A View From The Field #1

It’s been an exciting year here at Erada. As a Christmas gift, we’re providing the first edition of our new newsletter, which will provide updates of our research each quarter of the year.

Take a read and sign up below.

Season’s Greetings!

It has been a busy and exciting 12 months here at Erada, and we have worked tirelessly to develop the world’s first saliva-based rapid diagnostic test for malaria, otherwise known as SALVA!.

Through research and collaboration with partners across the globe, SALVA! is set to revolutionise malaria detection and ultimately save lives. From engaging with key figures in the field of malaria diagnostics, to building an online web presence, brand, and relationships with international media, we’ve left no stone unturned in our mission to eradicate malaria.

And we want you to be part of that mission. That’s why each quarter, we’ll be sending you an update on the journey to bring SALVA! to commercialsation and end malaria.

Together, we can beat malaria.

Dr Benji Pretorius

Our review of 2019

This year has seen us take significant steps forward in our mission to eradicate malaria…

Let us take a look back at this groundbreaking first 12 months.

1) Starting the year as we meant to continue

2019 brought the world one step closer to producing a non-invasive rapid malaria diagnostic test, starting almost immediately in January with our research published in Science Translational Magazine.

This proved to be the catalyst to move from simply having a vision to eradicate malaria, to endorsement in our research and findings.

We’ve not looked back since.

2) Gaining crucial support from De Beers Group

South African mining organisation De Beers Group got behind our work in developing an accessible, non-invasive RDT through a foundation grant of 288,000 EUR.

De Beers Group prides itself on inspiring positive change in global communities. With their backing, we are in a great position to do the same.

These achievements would not have been possible without the dedicated support of our partners. With the eyes of the world fixed on making a malaria-free world by 2050, now is the time to take SALVA! into the next stage of its development.

Learn more about SALVA! here.

3) Vital funding secured through the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT)

The GHIT fund, headquartered in Japan, is an international partnership which has innovation at its core. In September this year, we were honoured to receive a 1million USD grant after successfully pitching to GHIT’s expert panel.

The partnership includes the Bill & Melinda Foundation, which also champions a vision for a world free from malaria and other mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

This funding will be instrumental as we continue moving SALVA! closer to commercialisation. Learn more here.

4) Scooping the Hello Tomorrow Africa Challenge title

We beat 5 000 entrants to win the 2019 Africa Challenge for innovation and technology, and have been shortlisted to appear at the Global Summit taking place in Paris in March.

This proud moment was made all the more special when the judges stated our “fight to end malaria has inspired many.”

Share the success with us here.

WHO Malaria Report 2019 – progress cannot be allowed to slow

The latest World Health Organisation Report, released at the start of December, praises efforts to slow the rate of deaths from malaria.

However, the Report goes on to state that as a global community, we have gone off-track to meet critical global targets.

To address this, a greater understanding of how malaria spreads is urgently needed, along with commitment from world leaders to help finance innovative methods to combat the spread of the disease.

Malaria can kill within a week of symptoms being shown. Those in countries with the highest malaria burden, especially pregnant women and children under five (who account for the majority of malaria cases), must be able to access primary care health services and a diagnosis while they are still asymptomatic.

We’ve taken tremendous steps forward, as the WHO Malaria Report 2019 illustrates. Yet whilst lives are still being claimed by malaria, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Read our statement on the Report in full here.

In the lab

2019 brought the world one step closer to producing a non-invasive rapid malaria diagnostic test. From being featured in key media to demonstrating our expertise and what the future holds at worldwide exhibitions.

Research conducted at the University of Florida showed it was possible to target a parasite protein (non-HRP2) present in gametocytes or ideally shared in both trophozoites/gametocytes, and ultimately diagnose malaria much more efficiently.

It was also essential to target a protein biomarker present in female gametocytes, which are more abundant in human hosts. Therefore, the SALVA! test is able to detect both the parasite protein, and identify whether a person is at risk of developing malaria further down the line.

As a result of the extensive research, we are now in a position to take SALVA! through to the next stage of its production.