J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery

Johnson & Johnson is committed to addressing the dual gap in innovation and health equity through the establishment of the J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery (J&J Centers). This global network of research partnerships brings together our talent and expertise with that of leading academic institutions to stimulate and speed up the early-stage research and development (R&D) needed to address entrenched and emerging pandemic threats.

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Over the past decade there has been a consistent decline in focus on basic science in global health, but there are clear steps we can take to turn the tide and deliver innovations against the diseases that disproportionately impact the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

The J&J Centers are a pillar of Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to solve some of the world’s most pressing health challenges by leading collaborations that accelerate lifesaving innovations from the lab to the last mile. Together with our partners, the J&J Centers will turn science into solutions that advance a healthier, safer and more just world where everyone, everywhere, can thrive.

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June 20, 2022

Johnson & Johnson Opens First Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery in Asia Pacific at Duke-NUS to Advance Dengue Research

The new Satellite Center will work to accelerate discovery research against flaviviruses, including dengue, which impacts 400 million people each year This effort will build on Johnson & Johnson’s decade-long legacy and ongoing collaboration with Duke-NUS in early-stage dengue research The Satellite Center is the first Asia Pacific site in Johnson & Johnson’s network of research collaborations aimed at addressing entrenched and emerging pandemic threats

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Why now: Addressing inequities in global health

The COVID-19 pandemic has powerfully demonstrated the importance of collaborative science, but it has also disrupted health delivery and the innovation pipeline for entrenched and emerging health threats, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Unless new, equitably accessible solutions are developed, millions of people living in vulnerable and underserved communities around the world will be prevented from living healthy lives.

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We must act with urgency. Global trends like a changing climate, deforestation and a loss of biodiversity make it more likely that more pandemic threats will emerge soon, with the burden falling most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable people.

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A global scientific network tackling the biggest health challenges

The J&J Centers are the foundation of a larger, decentralized scientific network that will grow, stimulate local innovation and help drive discovery R&D aimed at addressing critical issues in global health. By partnering with renowned institutions around the world, the J&J Centers unite expertise across the scientific community to where the research is most needed, and the challenges are most acute. We aligned our research agenda to address emerging and entrenched pandemic threats, including tuberculosis (TB), flaviviruses, including dengue, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The J&J Centers are powered by an initial five-year commitment in partnership with a local institution to leverage established infrastructure, like lab space, and recruit local scientific and technical staff. The partnership will provide long-term professional opportunities while advancing the R&D needed to meet the needs of underserved communities.

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J&J Satellite Centers

Female scientist examining a test beaker containing purple liquid

J&J Satellite Center at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery (Satellite Center) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine(LSHTM), launched in July 2021, combines the unique breadth, depth and experience of Johnson & Johnson with the expertise of one of the world’s foremost global health research institutes to accelerate discovery research. The Satellite Center at the LSHTM is specifically focused on advancing the development of next-generation drug regimens capable of treating all forms of TB, which are needed to counter the rising threat of AMR. TB is an ancient and deadly disease, which still killed 1.5 million people in 2020 and accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths from AMR.

J&J Satellite Center at the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre

The J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery (Satellite Center) at the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), University of Cape Town, South Africa, launched in April 2022, is working to drive new solutions to address the present and rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the region and around the world. The Satellite Center at H3D is focused on multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB), which are particularly concerning to public health because of their resistance to multiple antibiotics and the limited availability of treatment options.

As the first and only J&J Satellite Center on the continent, this partnership leverages the unique strengths of both organizations to substantially expand H3D’s infectious disease drug discovery portfolio, while catalyzing investment to help further strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the region.

J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery at Duke-NUS

Launched in June 2022, the J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, is working to address health threats posed by flaviviruses, such as dengue, which infect over 400 million people each year. This collaboration is critical, as global warming threatens to exacerbate the problem by enabling the vectors that carry flaviviruses to venture beyond their tropical habitats.

As the first Satellite Center in the Asia-Pacific region, it builds on the longstanding collaboration between the two organizations and marks the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre’s latest effort to develop a collaborative Discovery District on its campus. By using state-of-the-art approaches in molecular virology and innovative in vivo approaches to evaluate candidate drugs in model systems, the Satellite Center aims to develop a drug pipeline for dengue and other flaviviral diseases.

Champions of discovery

COVID-19 has given African countries another opportunity to build and carve out a stronger role in the global R&D ecosystem. We’ve witnessed the collective use of effective, evidence-informed interventions and significant achievements of unprecedented multisectoral efforts and partnerships. The Satellite Center offers an opportunity to build on these wins and on our work as the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, to further reduce barriers to health innovation, and actively support a network of African researchers and centres in drug discovery and related sciences.

Professor Kelly Chibale, Ph.D

Founder and Director, H3D

It is critical that we invest in locally led innovation to advance breakthrough science globally. The J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery are the latest chapter in our efforts to advance solutions for growing health threats in the areas where the research is needed most.

Bill Hait, M.D., Ph.D.

Executive Vice President, Chief External Innovation, Medical Safety and Global Public Health Officer

Investing to increase the capacity of the innovation ecosystem in Africa is critical to strengthening the R&D pipeline for entrenched and emerging global health challenges. By leveraging the unique strengths of H3D and the J&J Centers, we can cultivate the talent and capacity needed to drive innovation in the global fight against AMR.

Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D.

Global Head, Global Public Health R&D

It’s critical that we advance the science needed to develop more lifesaving solutions for challenges, like tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance. We’ve changed the course of the TB epidemic before, and we can do it again.

Anil Koul, Ph.D

Vice President and Head, Global Public Health and Infectious Discovery Research

The Satellite Center at H3D builds on a longstanding relationship between J&J and H3D and will catalyze an increase in the capacity for health innovation in Africa. Partnerships like this are essential for building and strengthening Africa’s ability to tackle emerging global health challenges.

Susan Winks, Ph.D.

Head of Research Operations & Business Development, H3D

While there is an urgent need for new tools to address diseases like dengue, especially in the face of climate change, we believe we can accelerate research to move even faster. Building on our shared legacies, the Satellite Center at Duke-NUS will help jumpstart the innovation we need to strengthen the R&D pipeline and address the burden of these diseases.

Marnix Van Loock

Ph.D., Lead for Emerging Pathogens, Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

Featured news

Research

April 25, 2022

Johnson & Johnson Launches Next Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery at Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre, University of Cape Town, Focused on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The new Center is focused on outpacing the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and builds on Johnson & Johnson’s longstanding commitment to tackle this challenge The Satellite Center in Cape Town is the second site to open in Johnson & Johnson’s network of research collaborations aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges The collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and H3D will help to further expand and strengthen Africa’s scientific capacity as a global hub for discovery research

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A female scientist examining red liquid in a vial

Global Health Equity

July 9, 2021

Johnson & Johnson Launches Network of Global Health Discovery Centers that Aim to Speed Up Science and Tackle Pandemic Threats

J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery (J&J Centers) are a new cornerstone of the Company’s efforts to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges The first J&J Satellite Center is hosted at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and focused on addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance and tuberculosis J&J Centers will include collaborations with renowned academic institutions that accelerate potentially lifesaving innovations from the lab to the last mile

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