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 A decade ago, during the month of February 1995, some 81 malaria
researchers from across Africa, Europe and the USA met
in Arusha to deliberate on and set strategies for future
malaria vaccine trials to be undertaken in Africa. This
conference was in the wake of unprecedented optimism
that many malaria vaccine candidates would soon vie
for testing in malaria-endemic countries, particularly
in Africa. The meeting resolved to found the African
Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN), whose goal
was to plan, perform and evaluate malaria vaccine trials
undertaken in Africa. AMVTN was later transformed into
a legal entity with a broader mandate to include other
intervention measures. This legal successor to AMVTN
is the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET), which
was born during 2002.
Although ten years is a short time in the life of an
institution,it is customary to look back at the achievements
made during the decade, take stock, and set goals for
the coming years.
The new network set out to address weaknesses identified
by the founding conference. In 1997 an AMVTN directory
was published, presenting detailed information on 29
potential institutions for testing malaria vaccines;
this document is still referred to today. During the
same year the youthful network organized its ground-breaking
training workshop, which was later followed by other
workshops, which have included such important themes
as bioethics, good clinical practice, good laboratory
practices, design and methodology of intervention trials,
data management in intervention trials, molecular biology
and immunology of malaria vaccine development, malaria
vaccinology, management and leadership of malaria research
institutions, and strengthening of principal investigators.
These training workshops, which have been hosted by
research institutions in west, central, southern and
eastern Africa, have trained over 700 African researchers
and associated personnel from across the African continent,
leading to the establishment of functional networks
among like-minded workshop participants.
At the turn of the millennium it was realized that
shortterm training alone would not enable African institutions
to undertake internationally credible malaria vaccine
trials. Through further needs assessment it was found
essential to provide wide-ranging capacity building
to institutions earmarked for malaria vaccine trials.
This has seen AMANET embarking on sponsorship of site
characterization, long-term professional training, provision
of essential equipment and improvement of infrastructure,
all geared at preparing these institutions for undertaking
future malaria vaccine trials. Presently, three institutions
are benefi ting from this type of AMANET support; a
fourth will be selected soon.
One of the beneficiary institutions, the CNRFP, recently
completed a Phase Ib trial of MSP3, an asexual stage
malaria vaccine. This is the fi rst time ever that an
African NGO (i.e. AMANET) has funded a malaria vaccine
trial that meets international scientifi c, ethical
and GCP standards, and also the fi rst time ever it
has funded an all-African team of researchers; the trial
monitor as well as the expert in quality assurance were
also African. In collaboration with the European Malaria
Vaccine Initiative (EMVI), AMANET is planning to embark
on clinical development of three more malaria vaccine
candidates in the near future.
AMANET also founded the Afro-immunoassay network, involving
institutions in six African countries, with the hub
at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
in Ghana.
Since its inception in 1995, it was found necessary
to establish means of communication with most stakeholders.
The AMVTN/AMANET Newsletter, which is published biannually,
was quickly followed by creation of a website; both
are extremely popular since they provide stakeholders
with useful information on AMANET shortterm training
opportunities, upcoming events, capacity strengthening
grants, reports from AMANET activities, and the like.
Of late, AMANET-inspired discussions are
gaining popularity.
Without doubt, we have come a long way in fulfilling
the goals set ten years ago by the founding conference.
We have even surpassed many of them. As for the future,
we shall work even harder, setting ourselves even loftier
goals. We shall continue exploiting the fruitful niches
identifi ed, particularly in long- and short-term training,
in supporting capacity building of future malaria vaccine
trial sites, in an attempt to at least partially fi
ll the many identifi ed gaps, in cultivating links with
malaria vaccine developers, in supporting malaria vaccine
trials, and naturally in mobilizing the necessary funding.
During 2004 the international consulting firm KPMG
(Amstelveen, The Netherlands) undertook a mid-term appraisal
of AMANET activities, and reported that: “The
main conclusion of our appraisal of progress made so
far is that AMANET is on track in achieving its ambitious
mission. If viewed from a stance of available practical
means and external factors, what the network organization
has achieved in the past years is even more impressive”.
AMANET also competed for and won the hosting of the
Secretariat for the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria
(MIM). From January 2006 AMANET will host the MIM Secretariat
for fi ve years. This will be another first - the first
time that an African organization will host this august
global alliance of malaria stakeholders and partners.
The successes achieved were made possible by many individuals,
teams, institutions and agencies. Since it is not possible
to list all who have contributed to our successes, I
shall only acknowledge a representative few, who include
the AMANET governance bodies, especially the Board of
Trustees, the Scientific Coordinating Committee, and
members of various review and product development teams.
I wish also to thank authors, discussants, workshop
facilitators and researchers who have helped translate
AMANET’s dreams into ongoing projects. All members
of the AMANET Secretariat have worked diligently in
realizing the AMANET mission.
By no means least, I must also thank the many donors
who have generously contribut ed to the realization
of the AMANET mandate. In this regard I should single
out our major donors, namely the Danish Agency for International
Development (Danida), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (DGIS), the European Community Directorate General
Research, and the European Development Aid Offi ce (AIDCO).
As I look back with pride at the achievements made
over the last decade, I wishall of our stakeholders
a happy New Year ahead, and I am glad to share with
them our celebration of our first 10 years.
Prof Wen L. Kilama
Managing Trustee
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