Ambitious vision, lasting investment in science can save countless lives

Oct 22 2011

In this post in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's "ASTMH Blog," Rick Steketee, science director of PATH's Malaria Control Program and ASTMH council member, responds to the results of the RTS,S malaria vaccine trial, writing, "It's milestones like this week's findings that remind us all that ambitious vision and a lasting investment in science can yield the tests, treatments and tools to save countless lives." He writes that "this news from the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, GlaxoSmithKline and African research centers tells several important stories. ... One is the power of product-development partnerships ... to address some of the world's most pressing medical and humanitarian crises. Another story is how money invested in scientific research and development can make a difference not just in saving a few lives, but in protecting hundreds of thousands of children from disease and death" (10/20).