2006 Stakeholders Association Meeting
The 2006 Meeting of the TB Alliance Stakeholders Association was held October 30 in Paris to evaluate recent progress to accelerate the development of new, faster-acting drugs that will revolutionize TB control.
Stakeholders were provided a comprehensive review of the work underway on many fronts to advance the most comprehensive TB drug pipeline in nearly half a century, including new projects in the discovery phase and advancement of the research now in the clinical trials phase in patients. Stakeholders shared their ideas on how to help support and advance the Alliance's achievements, and help achieve the world's goal of ending TB by 2050.
Dr. Petro Terblanche was elected as President of the Stakeholders Association for a two year term, and will serve as Member ex officio of the TB Alliance Board of Directors. Dr. Terblanche is Executive Director, Technology and Business Development Directorate, at the Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC). She is a member of the MRC's Strategic Management Team, and an expert in intellectual property management and public health collaborations. Since 2005, Dr. Terblanche has also been Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, in the School of Health Systems and Public Health.
The Stakeholders Association comprises institutions which have formally pledged to support the TB Alliance in its mission, and includes a range of organizations worldwide that share a clear interest, and a significant stake, in ensuring the development of a faster, better cure for TB. Many stakeholder organizations are original signatories of the 2000 Cape Town Declaration, which formed the TB Alliance. They include representatives from developing nations, governments, NGOs, professional organizations, academia, foundations, and industry.
Stakeholders participate in the TB Alliance's outreach and advocacy efforts, and they also advise and support the TB Alliance Board of Directors on various matters. These responsibilities are exercised through ongoing contact with the Alliance, the nomination of candidates for the Board of Directors, and the biennial election of a Stakeholders Association President.
Since the input of the broader global health community is an important component of the annual meeting, outside participants are considered for election to the Association each year.