# Institute of Philanthropy Commits Nearly US$5 Million to Bring Innovative TB Diagnostics Closer to Patients

**GENEVA** – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) and the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), a “think-fund-do” tank established by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, today announced a new contribution of up to US$5 million to accelerate access to innovative tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics in high-burden countries. This commitment has unlocked up to an additional US$5 million in matching funds from the Gates Foundation, resulting in up to US$10 million in total resources for health and showing the power of philanthropy to leverage additional private capital for global health impact.

The partnership will support the scale-up of a new generation of near-point-of-care (NPOC) molecular tests for TB, helping countries access the technical assistance and implementation support needed to introduce these technologies effectively and sustainably. In doing so, it will help close a critical gap in global health: ensuring that lifesaving innovations do not remain out of reach, but are introduced, adapted and scaled in the countries and communities where they can have the greatest impact.

The investment builds on a broader Global Fund initiative to accelerate access to NPOC molecular testing. Thirteen countries – Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, Viet Nam and Zambia – are already preparing to roll out the new tests through an Early Adopter initiative supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and implemented by the Aurum Institute.

Together, these efforts are helping countries make one of the most significant shifts in TB diagnosis in decades: moving away from reliance on century-old smear microscopy toward rapid molecular testing that can be deployed closer to patients. In practical terms, this means bringing the lab closer to the patient, rather than requiring the patient to travel to the lab.

“Transformative health innovations only deliver their full potential when countries can access them and have the support they need to put them into practice,” **said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund**. “The Institute of Philanthropy’s contribution demonstrates the catalytic role philanthropy can play in accelerating access to innovation. By bringing together philanthropic investment, technical expertise and country leadership, we can help ensure that new tools reach the people and communities who stand to benefit most.”

TB remains the world’s leading infectious disease killer, claiming more than 1 million lives every year despite being preventable and curable. One of the biggest barriers to ending TB is that millions of people still lack access to rapid and accurate diagnosis.

NPOC molecular tests have the potential to transform that experience. They can be deployed in primary care facilities closer to where people live and deliver results in under an hour. This can enable someone to walk into a clinic, receive an accurate diagnosis and potentially begin treatment during the same visit – reducing delays, preventing people from being lost between diagnosis and treatment, and helping reduce further transmission.

Bringing high-quality molecular testing closer to communities is particularly important for people who have historically faced the greatest barriers to diagnosis, including people living in rural and underserved areas and vulnerable populations. It also supports a broader shift toward more patient-centered TB care, where services are designed around the needs of people rather than the location of laboratories.

The Global Fund is working with countries and partners to address the multiple barriers that can prevent promising health innovations from reaching people at scale. Alongside investments in health products, this includes technical assistance to help countries plan for and introduce new technologies, adapt diagnostic networks and service delivery models, train health workers, strengthen systems and generate the evidence needed for wider adoption. The IoP contribution will strengthen this work, helping countries translate innovation into impact and integrate new technologies sustainably into their health systems.

NPOC testing is designed to complement existing molecular testing platforms and strengthen national diagnostic networks by extending access beyond traditional laboratory settings.

“Philanthropy can play a catalytic role in helping proven health innovations reach people faster,” **said Dr Gabriel Leung, Director of the Institute of Philanthropy**. “Through this partnership, we also see significant potential for innovative diagnostic technologies to strengthen epidemic preparedness across Asia by helping health systems detect and respond to infectious disease threats more effectively.”

“Matching commitments like this can help bring more funders to the table and make every dollar go further. The Institute of Philanthropy’s investment is a strong example of what that can achieve: mobilizing additional resources so countries can introduce promising new TB diagnostics and reach more people with better testing, faster,” **said Kieran Daly, Director, Global Health Agencies and Funds, Gates Foundation**.

The partnership also reflects the growing potential for philanthropy to play a catalytic role in addressing global health challenges. By supporting the introduction and scale-up of promising innovations, philanthropic partners can help bridge the critical gap between the development of new technologies and their widespread adoption in countries and communities.

The Global Fund is the largest external financier of TB programs worldwide. Through catalytic investments, technical assistance and country grants, it works with governments, communities, technical partners and philanthropic organizations to expand access to new tools and accelerate progress toward ending TB.

The new IoP commitment marks the latest step in that effort. By helping bring cutting-edge diagnostics closer to communities, it can enable more people to receive the care they need, when and where they need it.