Dr. Santiago Ramon is a postdoc and tuberculosis researcher at UBC’s Department of Microbiology. He is applying for research funding from Grand Challenges Canada (http://www.grandchallenges.ca/) for a project that would expand his work through international collaboration with fellow TB reseachers in South Africa. He has submitted a 2 minute, non-technical video as part of the overall application to Grand Challenges Canada. Applications are judged partially on how effectively the scientist can engage the public, as measured by the number of people who click on the “Like” button on this video. The video can seen here: http://gcc.eyeptv.net/blog/2011/03/07/new-therapeutic-drug-combinations-for-tuberculosis-treatment
This project has the potential to produce a globally-accessible therapeutic intervention against TB. All of the molecules being screened have previously passed human trials, and many of them are off-patent. This means that they could be employed against resistant strains of tuberculosis in a relatively short amount of time, and at a cost significantly below what it would cost to develop a novel pharmaceutical intervention. The funding from Grand Challenges Canada would go a long way to pushing this project forward, expanding UBC’s international collaborations, and moving the therapies closer being in the hands of the people who need it.
Dr. Ramon’s work shows that meaningful progress against TB is within reach, and can be accessible to people everywhere. It would be great to support an exciting area of global health research and help it get a shot at this funding opportunity… Help spread the word about this project and support our UBC colleague.
The public engagement of this video will be measured by the number of people who click on the “Like” button on the right-hand side of the video, and this will impact the overall funding decisions. Every “Like” is important! This is very exciting TB research and it needs to grow.