The Catalysis Foundation for Health (Catalysis), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit entity dedicated to establishing diagnostics as an imperative for healthcare in the developing world, announced today that it has named Nancy A. Aossey to its Board of Directors. Aossey is President and Chief Executive Officer of International Medical Corps, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through medical relief, health care training, and development programs that build self-reliance. Â She joins the Catalysis Board effective immediately.
“Nancy’s wealth of experience in establishing and running local medical relief operations brings an important perspective and skill set to Catalysis,” said John Peabody, M.D., Ph.D., member of the Catalysis Foundation for Health Board of Directors.” Her considerable relationships with individuals in local governments and health care providers, NGOs and global health authorities, combined with her understanding of local requirements for health care delivery will be instrumental in shaping and advancing our core programs.”
Aossey joined Los Angeles-based International Medical Corps in 1986 and today is responsible for providing over $150 million in disaster response and recovery programs annually, working with a staff of 4,000 and thousands of local volunteers in more than 25 nations. Since 1984, International Medical Corps has delivered more than $1 billion of assistance and health services to tens of millions of people in more than 50 countries. It is often the first relief organization on the ground following a disaster, with local operations up and running in countries around the world within 24 hours. Recognized as an expert in emergency medical relief and health care training, Aossey works closely with international agencies, frequently testifies before Congress, and has briefed the White House including Presidents, Vice Presidents and First Ladies on humanitarian issues. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah’s Jordan River Foundation/USA, the Advisory Board of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy, and the Board of Directors of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
“As part of a first-responder organization, I’ve seen firsthand the significant need and opportunity to address life-threatening conditions endemic in the developing world by providing diagnostic tests that meet the requirements for consistent usage by healthcare practitioners there,” Aossey said. “I look forward to working with Catalysis and its coalitions of public-private partners to overcome barriers to usage of diagnostics in resource-poor settings, and help them become a critical component of health care leading to improved treatment and health outcomes.”
In many areas of the world, some of the most treatable diseases and conditions remain health burdens due to lack of appropriate or available diagnostics. Â Tuberculosis (TB), the focus of Catalysis’ first program, represents a significant global unmet need. Â Currently, more than one third of the world’s population is infected with the TB bacterium, and 90 percent of all TB cases and deaths occur in developing countries. In 2009, The Catalysis Foundation received a $5 million, three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to discover new TB biomarkers that can be used to develop diagnostic tests for improving disease and therapy monitoring and as aids in developing more effective TB treatments.
“With better diagnostics come more accurate disease identification, more appropriate treatments and lower healthcare costs,” said Richard Thayer, Chief Executive, Catalysis Foundation for Health. Â “We are committed to bringing new diagnostic tools to healthcare practitioners in remote geographic settings to facilitate disease diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, and ultimately to help patients lead healthier lives.”
About Catalysis Foundation for Health
The Catalysis Foundation for Health, founded in 2007, is dedicated to facilitating the development and delivery of diagnostics to address life-threatening infectious diseases and chronic conditions that are endemic in the developing world. Â Â Through its uniquely formed coalition of public-private partnerships, Catalysis is forging a new model in market access innovation to guide the logistics of discovery, development, manufacture and distribution of diagnostic tests that meet the requirements for consistent usage by local health practitioners in target developing countries. Â Through these collaborative efforts, Catalysis is realizing its vision of elevating diagnostic solutions as an imperative to addressing critical healthcare challenges in the developing world. Â For more information, please visit www.catalysisfoundation.org.