07 April 2020, Geneva, Switzerland – Today, on the occasion of World Health Day, the India Health Fund (IHF) launched the Quest 2020 focused on innovations in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that has been India’s biggest killer among respiratory infections. This happens as the country braces to fight COVID-19, another deadly respiratory infection. The innovations and experiences in fighting TB can benefit the COVID-19 response and vice versa.
The Stop TB Partnership’s TB REACH initiative will collaborate with the India Health Fund for the Quest 2020 in the areas of knowledge sharing, selection process, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation and exchange of TB related innovations between India and the world.
The Quest 2020 calls for proposals for disruptive innovations that have demonstrated the potential in making a significant difference in the fight against TB, support India’s ambitious goal to eliminate TB in the country by 2025 and join the fight against COVID-19. Application deadline: 22 April 2020.
Click here to submit application to Quest 2020
Funding will be provided to support innovative solutions that can be leveraged by mainstream operations and ensure scale-up in public (district/state/national level) and the private sector. Proposals will be reviewed by an expert panel, followed by extensive technical/operational/financial due diligence, prior to announcing the award.
“We in the Stop TB Partnership are happy to partner with India Health Fund. We need now more than ever disruptive innovations to emerge and support the fight against killer respiratory infections. New and bold ideas will benefit the TB response and can also help those who are tirelessly working to fight COVID-19 in India and the world,” said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership.
About TB REACH
Stop TB Partnership's TB REACH, established in 2010 with the leadership of Global Affairs Canada, has funded ground-breaking approaches and technologies aimed at increasing the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB, decreasing treatment time, and improving treatment success rates. TB REACH combines fast-track, results-based financing and rigorous, external monitoring and evaluation (M&E), so other donor agencies and/or national governments can scale-up successful approaches and maximize their investments.
About India Health Fund
India Health Fund is an organization seeded by Tata Trusts to identify and support breakthrough innovations to accelerate the eradication of infectious diseases in India. IHF has strategic support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and has so far focused on supporting innovations that leverage technology, artificial intelligence, molecular diagnostics and product design to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and malaria. IHF aims to support and catalyze innovative technologies or approaches by fast-tracking its journey from lab to last mile.