Takafumi TSUBOI

February 2nd, 2022

Proteo-Science Center
Ehime University
Matsuyama, Japan

Innovation through partnership with PDPs

Outline
1. Overview of our partnerships
1) How the partnership started?
2) How the partnerships with PDPs started?
3) How the partnerships with PDPs advanced?
2. Goal settings on global health research in academia
3. Summary: Partnership with PDPs

Outline
1. Overview of our partnerships
1) How the partnership started?
2) How the partnerships with PDPs started?
3) How the partnerships with PDPs advanced?
2. Goal settings on global health research in academia
3. Summary: Partnership with PDPs

How the partnership started?
Projects

Ehime U: Role

Partners: Role

1990-

Rodent malaria model
TBV candidate discovery•Gene cloning•mAbs•Bioassay•No Partner

1996-

Plasmodium vivax
Identify 1st TBV antigen•Gene cloning•Bioassay•NIAID: Protein•Mahidol U: Field-based
Bioassay

Our goal settings
Scientific achievements

Malaria Genomein 2002

Suitable formalaria protein
expression

TBV: Malaria transmission-blocking vaccine

Innovative Protein Synthesis Technology(WGCFS: Wheat Germ Cell-Free System)

Funders•1997-99
TDR/WHOHow the partnerships with PDPs started?
Vaccine Projects

Ehime U: Role

Funders

Partners: Role (PDPs)

2003-

P. falciparum
Blood-stage vac.
discovery

2010-

P. falciparum TBV
discovery•Protein (WGCFS)

2014-

P. falciparum
Novel TBV
development•Protein (WGCFS)•Bioassay•PATH-MVI: Project mgmt., Bioassay

Ehime U: Role

Partners: Role (PDPs)

Funders•Protein(WGCFS)•HTimmunoassay•WEHI: Project mgmt., Cohort sample,
antibody measurement, data analysis•CFS: WGCFS large scale production•FIND: Develop TPP, Technology selection
for future POC diagnostics•2015-GHIT-TRP

Diagnostic Project

2015-P. vivax
Hypnozoite
diagnostics
development

Our goal settings
Scientific achievement toProduct development•Protein (WGCFS)•Bioassay•WEHI: Gene KO•NIAID: Bioassay•2008-11 BMGF
•2010- PATH-MVI•2014-GHIT-PDP

Ref. Longley et al., Nat Med 26:741-749, 2020•2017-FIND

How the partnerships with PDPs advanced?
HumanMosquito

Sporozoite

Malaria vaccine GHIT-funded projects①Transmission-blocking vaccine
Ehime U: Role
•ProteinP. falciparum②(WGCFS)
TBVdomain2017•Bioassay
discovery
2020-③P. falciparum
TBVdevelopment•Bioassay②Pre-erythrocytic vaccine Ehime U: Role
2021Bloodstage①③Blood-stage vaccine
2019-Gametocyte

2021-

Our roles in the partnerships
Scientific expertise

P. falciparum
Novel preerythr. vac.

•Bioassay

Partners: Role (PDPs)•PATH-MVI: Project mgmt.,
Platform selection, Bioassay•PATH: Project mgmt.,
Preclin. develop.
•Sumitomo: Adjuvant
production

Partners: Role (PDPs)•PATH:Project mgmt vaccine•Sumitomo: Adjuvant,nonclinical study

P. falciparum
Novel bloodstage vac.

Ehime U: Role
•Protein(WGCFS)•Bioassay•EVI: Project mgmt.,
Adjuvant selection•iBET: Antigen production

P. falciparum
Placental
Malaria vac.
development•Protein(WGCFS)•HTimmunoassay•EVI: Project mgmt., clinical•Inserm:Vaccine•U Copenhagen: Preclinical•GRAS:
Clinical study•Noguchi/IRD: Field study

Partners: Role (PDPs)

Please visit https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/portfolio/en.

Outline
1. Overview of our partnerships
1) How the partnership started?
2) How the partnerships with PDPs started?
3) How the partnerships with PDPs advanced?
2. Goal settings on global health research in academia
3. Summary: Partnership with PDPs

Goal settings on global health research
A researcher in global healthProjects

3rd2nd

1st
Scientific achievement

Goal settings on global health research
A researcher in global health
Malariavaccineprojects

Globalhealthneeds

3: Optimization
2: Validation

1: Target discov.

Products withGlobal HealthImpactScientific achievement“GAP” for example:ØLack of budget to progress towardpre-clinical development
ØNo idea how to contact PDPs
ØRisk of policy change in thepartners even after the projectprogressedØEtc.

DeathValley

Goal settings on global health research
A researcher in global health
Projects

Globalhealthneeds

3rd
2nd

1stScientific achievement

PartnershipPDPs
AcademiaCompanyProducts withGlobal HealthImpactOutline
1. Overview of our partnerships
1) How the partnership started?
2) How the partnerships with PDPs started?
3) How the partnerships with PDPs advanced?
2. Goal settings on global health research in academia
3. Summary: Partnership with PDPs

Summary: Partnership with PDPs
Q1. How did we first learn about PDPs?
a) PATH-MVI: since malaria TBV consortium started in 2000b) FIND: introduced by our collaborator in the P. vivax hypnozoite Dx. projectc) EVI: met and started discussion at the GHIT Annual Partners Meeting 2016
Q2. What were the merits/impacts to us by the projects with PDPs?
“Product development” became a visible goal of our research activities.
Q3. Lessons learned and challenges from the partnershipsa) Proceed basic science research towards product developmentb) Establish mutually complementary relationship with the partnersc) Most importantly, establishment of trustiness through project activities
Q4. How these lessons can be implemented in future projects with PDPs?
a) Get ideas for the basic science research which will be useful for the future
product developmentb) Continue to seek the best mix of partners with complementary expertisefor future projects