Readers respond

To The Editor:

In response to your article, "TB diagnostics initiative launched," we are writing on behalf of the World Health Organization's Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to comment on why the FIND initiative will strengthen efforts to develop new diagnostics for the developing world.

TDR's mission is to deliver new and cost-effective health interventions to patients in endemic regions and to make this happen as fast as possible. In some cases, this goal is best achieved by supporting independent, mission-specific initiatives, such as the Global Forum for Health Research, the Medicines for Malaria Venture, and FIND.

FIND's independence, flexibility, and unique focus will allow it to forge new, long-term partnerships with the public sector, private industry, and nongovernmental organizations. TDR has been a driving force in the creation of FIND...