March 2018

New Partnership Announced between Johnson & Johnson and Saving Lives at Birth Innovator Monash University

Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V of Johnson & Johnson announced that it has entered into a sponsored research agreement with the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) at Monash University to advance the development of an inhaled version of oxytocin to help prevent and manage Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH). Monash University developed their inhaled oxytocin with funding from Saving Lives at Birth, and this new research agreement builds on an existing collaboration between MIPS and GSK which was established in 2014.

Digital Health Investment Review Tool

The Digital Health Investment Review Tool (DHIRT), developed through a close collaboration between CII and USAID’s Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition team, aims to provide high-level guidance that can be used to support strategic investments in the use of digital technologies to support public and global health. Developed by a consortium of funders and implementers led by JSI for the Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), the DHIRT is based on widely-accepted best practices in global digital health such as the Principles for Digital Development and the Donor Investment Principles.

Blended Finance Event Featuring CII's New Report

As part of the launch of CII’s Blended Finance Roadmap for Global Health, the Kaiser Family Foundation organized an invite-only roundtable meeting on blended finance for global health that convened key stakeholders to spark a candid discussion about the potential, practice, and risks of using blended finance in global health. Participating organizations included bilateral and multilateral donors, philanthropic foundations, development finance institutions, the private sector, and implementing partners.

ATscale Launches Strategy Overview

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology (AT) recently launched its public strategy overview. ATscale aims to reach 500 million more people by 2030 with the life-changing assistive technology that they need through developing an enabling environment for increased access to high-quality, affordable AT products and services and identifying market shaping opportunities for priority AT products and services. Currently, eleven partners are part of ATscale: USAID, Norad, DFID, CHAI; China Disabled Persons' Federation; Global Disability Innovation Hub; Government of Kenya; International Disability Alliance; Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Health; UNICEF; and WHO.

CII's Amy Lin on Wharton Business Radio

CII's Acting Deputy Director Amy Lin was interviewed on the Wharton Business Radio Show Dollars and Change, which highlights individuals and organizations who are using business skills to change lives; the show airs every Thursday on SiriusXM 132. Among other examples, Amy described USAID's human-centered design work to develop the V brand for oral PrEP, a market shaping example to accelerate access to optimized HIV treatment, and support for a non-traditional innovator from the Combating Zika and Future Threats Grand Challenge. Listen to her interview.

The New Yorker featuring SL@B innovator Massachusetts General Hospital

The New Yorker featured Saving Lives at Birth innovator Massachusetts General Hospital and its innovation the “Every Second Matters Uterine Balloon Tamponade” in this piece about how reverse innovation is a promising avenue for improving healthcare performance and lowering costs.