Grand Challenges in TB Control - GC-TBC

Grand Challenges in TB Control
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Program Overview
Call II - May to June 2015
TB Screening, Detection and Diagnostics
AN IKP INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY RESEARCH ASSISTANCE COUNCIL,
AND THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
TO IDENTIFY, NURTURE AND EMPOWER
INNOVATIONS FOR TB CONTOL
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Introduction
The Grand Challenges in TB Control (GC-TBC) is an initiative to encourage and nurture
innovations that will help alleviate the problem of TB in India. IKP Knowledge Park (IKP), the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are working
together to identify, fund, and nurture technology driven solutions that will assist TB control.
The GC-TBC initiative was set-up to address the global health challenge of TB Control by
encouraging entrepreneurship through technology innovation, and enabling the integration of
such innovations with the public and private healthcare systems. We believe that indigenous
technologies will better address the problem of TB in India. We will enable scientists
/researchers / entrepreneurs to develop new solutions through funding and a rigorous
mentoring partnership that allows them to proceed to the next phase of development. GC-TBC
is established as a unique award program to fund out-of-the-box innovations in TB control. We
will not only provide funds but also work with awardees for three years to help establish and
validate the proof-of-concept and bring to awardees the deep collective experience of global
mentors, resources and network. For e.g. each GC-TBC Call 1 awardee is connected to a mentor
(WHO TB consultant) and issued a letter with technical approval from Directorate General of
Health Services to facilitate pilot projects by the Revised National TB Control Programme
(RNTCP). The first call for proposals launched in June 2013 was funded by USAID and the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation. The second call for proposals will be funded by BIRAC and
USAID and focuses on TB Screening, Detection and Diagnostics.
GC-TBC Call II - May-June 2015
The Second Call for proposals seeks to identify and fund the creation of validated, sustainable
solutions for screening, detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis specifically designed for the
Indian milieu. Whether it is responding to the TB epidemic or an individual TB patient, rapid
and accurate establishment of TB diagnosis is fundamental to providing quality care. UNITAID
TB Diagnostics Landscape Report, 2014 describes over 190 diagnostic methods for TB. Despite
these advancements, undiagnosed and mis-managed TB care continue to drive the epidemic
upward. Often, patients are not diagnosed at the outset; those with suspected infection receive
empiric therapy rather than a therapy dictated by rapid identification of the type of
Mycobacteriumtuberculosis(MTb). As a result, there are increasing levels of infections with MTb
resistant to current TB antimicrobials, (Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug
Resistant (XDR) TB), effectively reducing the capability of the already small arsenal of drugs.
New tests are needed that can quickly identify MTb, and also provide information on
susceptibility to antimicrobials. Tests developed should be easy to use, provide results within
minutes to hours, in large numbers, and provide timely communication of results to clinicians.
This will ultimately have a positive impact on efficient patient care and further reducing the TB
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burden in the community at large.
A quarter of all estimated new incident cases globally occur in India. WHO estimated burden of
tuberculosis in India, 2012 is given below:
TB Burden
Estimated Number (Millions)
with 95% CI
Incidence
2.2 (2.0–2.4)
Prevalence
2.8 (1.9–3.9)
Mortality
0.27 (0.17–0.39)
HIV among estimated incident TB patients
0.13 (0.12–0.14)
MDR-TB among notified pulmonary TB patients
0.064 (0.049–0.079)
MDR-TB among notified New pulmonary TB patients
0.021 (0.018–0.025)
MDR-TB among notified Re-treatment pulmonary TB patients
0.043 (0.033–0.054)
(Table taken from TB India 2014, Revised National TB Control Programme, Annual Status Report)
The following schema adapted from TB REACH Case Studies, 2014 shows that the entry points
for improving detection and notification to be:
1.Improved awareness and knowledge
2.Better identification of population at risk for testing
3. Increased access to diagnostics
4.Rapid and more sensitive tests
5.Stronger linkages to the National TB Program
While the first four entry points address reaching people with undiagnosed TB with better
diagnostic methods, the last addresses linking the private sector, where a sizeable number of TB
patients are treated, with the National TB Program. The following real-life patient case studies
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taken from Tuberculosis: Case Studies from Southern India, WEMJ, 2013 universally illustrate
several problems in current screening and diagnostic algorithms that are sought to be addressed
by innovations supported through GC-TBC.
Case 1
Patient A presented to the outpatient clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital following a 2-month
history of cough with sputum accompanied by low-grade fever in the evenings. She also noted
several episodes of blood when coughing within this time period, and was experiencing right
sided chest pain. A chest x-ray and CT taken at a community hospital revealed fluid in the right
lung spaces.
On hearing her history Patient A’s doctor wished to analyse sputum, take another chest x-ray
and do a lung biopsy, as is medically indicated in cases like this. A follow-up appointment was
arranged for 5 days later to discuss results of these conventional tests. The patient's sputum was
positive for acid-fast bacilli and Xpert MTB/RIF analysis revealed the presence of TB bacilli
with no resistance to first line anti TB drugs. Her pleural biopsy showed granulomatous
inflammation whilst her chest x-ray result was inconclusive. She was consequentially
commenced on anti-tubercular treatment under management of the DOTS clinic.
In summary - the patient had to see 2 doctors, wait over 65 days, undergo painful invasive and
non-invasive tests spanning several days before being put on anti-TB treatment.
This typical real-life case presentation highlights:
1. A two month delay from first symptoms to contact with the medical system.
2. Patients often go to more than one doctor to establish a firm diagnosis of TB.
3. Patient had to submit two samples of sputum over two consecutive days. This is
associated with problems of transport, loss of wages etc.
4. Chest x-rays are routinely taken, but can lack sensitivity and specificity, and therefore
cannot be relied on solely for diagnosis.
5. Biopsy is not a simple procedure, is painful, has to be performed in a hospital by trained
personnel, requires substantial infrastructure for processing of specimens, and the
results have to be read and reported by a pathologist ( who has to work on many other
specimens on the same day) and take a long time to be reported.
6. Xpert MTB/RIF, a rapid, fully-automated cartridge-based assay that requires minimal
technician time, can provide detection of TB within two hours, as well as identifying
Rifampicin resistance. Apart from costing $17,000 (Source: FIND website) for the
instrument, each cartridge costing $16.86 (subsidized cost of $9.98 available to eligible
entities), requirement of air conditioning, continuous power supply, and computer,
trained technicians can mean that Xpert cannot be deployed widely. A total of 89 and 63
Xpert machines are available through the RNTCP and IPAQT labs respectively.
Feasibility studies show that high modular replacement (32%) and cartridge
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performance variation across batches remain sources of concern (Feasibility of
Decentralized Deployment of Xpert MTB/RIF Test at Lower Level of Health System in
India, 2014).
Case 2
2 years ago, Patient B was diagnosed with TB by a private clinic, following symptoms of
productive cough, haemoptysis and low-grade fever. Further analysis revealed the MTb strain
to be resistant to both Isoniazid and Rifampicin. He was placed on second line anti-tubercular
treatment and managed by the private clinic. The exact details of his treatment are unknown.
He was later referred to the Tertiary Hospital with recurrence of his original symptoms. He was
found to have an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain of TB, resistant to Isoniazid, Ofloxacin,
Rifampicin, Ethoniamide, Streptomycin, Capreomycin and Ethambutol, but susceptible to
Kanamycin.
Patient B was admitted to the isolation ward and began an extensive regimen of second line
anti-tubercular drugs. He has frequent follow-up chest x-rays, with one series revealing a
massive left-sided pleural effusion and inadequate lung expansion following drainage, all
complications of his long-term disease.
This case describes the typical history of patients suffering from MDR/XDR TB. In summary the patient was not diagnosed with MDR TB soon enough and progressed to being an XDR
patient.
This real life presentation highlights:
1. Secondary MDR TB occurs when the prescribed drug regimen is poorly adhered to or
administered, allowing bacilli with drug resistant genetic mutations to replicate,
becoming dominant, and leading to drug resistant TB in the patient as a reservoir for
primary drug resistance in the community at large. Not diagnosing drug resistant TB at
the outset and continuing treatment with standard regimens increases the resistant
bacterial population in the individual and the increased chance of its spread in the
community, placing an additional burden on constrained resources for TB control. A
rapid drug susceptibility test that can be administered when the patients are diagnosed
with TB is very much needed.
2. The ability to rapidly identify multiple strains of TB bacilli in any given patient can only
be done by sequencing, which is expensive, so a low cost alternative needs to be
developed.
3. Even though the patient was admitted in an isolation ward to protect healthcare
workers, the fate of his family members and immediate contacts is not known; on
average, a TB patient has 10-12 contacts who are at risk of contracting TB, and in this
case, the drug resistant variety of the disease. Screening those individuals for latent or
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overt TB within a short time period becomes crucial to preventing further spread of the
disease, in this case XDR TB, in the community.
4. Again, the delay and effort expended to straddle different health care centres/doctors
before the right diagnosis is made, and treatment initiated, is highlighted here.
Case 3
Patient C, a 43-year-old unemployed male with HIV presented to the OPD of a Tertiary Care
Center, with a 2-month a history of low-grade fever and cough with expectoration. He had a
history of chronic alcohol abuse and smoking. Prior to the presentation, his fever had increased
and he was experiencing intermittent chills and rigors, mild shortness of breath and a ‘dull,
aching’ abdominal pain with bloating.
Investigations showed low CD4 counts, granulomatous inflammation of pleura and bone
marrow on biopsy (consistent with the diagnosis of TB), the presence of non-resistant TB in
sputum and bone marrow by Xpert MTB/RIF analysis, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes (on
abdominal ultrasound). Liver functions were found to be normal.
Following diagnosis of TB, the patient was started on anti-TB treatment as an inpatient. Followup X-ray taken 2 days after admission showed a disseminated pattern of TB infection. Due to
the development of a Rifampicin induced cholestasis (bile flow stoppage, a side effect of the
drug) Patient C’s Rifampicin was stopped and he was started on Levofloxacin. He was also
treated prophylactically with Azithromycin due to his low CD4 count. His condition improved
over 8 days and he was discharged to outpatient care.
This real life presentation highlights:
1. HIV and TB co-infection. CD4+ T cells enhance the capacity of macrophages to kill
mycobacteria thereby limiting the clinical presentation of tuberculosis. The hallmark of
HIV infection is depletion of CD4+ T cells putting HIV patients at a high risk for
primary infection or reactivation of TB. The annual risk of developing TB disease in a
HIV patient is estimated between 5-15% (HIV associated tuberculosis in developing
countries: epidemiology and strategies for prevention, 1992). The National AIDS Control
Organisation estimates that between 2 to 3.1 million adults are HIV positive in India.
Given the numbers, HIV-TB co-infection is a huge public health problem.
2. Weakening of the immune system by HIV reduces the patient's ability to contain the
infection. In Patient C's case, the TB infection spread to his bone marrow, chest and
abdomen. Disease synergies between TB and HIV has led to TB being the leading cause
of AIDS related death worldwide.
3. Again, the necessity to screen for latent TB in HIV patients and periodic screening for
active disease cannot be underestimated.
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The Challenge
We believe in crowd sourcing of ideas, and will focus on innovations that improve the process
of TB screening and diagnostics, to ensure early diagnosis and help curtail the spread of TB. We
invite you to submit your proposals online at www.gc-tbc.com
We invite ideas that provide integrated solutions, combining technological advances with
sustainable business models, to address lacunae in the current screening and diagnostics chain.
We are open to funding innovations such as (but not limited to);
Screening tests
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
A simplified dipstick test
Diagnostics that is able to distinguish TB and non-TB patients accurately
Digital chest X-rays with improved read-out algorithms
A X-ray like machine that allows the physician to immediately “see” lung abnormalities
Breath Test(s)
For Extra Pulmonary TB (No triage exists as of now)
For Paediatric TB (No triage exists as of now)
That address inability of patient to produce sputum
Application that uses coughing pattern to detect TB, educates and directs patient to the
nearest laboratory for testing; geo-locates cough clusters
10. Testing in co-morbid conditions (e.g. HIV, Diabetes) and steroid use.
Detection tests
1. Detection systems which can be used in crowded areas (e.g. slums, bus stations) and
remote locations (e.g. tribal areas).
2. Detection in ambient air in hospitals (capturing aerosolised bacteria, detection and
application of UV and/or HEPA air filters where necessary).
3. Innovations ensuring biosafety and non-degradation of samples in cold-chain free
transport.
4. Sample collection is challenging due to the nature of the sputum sampling and the risks
it poses to health care workers. At present, sputum is collected in 50 ml centrifuge tubes
and air masks, gloves are often reused by the health worker which puts them at a higher
risk of contracting TB. So development of better and safe methods for sputum collection
and transport are necessary.
5. Biological sampling ensuring safe handling of specimens (biosafe collection,
decontamination, liquefaction and disinfection) with appropriate service delivery
models around them.
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Diagnostic technology
1. Affordable and easy to perform point-of-care diagnostics which can give results I
immediately (within minutes to hours).
2. Point-of-care diagnostics which are easy to set-up in low resource settings.
3. Diagnostics that uses proven population specific biomarkers that correlate genotype
with phenotype.
4. Diagnostics that do not require biosafety facilities.
5. Diagnostics for treatment monitoring.
6. Universal drug sensitivity test which can be deployed in the field.
7. Determines drug sensitivity information rapidly.
8. New drug sensitivity tests to address future drug regimens.
The above list is not all encompassing and should be treated as a guide. We do not want to limit
your imagination. There is a wealth of information on the diagnostic products in the market and
on those in development. Key publication being the Tuberculosis Diagnostics Technology and
Market Landscape, 3rd edition http://unitaid.org/images/marketdynamics/publications/UNITAID_TB_Diagnostics_Landsc
ape_3rd-edition.pdf - “This report reviews current and potential future technologies, as well as
critical market issues, to identify market-based approaches to alleviate market shortcomings
and, ultimately, access issues related to TB diagnostics. For example, potential opportunities
may include efforts to accelerate market entry for innovative TB diagnostics that address unmet
needs, and to engage private-sector care providers to increase access to appropriate diagnostic
tools.”
Given that over 190 diagnostic technologies are in the market/pipeline; the WHO published the
High-priority target product profiles for new tuberculosis diagnostics: report of a consensus
meeting http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/135617/1/WHO_HTM_TB_2014.18_eng.pdf?ua=1 This report details the scope of development of new TB diagnostic technologies including goal,
target population, target user of the test, healthcare system setting; along with performance
standards including diagnostic accuracy, time to result, maintenance, operating conditions,
suggested price etc.
“Globally, one third of all tuberculosis (TB) cases are not notified, and many patients’ samples
do not undergo drug-susceptibility testing (DST). To achieve the targets for TB prevention, care
and control that have been agreed for after 2015, new health-system strategies and diagnostic
tools are critically important. The development of target product profiles (TPPs) helps to align
the needs of end-users with the targets and specifications that product developers should meet
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for the performance and operational characteristics of a test. The meeting convened by the
World Health Organization in April 2014 aimed to build consensus around four TPPs that were
identified by stakeholders to be of high priority:
a. a point-of-care non-sputum-based test capable of detecting all forms of TB by
identifying characteristic biomarkers or biosignatures (known as the biomarker
test);
b. a point-of-care triage test, which should be a simple, low-cost test that can be
used by first-contact health-care providers to identify those who need further
testing (the triage test);
c. a point-of-care sputum-based test to replace smear microscopy for detecting
pulmonary TB (the smear-replacement test);
d. a rapid drug-susceptibility test that can be used at the microscopy-centre level of
the health-care system to select first-line regimen-based therapy (the rapid DST
test).”
StopTB and WHO provide countrywise and thematic factsheets:
http://stoptb.org/resources/publications/
http://www.who.int/tb/publications/factsheets/en/
Projects that fall outside the scope of the program would include unbiased biomarker discovery
efforts, solutions that do not have a technology development component such as only advocacy,
setting up carelines or mobile clinics etc.
Ideally, projects that will be considered for funding will be technology driven. Some desirable
attributes are listed below:
1. Built on a preliminary base of evidence
2. Reliance on easily available biological samples from all patients such as urine, stool,
blood, breath etc
3. Allow for point-of-care testing and give results immediately (minutes to hours)
4. Need minimal infrastructure. i.e. not require continuous water and power supply,
constant temperature, trained personnel, cleanroom environment, BSL3 facilities etc.
5. Be able to diagnose pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB across patient strata.
6. Detection of large number of patients early - be able to process large numbers of
specimens at various administrative levels (District, Taluk, Block, Village).
7. Be robust enough to function in diverse climatic conditions
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Funding for second call for proposals
We plan to select 9 candidates, who will be eligible for a Phase I funding of upto INR 50 Lakhs
each for a period of 12 months to develop a proof-of-concept of the proposed innovation. From
among these, 3 candidates will be further selected for Phase II funding upto INR 1.5 Crore each
for a period of 24 months. The award agreement will be structured as a service contract and the
award amounts include service tax, as applicable.
Eligibility criteria, Application Process and Selection Criteria
This Call for Proposals is open to anyone from any discipline in India - from students,
researchers and faculty in colleges/ universities/government laboratories/ institutions to
startups, SMEs, not-for-profit organizations and for-profit organizations.
We will be able to receive your proposals until 11:59 PM, 30 June 2015 (IST) on the program
website www.gc-tbc.com. Proposals will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Alignment with the mandate of the Call
Novelty
Potential impact
Feasibility
Sustainability
Accessibility
Execution capacity
Application Process
As an applicant you will register on the program website, fill an online form at www.gctbc.com, and submit a ten-page description of the innovation (including diagrams, figures and
references) - the working concept in sufficient detail, stage of development, IP ownership issues,
a short term strategy (for the award duration) and long term direction. Only online submissions
will be accepted. Please do not email us any application.
The online form on the program website (www.gc-tbc.com) consists of the following.
Applicant Information
Name:
Email:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Phone:
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Organization: Name:
Specialization:
Website:
Project Title:
You will be able to answer the following questions on the website through text boxes. Do not
include answers to these questions in your attachments.
1. Please share a brief description of your innovation and why is it novel. (1000 characters)
2. How will the innovation be superior to the current practices? What could be the societal
impact? Discuss sensitivity and specificity in relation to the existing diagnostics tests.
(1000 characters)
3. Under what operational conditions will the test(s) be administered, interpreted, and
results disseminated? (1000 characters)
4. How & why will it be economically affordable and sustainable? (Personnel & equipment
required) (1000 characters)
5. Work done so far by the team (both actual & conceptual)/Stage of development
(literature reference and/or physical data). (1000 characters)
6. Time to market, if technology/product in development – broad and short overview
plan. (1000 characters)
7. Other information (existing IP and IP generation potential, funding, awards, any other.
(1000 characters)
You will be able to upload a project related document. Please explain in sufficient detail the
following aspects of the innovation in the ten-page description of the innovation (please do not
exceed 10 pages, and restrict your attachment size to 2 MB, otherwise your application will be
disqualified).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Novelty of the working concept and/or novelty with respect to unmet need addressed
Current stage of development (preliminary data or literature)
Project plan (for 12 months)
Total development costs, other sources of funding (current or sought)
Human resources involved and potential/identified collaborators
Intellectual property (what could be patentable, ownership and sharing)
Business plan (long term)
Up to 3 resumes of the team members can be uploaded. If there more than 3 team members,
the resumes can be combined into a single file and uploaded.
Please submit your application on www.gc-tbc.com. Only online applications will be
accepted.
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Terms and Conditions
Awardees of the GC-TBC program will be bound by the terms and conditions of this initiative
from IKP and our funding partners, USAID and BIRAC.
In awarding grants to innovators in furtherance of the Objectives stated above, the Parties are
committed to ensuring that
(a) the knowledge and information arising out of or in connection with such grants be promptly
and broadly disseminated
(b) the products, services, processes, technologies, materials, software, data or other innovations
arising out of or in connection with such grants be made available and accessible at an
affordable price to people most in need within India and the developing world, as captured in
USAID policies and practices.
(c) awardee must disclose each subject invention to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
EDISON Patent Reporting and Tracking System (http://www.iedison.gov) within two months
after the inventor discloses it in writing to recipient personnel responsible for patent matters. In
addition, the recipient agrees to submit, on request, periodic reports to the IKP and USAID’s
Representative, no more frequently than annually, on the utilization of a subject invention.
NOTE: In the first Call for Proposals (launched on June 15, 2013) we invited ideas that will better administer
treatment adherence, ideas that can be deployed across the diverse and heterogeneous settings of India (e.g. urban or
rural, with or without mobile access). The second call will focus only on TB Screening, Detection and Diagnostics.
About the Partners
IKP Knowledge Park (www.ikpknowledgepark.com)
IKP is a not-for-profit, 200 acre Research Park and Incubator with over 14 years of promoting
research-based companies with a mission to create a world class ecosystem for fostering leading
edge innovation. IKP’s objective is to nurture an environment for innovation and thereby
increase the competitiveness of the region and the country. IKP is recognized nationally and
internationally for promoting innovation across India and not just in Hyderabad/ Genome
Valley. IKP has served 160 companies directly and touched over 1000 innovators through
various programs.
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United States Agency for International Development (www.usaid.gov)
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy
guidance from the Secretary of State. USAID supports international development and advances
U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade, global
health, democracy, and conflict mitigation and management, and humanitarian assistance in
Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and
Eurasia. USAID seeks to partner with local Indian organizations and resource partners to foster
the support of game-changing innovations that will lead to the alleviation of some of India’s
most intractable development issues. This alliance advances USAID India’s development
strategy in concert with non-traditional partners to address development challenges.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (www.birac.nic.in)
BIRAC is a public sector unit under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
registered as a not-for-profit company. As an interface agency for the Department of
Biotechnology, BIRAC aims to apply unique methodologies for nurturing and promoting
innovation led research by providing financial, infrastructural, institutional and mentoring
support. BIRAC works towards fulfillment of the goal of empowering and enabling the biotech
innovation ecosystem for affordable product development. BIRAC’s core mission is to work as a
development agency in the field of Biotechnology which addresses the national needs of health
and food security problems through bottom-up competitive grant approach or through topdown product development programs.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA (www.gatesfoundation.org)
The Foundation is a Washington charitable trust that is a private foundation described in
Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. A primary charitable
objective of the BMGF is to support the development of drugs, vaccines and disease-related
technologies to ameliorate diseases and conditions that have a disproportionate impact on
people within developing countries, and to ensure that such products and technologies related
to such support are made available and accessible at an affordable price to people in need
within such developing countries. The foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair
William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
For clarifications please email [email protected] or call +91-98801-26402
or +91-95700-61382
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FAQs
Who can apply?
Indian companies applying as grantees should have Registration under Companies Act 1956, and must
have 51% equity or shareholding by Indian Nationals only including NRIs. More than 49 % investments
by OCI/PIO or any foreign entities will lead to ineligibility. NGOs/ Foundations/ Not-for –Profit
Organizations/ Community bodies involved in social innovation or S&T activities must have active
participation in India. They need to submit an illustration of their active programs in the country as well
as their accomplishment when requested. The statutory recognition through Society Act or SIRO will add
credentials when provided. However we require that the grant money for R&D be utilized
predominantly (80%) in India.
Is the contest open only to Indians?
This is open to anyone working in India. You may be of any nationality, but we require that the work
happen in India, to encourage entrepreneurship while creating jobs and opportunity for equitable
healthcare to all.
Is there a limit of capital spending?
The focus is on innovations that will have great societal impact eventually, like cell phones for example.
We would like to cap the capital expenditure to 25% of the grant amount. Consumables do not form part
of the capital expenditure.
When is the application Deadline?
11:59 PM on June 30, 2015 (IST).
Can I submit more than one proposal?
Yes, you can. You will have to create separate user accounts on our website (with 2 different email ids) for
each project proposal.
What are the criterion for judging?
Novelty, Societal Impact, Alignment with the goals of the foundation, Affordability to end user,
Sustainability, Execution capability.
What should the proposal contain?
We request to address the following - Description of innovation, working concept, stage of development,
short term strategy, and long term direction.
How is long term direction different from short term direction?
Please ensure that your long term direction involves reaching to all layers of the socioeconomic
population. Your short term strategy must ensure that you use the funds effectively (and according to
plan) so that your innovation impacts as many people.
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Who owns the invention / intellectual property?
All Intellectual Property resides with the inventor. USAID can access the to make invention(s) available to
people below the poverty line. While the inventor is free to monetize the invention on populations above
the poverty line, IKP & Partners will try to economize the production and distribution of the
invention/service/drug/vaccine/device/diagnostic so that it benefits everyone, especially those below
poverty line.
How can IKP Knowledge Park help with mentoring?
IKP Knowledge Park has incubated over 40 companies so far, some of the largest being GVK Bio, Laurus
Labs and Sai Lifesciences. The IKP network is very large, especially given the Indian innovation
landscape. Our Board of Directors and Advisory Board includes former head of Departments of DBT,
Serial Technology Entrepreneurs, Members from the Indian Administrative Service, and seasoned
banking individuals. The park has a common lab facility with over 3 Million Dollars worth of equipment.
For the GC-TBC program, IKP Knowledge Park will compile a list of hospitals / clinics that will absorb
your technology as part of Phase II.
How is the proposal review process structured?
Applicants will submit their proposal by the deadline date. IKP Knowledge Park and experts from
academia and industry will evaluate the proposals for novelty and feasibility and shortlist 20-30
proposals. Among the applicants 9 Candidates will be selected for Phase I funding of INR 50,00,000 each,
and 3 candidates will be selected for Phase II funding (of INR 1.5 Crore each).
Will treatment adherence proposals be funded?
No. Only proposals related to TB Screening, Detection and Diagnostics will be funded.
Please visit www.gc-tbc.com to apply.
For clarifications please email [email protected] or call +91-98801-26402 / +91-95700-61382