research

Valley fever vaccine effort lacks federal funding

YESENIA AMARO AND TRACY WOOD - Reporting on Health Collaborative — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:17:00 +0000

The federal government is the single biggest source for the primary research that leads to new vaccines.

But, like the pharmaceutical industry, it currently is not supporting a valley fever vaccine. Other diseases that affect far fewer people receive much more federal support.

Valley fever vaccine stalls after early promise

YESENIA AMARO AND TRACY WOOD - Reporting on Health Collaborative — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:58:58 +0000

Just eight years ago, a vaccine to stop valley fever seemed within reach.

Ambitious scientists at five universities had brought in millions of dollars since 1997 from private donations and government funding to develop a way to beat the fungus before it ever had a chance to lodge in a person’s lungs and wreak havoc on his or her organs.

In 2004, they announced they had selected a pathway to pursue a vaccine.

Scientists took different routes to find valley fever vaccine

YESENIA AMARO AND TRACY WOOD - Reporting on Health Collaborative — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:00:05 +0000

Five scientists were chosen by a committee affiliated with California State University, Bakersfield, in 1997 to pursue vaccine research.

Dr. John Galgiani, 66, professor at the University of Arizona and director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence

Developed a vaccine that has been tested in mice and monkeys.
Currently working to improve the vaccine to make it cheaper to make.
Also working on Nikkomycin Z, a possible valley fever cure.