Gates Package — page 118

In 1997, USAID ended direct support of MRTC activities, but in March 1998, President Clinton in a speech in Kampala, Uganda, singled out the MRTC of Mali for recognition and made the promise of continued support. Since 1998, virtually all activities in Mali have been supported by NIAID. In September 2000, laboratory space within the MRTC was more than tripled with the opening of a new laboratory building and the renovation of laboratories adjacent to the original laboratories. These new laboratories are focused on supporting work associated with the development and evaluation of malaria vaccine candidates. In 2001, the MRTC became part of the ICER (International Center for Excellence in Research) program, an initiative launched by NIAID to recognize a select group of overseas research facilities, make them part of the regularized budget process of the Institute, and develop and sustain research programs through partnerships with local scientists. All administrative functions of the various ICER programs including payroll for Malian staff and support of day to day operations were placed under the direction of the Core ICER staff. The Mali ICER is one of three ICERs in the world. The other two are located in Uganda and India. The ICER is involved in all aspects of research on malaria. All work at the Mali ICER is directed at the development and testing of appropriate strategies for the eventual control of malaria and the reduction of the burden of disease in the people of Mali, the region, and all of Africa. The ICER program is based on the clear understanding that not enough is known today to control malaria in Africa, and most current programs are failing because of a lack of adequate tools and techniques. The ICER seeks to bring to bear the best methodologies for understanding and attacking this difficult problem. Newer programs have been initiated within the Mali ICER including basic and clinical studies in leishmaniasis and its vectors, mosquito proteomics and bioinformatics, filariasis acarology and tick borne diseases, and Lassa fever. It is important to note that the Mali ICER serves as the primary research and training arm of the Malian Ministry of Health. The ICER works closely with the Director of the National Malaria Control Program. In 2002, the NIH through the NIAID Division of Clinical Research (DCR) and the NIAID Division of AIDS initiated a major research program on HIV/AIDS and TB named SEREFO (the Center for Research and Training on HIH/TB). This project was created with the objective of investigating the relationship between HIV infection and Tuberculosis and shares administrative and communication facilities with the Mali ICER. [Off note: Since January 2013, part of the SEREFO research program and associated BSL 3 lab was transitioned from intramural to extramural funding, and is now under the responsibility of Northwestern University. The intramural program retained one of the HIV/TB laboratories and associated personnel and converted it into an immunology core laboratory that will collaborate with the other existing intramural research programs. ]