In an intensely interconnected and interdependent world, health problems know no borders and need global answers that respond to today’s deep inequalities and the challenges of sustainability. My motivation as director general of ISGlobal is to find and apply new solutions, conduct “science with conscience”, and generate transformative knowledge to close the gaps in health disparities and leave no-one behind.
At ISGlobal we work with poverty-related diseases such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis, but also with emerging pathologies like COVID. However, we also investigate other diseases, including cancer and cardiopulmonary conditions, the leading causes of death in the world, and risks to environmental and planetary health. Because we believe the progress of humanity means health with equality and sustainability.
Last year, in collaboration with the authorities of Mozambique and the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), we demonstrated that tools such as the massive administration of an antiparasitic combined with the use of mosquito nets and mosquito control can significantly reduce the incidence of malaria in southern Mozambique. Furthermore, in 2019 we confirmed that the RTS,S vaccine favours the acquisition of natural immunity against the malaria parasite.
