MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Temptime Corporation announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dawn Smith, PhD., Temptime Executive Director, New Product Development, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Low-Cost Vaccine Vial Unit-Level Temperature Indicators that Display Cumulative and Peak Exposures to Heat".
"As recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVMs) currently used on vaccines distributed through United Nations procurement agencies such as UNICEF, and other organizations and governments, alert health care professionals in the field when vaccines may have been exposed to damaging heat to avoid administration of temperature-damaged vaccine to patients," explains Dr. Smith. She continued, "The novel aspect of this application will be the integration of the peak temperature indicator with the cumulative heat indicator, providing a unique, simple and clear signal to the field worker so they can decide if they should use the vaccine or not."
Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds individuals worldwide who are taking innovative approaches to some of the world's toughest and persistent global health and development challenges. GCE invests in the early stages of bold ideas that have real potential to solve the problems people in the developing world face every day. Smith's project is one of over 80 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 9 grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"Investments in innovative global health research are already paying off," said Chris Wilson, director of Global Health Discovery and Translational Sciences at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We continue to be impressed by the novelty and innovative spirit of Grand Challenges Explorations projects and are enthusiastic about this exciting research. These investments hold real potential to yield new solutions to improve the health of millions of people in the developing world, and ensure that everyone has the chance to live a healthy productive life."
To receive funding, Dawn Smith and other Grand Challenges Explorations Round 9 winners demonstrated in a two-page online application a creative idea in one of five critical global heath and development topic areas that included agriculture development, immunization and communications.
As principle investigator for the Grand Challenge Exploration, Dr. Smith proposed the concept to develop low-cost individual vaccine vial temperature indicators that provide a unique signal after a defined cumulative heat exposure consistent with WHO PQS specifications for Vaccine Vial Monitors AND to also provide an indication of brief exposure to high temperatures that could cause vaccines to lose potency and be rendered ineffective. The new dual function heat indicators will be integrated in a single device that has a single visual signal consistent with current VVMs - a square, white reactive surface in the center of a circular reference surface that darkens with exposure to heat.
"For more than 20 years, Temptime Corporation has worked with WHO, PATH, and other organizations to develop technology to contribute to the success of global immunization programs that have made such a tremendous impact on saving the lives of people in developing nations," said Ted Prusik, PhD, Temptime Senior Vice President and Director Life Sciences and one of the inventors of the original Vaccine Vial Monitor. He continued, "Temptime is very proud to receive a Grand Challenges Explorations grant and we are fully dedicated to continue our support of global immunization initiatives."
About Grand Challenges Explorations
Grand Challenges Explorations is a US$100 million initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2008, over 700 people in 45 countries have received Grand Challenges Explorations grants. The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline and from any organization. The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page online applications and no preliminary data required. Initial grants of US$100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to US$1 million.
About Temptime Corporation
Temptime, the world leader in time-temperature indicators, plays a vital role in the improvement of global health by providing solutions that monitor temperature sensitive medical products, live tissue and devices. Temptime uses its patented technologies to develop and produce devices that provide definitive, irreversible readings while avoiding the environmental hazards associated with battery operated devices. To learn more about Temptime Corporation and its products, please visit www.temptimecorp.com.
Contacts
TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Ted Prusik, PhD.; 973-984-6002
tedp@temptimecorp.com