[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/spotlight-group-b-strep-39-usa-gbs-prot... ]
Dear Neil and CHIFA colleagues,
In regards to the questions posed, my role in the Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Road Map was minimal through a web-based consultation at one point in its development. I defer to others who were involved to comment on the process and am grateful to them for developing this very important road map.
I am always glad to have group B strep included in collective efforts and in regards to this call for action, it strengthens the awareness for the need for a maternal GBS vaccine which is in development through several independent efforts. To my knowledge, two are in late-stages of clinical development.
The biennial International Symposium on Streptococcus Agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) https://issad.org/ focuses on perinatal group B strep (common name for Streptococcus agalactiae) infections with many common participants from the road map efforts so from my perspective, there’s a good balance with the road map’s broader scope.
Perhaps other CHIFA colleagues who are more in-the-know can comment on progress for the road map recommendations as well as political and financial support for meningitis in general and GBS in particular.
Best!
Marti
CHIFA profile: Marti Perhach is CEO/Cofounder of Group B Strep International, United States. Professional interests: Group B strep disease research and prevention, prenatal infection, One Health. www.groupbstrepinternational.org Email address: marti.perhach AT gbs-intl.org