McGill University Gets $1-Million Grant to Fight Parasitic Diseases

McGill University received funding on Monday to fight a disorder that affects one-sixth of the world’s population.

The University’s scientist Dr. Timothy Geary will use the $1-million in funding to addressing parasitic diseases through medicines derived from African biodiversity.

“While there have been advances in the past few years in providing drugs to control the disease, there is so much more that can be done to eliminate NTDs and bring hope to many for a better future,” said Dr. Geary, Director of the Institute of Parasitology at McGill.

“The drugs we plan to develop through this research will combat growing resistance to existing therapies, an important next step in the treatment and control of parasitic disease.”

The new funding comes from a joint effort between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada through the Canadian government’s Capital Development Innovation Fund, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Over 1 billion people suffer from NTDs, which can cause disfigurement, disability and even death. They can take the form of diseases such as hookworm, river blindness and elephantiasis. The effects can lead to stunted growth and cognitive impairment in children, horrific debilitating and disfiguring symptoms in adults.