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Health Innovations for All

Accelerating equitable health innovation for the people and places that need it most.

From science to solutions

Building on the Institute of Tropical Medicine's long-standing leadership in global public health, Health Innovations for All (HI4A) facilitates the transformation of scientific excellence into real‑world impact. ITM's unique position at the intersection of research, policy and implementation creates a valuable pathway from discovery to application.

Inclusive innovations

With inclusive innovations, we mean co‑developing solutions with and for communities who need them most. It starts with focused problem statements, is shaped by relevant expertise, and is driven by the priorities of those directly affected. It is about creating solutions that strengthen systems, empower communities, and stand the test of time.

Together, we develop solutions that are:

  • Accessible: practical, usable, and adaptable for diverse users in resource-constrained settings

  • Affordable: cost-effective and feasible in vulnerable contexts

  • Relevant and scalable: rooted in local needs yet capable of reaching broader populations

  • Sustainable: built on local ownership, manufacturing, and supply systems that endure

We work with the full spectrum of intellectual assets, from data and methodologies to technologies and tools, and help transform them into solutions that create both societal and economic impact.

Interested in partnering with HI4A?

Innovation in global health works best when it is built together. If you are exploring to develop innovative solutions with us, we would love to hear from you.

Research and Innovation Office

✉ research@itg.be

Innovation at ITM

Collect2Know

Collect2Know is a patented blood-sampling device that makes capillary blood collection more consistent, safe, and easy to use. By simplifying the sampling process, the project supports reliable testing in decentralised and at-home settings.

Lung Flute ECO

The Lung Flute ECO project assesses a redesigned, paper-based version of the Lung Flute® to support sputum collection for respiratory disease diagnosis. It aims to reduce cost and environmental impact while maintaining performance and acceptability in real-world use.

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Simplified Blood Culture System (SIMBLE)

SIMBLE develops a blood culture system designed for low-resource and tropical settings, built to function reliably despite heat, humidity, and unstable power supply. The goal: bringing diagnosis of bloodstream infections closer to the point of care.

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Bacterial Imaging System (IBIS)

IBIS is an imaging system that allows faster and more accurate detection of bacteria in clinical samples. By supporting timely diagnosis, the project contributes to better treatment decisions and more responsible antimicrobial use.

AI digital tool for HIV (ENAT)

ENAT is a digital tool that uses artificial intelligence to support HIV care and clinical decision‑making. It aims to improve the quality and efficiency of care, particularly in settings with limited access to specialised expertise. 

AI Panoramas

AI Panoramas is a digital decision‑support tool that helps healthcare workers diagnose common but complex clinical conditions at the point of care. By bringing together clinical knowledge and local context, it supports more accurate diagnosis and rational treatment in low‑resource settings. 

African Sleeping Sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis)

ITM has played a critical role in advancing sleeping sickness elimination in the DRC through a screen-and-treat approach combining rapid diagnostics with a single-dose oral treatment. We are now developing the next generation of rapid diagnostics.

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Next-generation dengue diagnostics 

This project develops improved dengue diagnostic tools that are accurate, rapid, and suitable for low-resource settings. By advancing both molecular and serological approaches, it aims to enable earlier detection, better clinical decisions, and stronger disease surveillance in endemic regions.

SIMBLE_2000x2000 Barbara Barbé, Ovide Gouton and Hervé Kpoton inspect a BactInsight blood culture bottle (SIMBLE) at the CNHU-HKM hospital in Cotonou

Innovation built on evolving partnerships

At ITM, innovation grows through the partnerships we build. Our approach to innovation is grounded in our longstanding partnerships and collaborations with communities, academic institutions, governmental actors and civil society organisations around the world. In today's rapidly evolving global health landscape, innovation is no longer a solo endeavour; it is a shared and dynamic process shaped by ground reality.

We foster research partnerships that recognise global excellence and ambitions of institutions that work towards increasing equitable access to healthcare.

In Flanders and Europe, we collaborate closely with policymakers, industry partners and research networks to align our work with collective preparedness and resilience strategies. By translating research into context-sensitive solutions, we contribute to both local implementation and global adaptability.

ITM's innovation is shaped by a wide network of strong, long-standing collaborations across the world. Discover our partnerships in action and learn more about the ecosystems, institutions and communities we partner with.

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