able to pursue it throughout my career. My time at Cubist gave me the opportunity to do everything from target selection to meeting with physicians to talk about our drugs; most importantly, it gave me the chance to meet people whose lives had been saved by our antibiotics. There is no greater reward for a scientist than to know that their work has changed lives, and it is the desire to do this on a global scale that drew me to the Gates MRI, and inspires me every day.
I get up in the morning, and go to bed each night, asking questions.
Expertise Drug Discovery
Microbiology
Antibiotic mechanism of action and mechanism of resistance
Microbiome
Credentials
SVP, Research,
Kaleido Biosciences
Vice President, Biology,
Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Editor,
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Board of Directors,
Auspherix
Makes innovative medicines accessible and affordable to all
Pharmaceutical supply chains are unique among industries, because failure to deliver medicines when and where they’re needed means not just disappointment but suffering. At Gates MRI our urgency is especially acute, because we are serving the poorest and most vulnerable.
While scientific innovation is the basis of our work, in the end we must provide a tangible product in the form of a pill, a vial, a syringe, maybe an autoinjector. The Drug Supply team is focused on effectively translating the science into physical drugs, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies and finding ways to guarantee affordable access for everyone. Innovation in our manufacturing methods and supply chain is a must, because access and affordability are so critical. I've spent my career in pharmaceutical operations, both in academia and industry, thinking about cost and efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing. While pharmaceutical operations has been a major driver of value in our industry over the past decades, I firmly believe that with the patients we seek to serve, efficiency and cost of drug supply has a level of criticality that is very much different from what I’ve seen before.
We cannot pursue innovative medicine that is not accessible to all the people we strive to serve. I can’t tell you how excited I am to meet this challenge head on.
Expertise Process and analytical development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, engineering
Credentials
Senior Vice President,
Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology, Visterra
Senior Vice President Engineering & Technology,
Biogen
Habilitation "Technische Biochemie," University of Dusseldorf, Germany
Enables a quality culture & efficient enterprise operations
In my role as Head of Quality Assurance & Enterprise Operations at Gates MRI, I’m responsible for enabling and sustaining a culture built on quality principles and committed to protecting the safety and rights of investigational study participants, quality in investigational product development and manufacturing, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulatory requirements and guidance ensuring data integrity in study conduct. As a registered nurse by training, I believe that everyone has the right to access to treatments that will either treat their condition or cure them. In our discovery of these treatments, we must take caution in continuing to protect the rights of those participating in our clinical trials, especially those in the vulnerable populations. Towards our ongoing objective of ensuring efficiency and productivity I also oversee centralized operations including Compliance & Risk Management, Finance, Procurement, IT, and systems support, Facilities, Strategy, Administrative Support, Regulatory Operations and Human Resources Operations.
My diverse background ranges from conducting clinical trials in an academic environment to working in large and small pharmaceutical companies, where I travelled worldwide auditing clinical trial activities and leading global QA organizations. I know the importance of partnering with others to ensure a clear understanding of good pharmaceutical practices and how to implement them across regions to ensure success.
As a leader, inspiring teams to deliver their best every day is equally critical to success.
I’m honored to be part of the institute's commitment to quality in service of saving lives of the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations.
Expertise Leading QA strategy and execution to compliantly achieve business objectives
Credentials
Group VP, R&D Quality Assurance,
Shire Pharmaceuticals
QA Professional at Merck & Co., Inc
Adjunct Professor,
GCP Temple University
Responsible for Clinical Development
Throughout my career I’ve been involved with public health, both globally and locally in anti-infective drug development. The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is largely devoted to infectious disease as well as other areas, and I felt I could meaningfully contribute to the health and well-being of the world’s poorest populations. As founder, board member and Chief Science Officer at Iterum Therapeutics, my group proudly developed the antibiotic sulopenem. Prior to that, as a founder and Chief Medical Officer of Durata Therapeutics, we developed the antibiotic dalbavancin. Before joining Durata, I worked at Pfizer, and engaged in the in the development and registration of a number of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and HIV therapeutics. I served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development as well as a member of the Expert Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medicines for Malaria Venture. I currently chair the Board of Health in my local community.
I studied economics as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and earned my MD from the SUNY Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn. I was a resident in Internal Medicine at Hartford Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital and completed fellowship training at Yale in Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine.
Every day I think what an incredible privilege it is to lead an organization whose sole reason for existing is to use cutting-edge technology and science to find solutions for these diseases, and make them accessible to all.
Expertise Leadership of a biotechnology enterprise
Anti-infective drug development
Infectious diseases
Credentials Chief Scientific Officer, Iterum Therapeutics
Vice President, R&D, Actavis, plc
Chief Medical Officer, Durata Therapeutics
Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head of Clinical Development, Pfizer, Inc
Advances strategic priorities to deliver on our mission.
As Chief of Staff, I support the CEO in driving the rhythm of the organization, and in developing and advancing strategic initiatives to help realize our vision as a global health biotech. In line with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation stance that all lives have equal value, our job at the Gates MRI is to apply the latest breakthrough science and technology to some of the world’s most intractable diseases affecting the poor.
Prior to joining the Gates MRI, I worked on multiple healthcare initiatives in Mali and in Tanzania between 2007-2009. I later served in Kigali, Rwanda from 2010-2013 as Research Fellow to Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho and to Harvard University Professor Dr. Paul Farmer. Returning to the United States, I consulted for industry and non-profit entities on global access to oncology products and services, leading multi-country studies and coordinating an effort resulting in the 16-drug expansion of the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines for Cancer. Building on experience and training in global health, medicine, and business management, I was drawn to the Gates MRI by its vision to chart a new course forward in pharmaceutical product development. My goal is to contribute to the Gates MRI’s efforts to make a tangible and enduring impact across the globe.
Expertise Global health equity and health systems strengthening
Access to products and services in low- and middle-income countries
Building and strengthening public-private partnerships
Business management and strategic planning
Credentials M.D. / M.B.A. Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School
Co-author of 40+ scientific publications, published in journals including Lancet, Nature, NEJM
Fellowships with the Union for International Cancer Control in Geneva, Harvard Business School’s Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, Harvard Medical School’s Center for Global Health Delivery-Dubai and its Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
As human resources leader, I remain a member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation human resources group, but my entire focus is leading the Gates MRI HR team.
Under construction
Ensuring delivery of highly needed medicinal products by driving strategic planning and execution of development programs.
Understanding the mechanisms that make complex systems work has always been a passion of mine. Applying these insights to research and the development of prophylactic and therapeutic products to solve global health challenges has been the key focus of my professional career. I believe that a planful approach to managing a portfolio of programs and integrating complex drug development processes is instrumental in ensuring the success of the end product. Enabling organizations to deliver transformational, life-saving medicinal products has always been my priority. To that end, I have devoted my energy to planning, coordinating and optimizing the development of life saving therapies in a nimble, digestible, efficient and deliverable manner.
At the Gates MRI, I am privileged to be able to apply my professional focus to accelerate product development for populations with high unmet needs. It takes a well-integrated and aligned team with broad research, clinical, regulatory, quantitative, technical and operational expertise to complete this challenging task. I am thrilled to be part of this effort and to work with those who have devoted their lives to helping underserved populations globally!
Expertise New Product Development (biologics, small molecules, device and drug-device combination products)
Program and Portfolio Management
Project Management Best Practices
Building, developing and mentoring effective teams
Credentials VP, Program Management, Intarcia Therapeutics
Head Business Operations, Global Clinical Development, Baxalta
Sr. Director, Program Management Office R&D, Baxter Medical Products
Director, Global Program & Portfolio Management Vaccines, Baxter BioScience
Drives and executes practical legal strategies to enable impact
I am responsible for delivering efficient and reliable legal guidance, managing legal risk, and supporting the development of solutions that accelerate impact. My team collaborates across the Gates MRI with a laser focus on developing and using legal agreements, tools, and strategies in practical and creative ways that advance our mission. In structuring deals, our focus is the lives of people with greatest need.
I am a business, technology, and global health attorney with 20+ years’ experience working with highly innovative companies and nonprofits to achieve their business and charitable objectives. For five years, I supported the Global Health Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where I helped to structure and negotiate some of the foundation’s most substantial investments and collaborations in TB, HIV, and vaccine development.
As Lead Counsel, I remain a member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation legal group, but my entire focus is leading the Gates MRI legal team.
Expertise Corporate, IP and non-profit law
Biotechnology
Deal making
Team building
Credentials Associate General Counsel, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Partner, Technology Transactions & Privacy Group, Perkins Coie LLP
Right now, scientists know more about human biology than they ever have before. They have the computing power to simulate complex biological processes, and to do it incredibly quickly. The universe of the possible keeps expanding.
However, the necessary funding, tools and commitment have only rarely been brought together to serve the needs of the world’s poorest people. It’s time to use the latest innovations to improve all lives. We will combine advances in biomarker profiling of the immune system and infectious organisms and bioassays, quantitative sciences and statistical computing, and expertise in chemistry and manufacturing to move potential solutions from the laboratory into human trials.
We are part of a large community with shared goals, and we know we will reach those goals faster together. We rely on academic researchers, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and global health organizations as partners in our work. We will share what we learn with our partners to accelerate the cycle of innovation.
The Gates MRI is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Further information about job opportunities and other updates about the Gates MRI can be found on the organization's careers page. If you would like to submit your resume to our human resources department, please send to [email protected]
The Gates MRI plans on operating as a fully integrated, non-profit biotech organization staffed appropriately to advance a pipeline of programs in the prioritized disease areas from pre-clinical testing through human proof of concept studies. We expect we will scale up to 80 to 120 full-time employees over the next several years.
No, the Gates MRI is a non-profit biotech organization focused on accelerating product development for diseases that affect the world’s poorest populations. We do not anticipate making grants at this time.
The Gates MRI does not solicit donations from the public. We are proud of our mission to develop products to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases, and encourage people who share our passion for saving lives to donate to causes aligned with their values.
CEPI is focused on accelerating the development of vaccines for emerging infectious diseases. The Gates MRI will focus on developing interventions to fight persistent epidemics, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and enteric and diarrheal diseases.
The team at Gates MRI is currently evaluating a number of products under development with foundation partners. Once this analysis is completed, we will share the pipeline.
The Gates MRI will adhere to the foundation’s global access and open access policies.
Focused on serving as a convener and connector in the research and development community, the Gates MRI will collaborate with foundation product development partners, academia, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, LMIC manufacturers and non-profit organizations on upstream and downstream activities. We will establish partnerships that leverage assets, capabilities and expertise in order to accelerate product development for our disease areas of interest. The Gates MRI actively and continuously engages directly in the conduct of medical research in conjunction with one or more hospitals for the purpose of addressing major causes of illness and death in LMIC.
The Gates MRI will focus on translational product development, (defined as preclinical candidate selection to human/clinical proof of concept in the target population). Once a candidate has achieved human proof of concept, the plan is to partner the program with an organization that has late-stage development and commercial expertise. Late-stage development partners may include non-profit product development partners, LMIC manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies.
The Gates MRI will adhere to the foundation's Global Access policy. Organizations that partner with the foundation agree to Global Access, which requires that the knowledge and information gained from a funded project will be promptly and broadly disseminated, and that funded developments will be made available and accessible at an affordable price to people in need within LMIC.