The European Union's commissioner for research has called on African countries to mobilize their efforts to support a collaborative, EU-funded research program to tackle HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis—and has asked them to put a strong focus on training and supporting local scientists.

Philippe Busquin used a World Health Organization (WHO) regional meeting in Johannesburg on September 1st to tell the health ministers of 46 African states about the Europe Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, a €600-million ($650 million) project launched a year ago.

The program "is a unique opportunity for African and European researchers, from academia, the public sector, and industry, to join hands in fighting the world's worst epidemic and demonstrate real solidarity towards the populations that need it most," he told ministers at the meeting.

The partnership already has €200 million in funds from the EU central research budget and another €200 million on the table...

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