A Ugandan doctor, Misaki Wayengera, has filed
to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African RegionalIntellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), for patents of his innovations in
biometric interventions that include an HIV-1 cure and rapid tuberculosis diagnostics.
His
rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for Ebola virus disease (EVD) is able to detect
Ebola recombinant antigens in less than five minutes.
In an article by Agnes Nanyogo, published on the
website http://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org,
titled “Ugandan innovation could end
up being manufactured elsewhere: the plight of a young scientist in Africa”, it reveals that Wayengera kicked off his research with the EVD RDT under start-up (2008)
biotech Restrizymes Biotherapeutics (U) limited.
Among the challenges he has faced is shortage of
funds to facilitate his research.
“Dr Wayengera then
resorted to applying for funding from Grand Challenges Canada in 2013; he was awarded a
grant worth
CAN$100,000. In addition, Grand Challenges Canada was willing to award to him
an extra one million dollars for his research, if matched by financial
commitment [of any value] to the project by his home Government. Subsequent
efforts to secure local funding from the Ugandan government through follow up
letters and social media pressure were futile. Luckily, in a rare turn of
events, a breach of the prevailing rules and in a show of trust, Grand
Challenges Canada offered Dr. Wayengera and his research team CAN$1.5 million,
possibly due to the devastating EVD in West Africa and beyond. The money
enabled Dr. Wayengera and his team to continue with their research which led to
a breakthrough innovation,”
This quote is from
Agnes Nanyogo’s article, which can be accessed on this link: http://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/ugandan-innovation-could-end-up-being-manufactured-elsewhere-the-plight-of-a-young-scientist-in-africa/
Wayengera is now looking to manufacture and scale
up his technology in North America.
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