H3D Foundation
The H3D Foundation supports drug innovation and science in Africa through initiatives to strengthen capacity, collaboration, and advocacy for African researchers and research centers. IFPMA and member companies partner with H3D Foundation to promote health innovation in Africa.
Overview
Launched in 2019, the H3D Foundation’s mission is to create capacity for building and retaining skilled African scientists within pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) on the continent.
The Foundation complements initiatives spearheaded by the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre of the University of Cape Town, acting as a convening platform to bring together credible voices in drug R&D, expand the Centre’s capacity building programs and outreach, develop new initiatives to fill skills gaps for laboratory and clinical activities, and strengthen innovation and access to drugs in the region.
Driving translational drug discovery projects
The H3D Foundation supports drug discovery researchers and research centres across Africa through capacity strengthening initiatives, network and connection building, and fundraising.
Current training programs include drug discovery workshops, webinar series, AI/machine learning drug discovery tools and training programs, and the Global Health Mentorship Programme.
Projects include the establishment of the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC ADDA), the RAFIKI EU-Africa Alliance for Drug Discovery and Global Health (established to strengthen the GC ADDA initiative), Catalysing local API manufacturing in Africa, and AI2050 Developing Open-Source AI Models for Optimal Drug Discovery in Africa.
Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator
GC ADDA, with seed funding from Gates Foundation and LifeArc, aims to establish a sustainable network that accelerates drug discovery for unmet medical needs in Africa by developing and retaining talented researchers and creating regional centers of excellence.
RAFIKI: An EU-Africa Alliance for Drug Discovery and Global Health
RAFIKI, a Horizon Europe initiative jointly funded by the European Union and Swiss government, is strategically positioned to support the GC ADDA network through building on pre-existing collaborations across African and European institutions to bring accelerated and sustainable growth to the Sub-Saharan African drug discovery ecosystem.
How we support the H3D Foundation
Capacity strengthening
Scientific mobility, hosting drug discovery workshops and training, and mentorship to equip researchers with scientific skills, writing for publications and grant applications, and project management.
Network and connection building
Expanding existing partnerships between H3D and the innovative pharmaceutical industry to benefit African drug discovery scientists early and mid-career, and bringing together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society, religious leaders, and community mobilizers to bridge the gaps that exist between science and the public and remove barriers to success in R&D.
Fundraising
Improving financial capacity to invest in R&D infrastructure, scientific events, and mentorship programs.
Engage with the Foundation
The H3D Foundation is unlocking the potential for sustainable drug discovery and development in Africa. Read more
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