CAMI Health

Check out the latest edition of MPT Insider from The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT), including highlights from the past year, 2025 conference information, funding opportunities, and ways to connect with IMPT and CAMI Health: https://lnkd.in/eC6QWs3W The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT), Bethany Young Holt, PhD, MPH, Public Health Institute

The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT) is planning the 2025 slate of ‘Let’s Talk MPTs’ webinars, and we'd love to hear from you! Please complete this brief survey by Friday, December 13 to help us make the webinar series more engaging and relevant to your work. The survey will take approximately 3 minutes to complete, and your input will guide us in creating sessions that better meet your needs and interests.

Congratulations to David Ehrlichman Erlichman on the three year anniversary of this book! CAMI Health, Secretariat to The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT) was honored to have our work featured in this book as an example of a network for impact. “Prior to the [IMPT] network’s formation, work on broad-spectrum sexual and reproductive health was fragmented.” To stay informed on the latest in this work, subscribe to our email list and receive regular updates including the IMPT newsletter, MPT Insider, new resources and tools, funding opportunities, upcoming events and more:  https://lnkd.in/g8GxBjBS

The next round of funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and National Institute of Mental Health to support the continued development of new and innovative on-demand, event-driven, and long-acting multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) is now open. Funding will support the development of MPTs that prevent HIV infection and pregnancy (hormonal and non-hormonal methods); sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy; or multiple non-HIV STI or HIV/STI MPTs in cis and trans males and females of all ages. Applications are due December 7, 2024. Learn more and find out how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gDVVxWsC The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT), Public Health Institute, MATRIX Collaborative

Research and development of new multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) benefits from feedback earlier in the process, as detailed in this blog from Population Council, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, and Population Services International. By bringing end users into the process, and building in more inclusive research practices, developers can design more responsive MPTs. “Approaches to contraceptive development that prioritize the voices of end-users can help meet diverse needs and desires for new contraceptives globally….However, as new products are developed, including novel methods of male contraception, there is an urgent need to do this among men and other gender diverse groups.” Bethany Young Holt, PhD, MPH, The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT), Public Health Institute, Male Contraceptive Initiative

Pivotal Ventures, an organization founded by Melissa French Gates, has announced it’s pledging $1 billion to advance women’s health globally over the next two years. This landmark investment recognizes of the impact felt by families and communities when women are truly thriving. As part of that commitment, they're partnering with Lever for Change on Action for Women’s Health, an open call for organizations working to improve women’s health for a total of $250 million in funding. Eligible organizations that serve women and have a record of improving women’s mental or physical health, and awardees will receive between $1 and $5 million USD to advance their work. Applicants should center equity in their approach and be poised to scale their work to strengthen the health of more women. Learn more and find the full open call rules and an organizational readiness tool to apply by December 3, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gd-f5rk7

Pivotal Ventures, an organization founded by Melissa French Gates, has announced it’s pledging $1 billion to advance women’s health globally over the next two years. This landmark investment recognizes of the impact felt by families and communities when women are truly thriving. As part of that commitment, they're partnering with Lever for Change on Action for Women’s Health, an open call for organizations working to improve women’s health for a total of $250 million in funding. Eligible organizations that serve women and have a record of improving women’s mental or physical health, and awardees will receive between $1 and $5 million USD to advance their work. Applicants should center equity in their approach and be poised to scale their work to strengthen the health of more women. Learn more and find the full open call rules and an organizational readiness tool to apply by December 3, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gd-f5rk7

We are energized by seeing #MPTs featured at recent international contraceptive and HIV prevention conferences, where experts from around the globe shared the vital role MPTs play. These opportunities highlight the need for broader and more inclusive R&D, and collaboration across sectors to make MPTs more readily accessible, offer more options and provide women the opportunity to choose what works best for them in preventing pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs. Last month, CAMI Health Executive Director Bethany Young Holt, PhD, MPH traveled to Mombasa, Kenya for the Innovation in Contraceptive Research Workshop, organized by CONRAD and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). She delivered an engaging plenary on the field of MPTs, including the work of The Initiative for MPTs (IMPT) for MPTs, a project of CAMI Health, to expand the development of and access to HIV/STI prevention and contraception in single products.  Also speaking on MPTs at this conference were Kenneth Ngure of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr. Margaret Kasaro of the University of Zimbabwe, and Margaret Ilomuanya of the University of Lagos. Last week, at the 2024 HIV R4P Conference (#HIVR4P2024) in Peru, Nelly Mugo of KEMRI and Lisa Haddad of the Population Council also shared research on MPTs, highlighting the need for choice when it comes to contraception and prevention of HIV and other STIs, as no single product will appeal to every person. Plenaries at both conferences featured videos from IMPT’s Word on the Street: Kenya StoryMap project featuring the reproductive health stories of Kenyan women in their own words and highlighting the interconnectedness of women's #reproductive health needs around the globe. We were so inspired to see the advances in #MPT research by early-stage researchers at these conferences!

Don’t miss the next session in our "Let’s Talk MPTs" webinar series next Thursday, Oct 17 at 7:30 am PT/10:30 am ET. With increased attention to the critical role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) for product development, this webinar focuses on the importance of including diverse populations in clinical research. This aligns with new FDA guidelines and NIH priorities around DEIA. Discussion will feature expert speakers including Jan Garrett from the Pacific ADA Center at the Public Health Institute, Terry Ocheltree from PharmTree Healthcare Consultants, and Meredith Brown-Tuttle from @Regulatorium. Learn more and register: 

Register today! On June 24-25, NICHD, NIAID, NIMH, and NIH OAR will host an in-person summit on multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs)—Envisioning the Future of HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Prevention and Contraception. MPTs are innovative products designed to deliver combinations of HIV and STI preventatives, as well as contraception. The MPT Summit will build on the work accomplished over the past 15 years to advance the field and explore what is needed to help ensure MPTs reach users. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3yA2SgW.  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)