In celebration of its 20th anniversary, DNDi is organizing the DNDi 20 Years Symposium: Sustainable Solutions to Develop the Best Science for the Most Neglected on Tuesday 28 November 2023 at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) campus in Rio de Janeiro.
The event will address the advances made by DNDi and its partners since the organization’s founding, the challenges that remain in R&D treatments for neglected diseases, and the gaps in access to medicines for affected people.
A broad array of actors from the field of R&D for neglected diseases — including international scientists, product developers, policymakers, and civil society organizations — will participate in the debates to highlight the urgent actions to be undertaken to ensure sustainable pathways to bring the best science to the most neglected.
The symposium is co-organized by two of DNDi’s founding partners: Fiocruz and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Programme
Opening
8:55 – 10:00
Speakers:
- Nísia Trindade, Minister of Health Brazil
- Sergio Sosa-Estani, Latin America Director, DNDi
- Marie-Paul Kieny, Chair of the DNDi Board of Directors, and Chair of the Medicines Patent Pool Board
- Mario Moreira, President, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)
- Jarbas Barbosa, Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- Ximena Aguilera, Minister of Health, Chile
- José Noriega Panssa, Cooperation and International Relations advisor of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia
Session 1: 20 years of achievements and challenges in innovation and access to healthcare
10:00 – 11:00
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies: Alessandra Vilas-Boas, Deputy General Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Opening: Renata Reis, Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Speakers:
- Noor Hisham Abdullah, Former Director-General of Health, Malaysia, and Member of the DNDi Board of Directors
- Jorge Bermudez, Senior Researcher and Advisor, Fiocruz, and Member of the Board of Directors
- Elvira Idalia Hernández, President, International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS)
Session 2: Current and future challenges of innovation and access to treatments for neglected populations
11:30 – 12:30
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies: Alessandra Vilas-Boas, Deputy General Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Opening: Carlos Morel, Director, Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)
Speakers:
- Fabiola Sulpino Vieira, Health Coordinator, Directorate of Studies and Social Policies, Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea)
- Marcus Soalheiro, Representative, Brazilian Association of Fine Chemical Industries (ABIFINA)
- John Reeder, Director, World Health Organization’s Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), and DNDi Board Permanent Observer
- Suerie Moon, Co-director, Global Health Centre, and Member of the DNDi Board of Directors
Session 3: Financial sustainability of R&D of treatments for neglected diseases
13:35 – 14:30
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies: Alessandra Vilas-Boas, Deputy General Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Opening: Silvia Gold, President, Mundo Sano Foundation, and Member of the DNDi Board of Directors
Speakers:
- Draurio Barreira, representative of Secretariat of Health Surveillance and Environment of the Brazilian Ministry of Health
- Carla Reis, Head of the Department of the Industrial Complex and Health Services, National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) of Brazil
- Thiago de Mello Moraes, General Coordinator of Health, Biotechnology and Agricultural Sciences, Secretariat of Strategic Policies and Programs, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil
Session 4: Emerging transformations in global health: How do they impact our innovation agendas?
15:00 – 16:00
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies: Alessandra Vilas-Boas, Deputy General Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Opening: Michel Lotrowska, President, DNDi Latin America
Speakers:
- Alexandre Ghisleni, Ambassador and Head of the Special Advisory for International Affairs, Ministry of Health, Brazil
- Marie-Paul Kieny, Chair of the DNDi Board, and Chair of the Medicines Patent Pool Board
- Marco Krieger, Vice-President of Production and Innovation in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)
- Maria Guevara, International President of Doctors Without Borders (online)
Closing
16:00 – 16:30
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies: Alessandra Vilas-Boas, Deputy General Director, Doctors Without Borders Brazil
Speakers:
- Luis Pizarro, Executive Director, DNDi
