The purpose of the meeting was to engage major pharmaceutical manufacturers and the agencies of the U.S. Government in an accelerated development of drugs and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. Several ideas emerged from the meeting including a potential tax incentive package for drug manufacturing companies working on these types of vaccines. Major drug companies pledged the donations of polio vaccine and other various vaccines to assist in the irradication of global infectious diseases. In preparation for the meeting, MG Parker and his infectious disease research specialists prepared summaries of Army and Navy medical research programs and accomplishments and submitted them to the White House staff. We are assured that the quiet work of our scientists over the past 30 years is being recognized.
Military personnel deploy all over the world.
The Army and Navy constantly monitor global infectious disease trends and outbreaks. They operate laboratories in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America to study the diseases and to conduct research and development leading to new drugs and vaccines. General Parker would like to see more cooperative research and development between military scientists and private industry. The acquisition reform movement encourages us to become more involved with private industry in joint projects. Recent legislation encourages us even more, and gives us an opportunity to structure agreements and operating relationships with industry.