Question 2: What is IHI's link to Switzerland?
Question 3: Where does IHI get its funding from?
Question 4: Does IHI receive funding from the Pharmaceutical Industry?
Question 5: What is the product of IHI's research?
Question 6: How does IHI research benefit Tanzania?
Question 7: Does IHI only do malaria research?
Question 8: How does IHI protect research participants?
Question 9: Does IHI breed mosquitoes?
Question 10: Any other questions?
What kind of organisation is IHI?
IHI is a non-profit organisation, registered as a Trust in Tanzania. Its official registered head office is in Ifakara, Kilombero district, Morogoro region. The co-ordination office (including the office of the Chief Executive Director) is in Dar es Salaam.
IHI's earliest beginnings were as a "field laboratory" of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Although IHI has been an independent organisation since 1996, it still enjoys a close relationship with Swiss TPH based on research collaboration. The Director of Swiss TPH, Dr Marcel Tanner, is a member of IHI's Board of Governors and Board of Trustees.
Where does IHI get its funding from?
Competitive research grants make up more than 80% of IHI's annual income (US$28m in 2010/11). These grants come from diverse sources such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the EDCTP. A number of partners make up the remaining 20% of income, including grants from the Governments of Tanzania, Switzerland, UK, Ireland and Norway. A fuller description of funding sources can be found here.
IHI collaborates on international partnerships for the development of new drugs and vaccines. One example is the malaria vaccine under development by GlaxoSmithKline, which is supported through an alliance called the Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Other than these international partnerships, IHI does not undertake "contract research" trials for the pharmaceutical industry.
What is the product of IHI's research?
IHI research findings are published in international, peer-reviewed science journals. In 2010 IHI published more than 50 such articles and the number and "impact factor" of publications continues to grow year-on-year. IHI prefers to publish in "Open Access" journals that make the full text of their articles available to the public, free of charge, through the internet.
There are very many examples over the years where IHI research findings and experience have been put directly into practice. For example, the 1997 "KINET" experiment in Kilombero was the pre-cursor for the national strategy that delivers subsidised insecticide-treated mosquito nets to Tanzanians today.
Malaria-related research has historically been a major focus of IHI's work. Malaria continues to comprise about 60% of the whole research portfolio. However, IHI has a growing portfolio of other kinds of research, including HIV/AIDS, TB, maternal and neonatal health, and health systems.
How does IHI protect research participants?
IHI adheres to the highest ethical standards in all of its research. Proposals must be cleared both by the internal review board and receive ethical clearance from COSTECH and NIMR before they proceed. As part of ethical requirements, IHI ensures that all persons collaborating in research do so with written, informed consent. In addition, IHI has established community liaison committees. Through these the community are able to raise any concerns, ask questions, and obtain more information about the purpose and benefits of the research. IHI does not undertake any "first in man" trials of new products, but does undertake Phase 2 (safety and efficacy) and Phase 3 (effectiveness) trials.
Yes, IHI does breed mosquitoes on a very limited scale. However, NONE of these mosquitoes are ever released into the wild. They are only used for experiments under enclosed experimental conditions.
Any other questions?
In case you have any other questions about IHI and its work we will be glad to try to respond to them. You can seek further information from info@ihi.or.tz.