World Malaria Day (previously Africa Malaria Day) will now be commemorated every year on 25 April. The declaration of the 2008 1st World Malaria Day reflects the emphasis the world now attaches to the burden of this disease and its impact on the lives of those who live in malaria endemic countries, especially children under five years and pregnant women. It is our hope that this will help to raise awareness of this disease, thereby resulting in the commitment of additional resources into the effort to develop more effective interventions as well as helping in ensuring that the already proven interventions are accessible to those who need them. In this regard, more proactive action is required from individuals and governments in the resource-rich countries.

EMVI continues to build robust partnerships and relationships with stakeholders in the various aspects of malaria vaccine development. Under the European Commission FP6 programme, EMVI is coordinating 19 scientific institutions in Europe and Africa (EMVDA, www.emvda.org) involved in the discovery and clinical development of malaria vaccines as well as EURHAVAC (www.emvi.org), a specific EC-supported action on harmonisation of malaria vaccine development in Europe. As part of the EC FP7 programme, three coordination and support initiatives submitted by EMVI and its partners have recently been favourably reviewed. Two Integrated Project proposals involving seven and eight partners respectively have been submitted to EDCTP in connection with a call for the development of malaria vaccines in July 2007.

In collaboration with AMANET, two malaria vaccine candidates in the EMVI portfolio, AMA1 and GMZ2 are currently undergoing field trials in Africa, Bandiagara in Mali and Lambarene in Gabon.

The EMVI is committed to its goals of providing a mechanism for accelerated development of malaria vaccines in Europe and developing countries as well as promoting affordability and accessibility of malaria vaccines in developing countries in the years ahead.

EMVDA: Please be advised that with immediate effect EMVDA has its own web site www.emvda.org

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, London:

Careers and Opportunities in Tropical Medicine and International Health Research. 22 May 2008 (deadline 15 May)
Meeting aimed at postgraduate researchers and students who would like to learn more about possible research careers in the areas of tropical medicine and international health (e-mail: mail@rstmh.org)

€ 1 000 000 - Irish Aid, Republic of ireland 
€ 268 000 - Danida, Denmark
EMVI sends grateful thanks to its donors for their invaluable support to the important mission of EMVI.

Contributions from donors - 2007

EMVI is very pleased to report that the following contributions have been received or are due to be received in 2007:
€ 1,121,301 - DGIS, The Netherlands
€ 1,000,000 - Irish Aid, Republic of ireland
€ 588,235 - Sida, Sweden
€ 161,236 - Danida, Denmark

 BACKGROUND

The European Malaria Vaccine Initiative, EMVI was established in 1998 by the European Commission and interested European Union Member States, in order to address identified structural deficiencies in public funded malaria vaccine development.

The aim of EMVI is to provide a mechanism through which the development of experimental malaria vaccines can be accelerated within Europe and in developing countries.

EMVI shall facilitate and contribute financially and technically to nationally and internationally funded malaria vaccine research and development, and will provide a mechanism to see candidate molecules through to limited industrial production and clinical trials in close collaboration with the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET).

EMVI will provide a forum for scientists and policy makers engaged in malaria vaccine research and development.

Reference: Hagan P, Bjorvatn B and Jepsen S. European Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Parasitol Today 15: 47-48, 1999