Atlanta, GA (September 29, 2009) – As part of its core solution design philosophy, SEEDR employs a collaborative approach to project initiatives by bringing together experts from government, academia, private enterprise, academia and international aid agencies in a collaborative design and innovation process. SEEDR believes that through a transdiciplinary approach will we be able to achieve the greatest returns in social, environmental and economic investment. SEEDR has entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with the Global Immunization Division of the National Center for International Immunization and Disease at the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) for collaborative research in its global public health initiatives.
The GID’s primary responsibilities are to strengthen immunization systems, eliminate and eradicate disease, develop a strategic framework for global immunization, and to work in close partnership with a wide array of international agencies and institutions to shape global health policies and to fund, implement, and evaluate immunization programs. SEEDR is committed to improving global public health by applying its unique design philosophy to its select technology portfolio in order to make innovative health solutions more accessible on a global scale.
The initial purpose of the agreement is to transfer proprietary research materials and proprietary confidential information required to perform collaborative research projects. SEEDR is developing light weight and thermally-efficient long- and short-haul transport carriers for vaccines and biological specimens using proprietary materials and manufacturing processes in order to enhance cold chain systems to protect current and future vaccines as well as support the integrity of biological specimens for surveillance activities.
Upon final selection of the prototype products, SEEDR will provide them to CDC (and other international stakeholders) to conduct field tests of the forward and reverse cold chain equipment, and conduct cost effectiveness and cost-utility analyses of the new equipment. CDC will coordinate and facilitate these activities with appropriate entities at WHO, UNICEF and among bilateral stakeholders, e.g., Ministries of Health with whom CDC has an established research and collaboration history. The results of research conducted within the scope of the agreement will be made publicly available.
Dr. Brent Burkholder, Director of the CDC Global Immunization Division described the potential impact of the project as both economic and programmatic. “Our goal in this project is to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of cold chain capacity around the world, both to protect the significant investment in costly vaccines, and, more importantly, to ensure the safety of those receiving immunizations.”
SEEDR and the CDC intend to engage the collaborative process in other health related projects slated to begin in the second quarter, 2010.
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