About Us
Particles for Humanity transforms medical technologies originated in academic labs into products that meet the health care needs of people in developing countries. They apply rapid, efficient product development strategies perfected in the biotech industry to develop medical solutions that can improve the health of people unable to afford care that we in the developed world take for granted. They are pioneering a new business model – using a for-profit corporation to bring life-changing products to the developing world. To fund R&D and create markets for their technologies, they will seek grants, contracts, impact investing, and financial incentives available for global health innovation, along with market support from multilateral organizations. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided their initial funding.
Focus
They are initially focused on three advanced microencapsulation technologies to fight vaccine-preventable diseases and malnutrition.
Single Injection Vaccines for Full Immunization
Every year, 19 million children are under-vaccinated, leading to 3 million deaths that could have been prevented. Most vaccines require one or more booster shots over several months, making full vaccination difficult for those with limited access to health care. This technology combines all the injections into a single administration using microcapsules that release each dose at the right time.
Vaccination Tracking System
In resource-poor settings with limited medical records, there is no reliable way to determine who has been vaccinated. Personal medical cards can get lost, and patient recall can be inaccurate. This technology enables an on-patient medical record that safely encodes an individual’s vaccination history into their skin at the time of vaccination. The information is invisible to the naked eye but can be retrieved by a medical professional using a simple, low-cost, mobile device.
Stabilized Essential Nutrients for Fortifying Staple Foods
Their most advanced program uses a technology that encapsulates essential micronutrients so that they are stable when used to fortify staple foods and food products, such as bouillon. The encapsulation protects the nutrients from hot and humid conditions during storage and cooking, prevents interactions with other foods, dissolves in the acidic environment of the stomach, and releases the nutrients for absorption into the body. They are collaborating with large, multinational corporations with the manufacturing and distribution infrastructures required to supply this product to billions of people.
