The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the guidelines for interested candidates to access funds under the Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) grant.
The Healthcare Research And Development Grant, according to CBN, aims to strengthen the public healthcare system with innovative financing of research and development (R&D) in new and improved drugs, vaccines and diagnostics of infectious diseases in Nigeria and is accessible to biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes for the research and development of drugs, herbal medicines, and vaccines for the control, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases.
Eligible Candidate/Research
Some of the Medical activities that will be eligible for consideration under the Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme includes:
i. Research and development of candidate drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines validated by relevant health authorities for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
ii. Manufacturing of drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines validated by relevant health authorities for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
iii. Red biotechnological R&D in new health technology for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
iv. Research partnership between academia and industry into the development drugs and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
v. Research and development into validated phytomedicines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
Grant Limit
i. Research activities: Maximum of N50.0 million.
ii. Development/Manufacturing activities: Maximum of N500.0 million.
Research and Development Timeframe
i. Research activities: Not more than two (2) years from the date of release of fund.
ii. Development/Manufacturing activities: Not more than one (1) year from the date of release of fund.
Applicants applying for the CBN healthcare grant, shall be required to have conducted pre-clinical testing of the candidate drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines, and obtained certification from relevant health authorities for further research and development.
Special consideration shall be given to candidate drugs, herbal medicines, and vaccines with high scientific merit against emerging infections and contribute to the development of a Nigerian vaccine.
A Body of Expert (BoE) shall be constituted from the academia and industry to review validated research proposals submitted and recommend for financing, as appropriate. The BoE shall meet regularly to appraise the research and development project and submit progress reports to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Body of Experts (BoE)
The Chair of the Body of Expert (BoE) shall be appointed by the CBN. The Body of Experts (BoE) shall be responsible for the review and evaluation of submitted research proposals. They shall also, recommend for financing R&D projects with high potential to contribute to the development of Nigerian vaccines for infectious diseases.
The composition of the BoE shall be as detailed below:
i. Two (2) independent research specialists appointed by the CBN;
ii. One (1) nominee from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC);
iii. One (1) nominee from Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD);
iv. One (1) nominee from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
v. One (1) nominee from Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and;
vi. One (1) nominee from the Federal Ministry of Health
Application Modalities
i. The applicant(s) shall submit its application, with relevant documentation of validation from relevant health authorities, trial results, patent registration details (if any) and development timetable to the Body of Experts (BoE).
ii. The BoE shall evaluate applications and recommend to the CBN
iii. The CBN shall review for documentation adequacy and completeness;
iv. Upon approval, the approved grant sum shall be released to the applicant’s account with any PFI of his/her choice.
v. The beneficiary shall submit periodic progress report on the project to the CBN.
The CBN shall have proprietary right overall financed R&D outcomes or products. Equally, licensing protocol for the mass manufacturing of developed drugs, phytomedicines and vaccines shall be defined by the BoE in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
