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Network Roots

Network participants at the GC ADDA Convening Meeting and Workshop, March 2024, Nairobi.

In 2023, H3D Foundation, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and LifeArc, established the foundations for the GC ADDA network. The network originally linked 8 African countries, with an initial 4 flagship drug discovery projects focused on infectious disease research.

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The network originated through two Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) funding calls administered through Grand Challenges Africa: 8 mini-grants were awarded in 2019 and a further 8 mini-grants were awarded in 2021. In 2022/3 the programme managers agreed to put out a call for “Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator” flagship projects and LifeArc came on board as a co-funder. In 2023, four 3-year grants and one 5-year grant collectively valued at $7.2 million were awarded.

Strategic Objectives

To establish a formal GC ADDA network to leverage drug discovery capabilities across Africa

To collectively create a pipeline of optimized leads and clinical candidates

To support and train the next generation of African drug discovery researchers

To connect with those outside the continent, including those in the African diaspora, to accelerate the impact of the network

To support sustainable drug discovery and development on the African continent by diversifying funding streams, obtaining government buy-in, developing infrastructure and extending the ecosystem

Leadership

GC ADDA has 3 leadership bodies:

The Operational Leadership Team (OLT) is made up of PIs of qualifying GC ADDA projects and directors of H3D Foundation. It oversees the smooth running of the network. EXCOM is comprised of representatives from the seed funders and the H3D Foundation. The Advisory Board is made up of elected leaders in health innovation from the categories of industry, academia, funding and policy making / government. Administration of GC ADDA is conducted by the H3D Foundation

01. The Advisory Board nurtures links to industry, academia, funding and policy making

The Advisory Board brings global perspectives, connections to industry, government, policy makers & funders. It provides advice & expertise for growing the network, for helping the network become selfsustaining. It facilitates introductions to relevant stakeholder groups & supports the OLT to maximize the network’s impact. The Advisory Board champions GC ADDA & raises its profile.