"We're very grateful to the Sapling Foundation for enabling us to tap the interest that pharmaceutical scientists have shown for global infectious diseases, and to harness their potential contributions toward developing cures," said Victoria Hale, Ph.D., founder and CEO of OneWorld Health. The concept for the volunteer scientist network arose after Dr. Hale was contacted by hundreds of pharmaceutical scientists globally, who offered to share their ideas, skills, accumulated research or contacts to advance the development of medicines for the benefit of the poorest people in the developing world.
She explained that scientists' voluntary services are analogous to what the law profession has long provided in the way of pro bono services to individuals and groups in need. "The contribution of pharmaceutical scientists' time and energy is fundamental to our nonprofit business model. A formal structure would leverage this enthusiasm and support," Dr. Hale said.
"Few outlets currently exist for pharmaceutical scientists to contribute their talents to global health," said Ching C. (CC) Wang, Ph.D., professor in the Dept. of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco. "Through this network, OneWorld Health will provide scientists with opportunities to apply their expertise towards diseases that though virtually nonexistent in the developed world have disproportionate impact on disadvantaged patient populations in
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Contact: Joanne Hasegawa
jhasegawa@oneworldhealth.org
415-421-4700
Institute for OneWorld Health
30-Mar-2004