What will health care look like 20 years in the future?
2000
Gavi launches
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launches to expand global access to vaccines for children in lower-income countries. Since 2000, Gavi and partners have helped immunize more than 1 billion children and prevent more than 18.8 million future deaths.
2002
The Global Fund
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria launches and quickly becomes the world’s largest funder of programs to combat the three diseases.
Since its inception, the fund has invested more than US$60 billion, helping to save more than 59 million lives.
2003
First human genome mapped
The Human Genome Project begins to revolutionize research into the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.
2003
PEPFAR launches
U.S. President George W. Bush launches the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Since its inception, PEPFAR has helped save more than 25 million lives and enabled more than 5.5 million babies to be born HIV-free.
2006
HPV vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the world’s first vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV vaccines are effective in preventing up to 90% of cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally, with 90% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, where access to HPV vaccines, screening, and treatment remain limited.
In 2023, results from the KENya Single-dose HPV-vaccine Efficacy (KEN SHE) study are published, showing that a single dose of the HPV vaccine is as effective as a two- or three-dose regimen in preventing HPV infection.
2006
Rotavirus vaccination
Gavi adds vaccines against rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrheal deaths among children under age 5, to its programs.
In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends rotavirus vaccines for all national vaccination programs, paving the way to greater access in low-income countries, where most rotavirus deaths occur.
2009
Pneumococcal vaccine
Gavi launches an innovative financing mechanism to accelerate the global rollout of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which helps protect against pneumonia, the leading infectious cause of death in children.
In 2019, WHO prequalifies a new PCV developed by Serum Institute of India and PATH, making this lifesaving vaccine more affordable for lower-income countries.
2010
First rapid molecular test for TB
The first rapid molecular test for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) is released after decades of reliance on sputum-smear microscopy. The new test helps diagnose TB more accurately and identify drug resistance earlier.
2012
Truvada PrEP approved
Truvada, a combination therapy designed to provide preexposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative individuals at high risk of infection, is approved by the FDA, ushering in a new era in HIV prevention.
2015
CRISPR
A revolutionary technique for precisely editing DNA opens up entirely new approaches to improving health, from altering mosquitoes’ ability to transmit malaria to possible cures for human genetic diseases.
Watch to learn more about CRISPR
2017
CEPI launches
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is launched to accelerate the development of vaccines against epidemic threats and expand access to lifesaving vaccines.
2021
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
In just 10 months, scientists develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA technology. Decades of foundational research into mRNA allowed these vaccines to be produced quickly, and the technology is now being explored for the prevention of many other deadly diseases.
2021
WHO recommends first-ever malaria vaccine
The long-awaited malaria vaccine is a remarkable technical achievement that, alongside other tools, including bed nets, SMC, and indoor residual spraying, could save tens of thousands of young lives each year and inform the development of next-generation vaccines against malaria. The vaccine, called RTS,S/AS01, is also the first vaccine to combat a human parasite.
2021
HIV drug
FDA approval of cabotegravir, an injectable drug for HIV prevention, adds another option to a range of treatments that have reduced deaths from HIV/AIDS and related illnesses by 69% over 20 years, from 2 million in 2004 to 630,000 in 2022.
2023
Dual insecticide-treated bed nets
WHO recommends two new types of bed nets that are treated with two insecticides, to help countries overcome growing mosquito resistance to commonly used insecticides. Evidence from a trial in Tanzania shows that these nets nearly halve cases of malaria compared to pyrethroid-only bed nets.
Discover the next generation of healthcare technology
New diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines in the research and development pipeline promise to be cheaper, more effective, and easier to deliver.
Imagine what’s possible in the next 20 years if the world keeps prioritizing health innovation for everyone.
Health innovations on the horizon
Multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS)
During pregnancy, women have increased nutritional needs as their bodies adapt to support their baby’s growth and their own health.
While women in wealthy countries have long benefitted from resources like prenatal vitamins that address these heightened demands, women in low- and middle-income countries—where food insecurity is highest—have historically had limited access to those same resources. Through one pill taken daily with 15 essential micronutrients, MMS can support a healthy pregnancy, prevent anemia, and reduce the risk of newborns being born too soon, too small, or dying in their first 6 months.
Microbiome-directed ready-to-use therapeutic foods
Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) designed to treat malnourished children have been one of the biggest gamechangers against wasting in recent years. But over time, we’ve learned that about one-third of all kids treated with RUTF relapse in malnutrition.
Newer, microbiome-friendly formulations can provide the necessary nutrients needed to treat severe wasting and help children regain weight, better-preventing relapses. They’re also more affordable and easier to source locally, made with more ingredients available locally like chickpeas, bananas, soybeans, and peanuts.
Infant probiotics
B. infantis is one of the first bacteria to appear in the human body.
When added to breastmilk, B. infantis supplements can stimulate essential nutrients that babies need to grow—helping at-risk infants gain weight and build a healthy gut microbiome and putting them on track to absorb the nutrients they need for long-term healthy growth and development.
AI-enabled ultrasound
A critical step to preventing newborn deaths is screening pregnant women early to identify the likelihood of developing complications.
Two thirds of pregnant women, however, don’t have access to ultrasounds, which are key to finding and diagnosing life-threatening conditions—this puts millions of moms and babies in low- and middle-income countries at risk. New, portable, affordable AI-enabled ultrasound devices that can be plugged into a mobile phone promise to increase access to screening and identify potential dangers to mothers' and babies' lives everywhere—without even requiring a radiologist or obstetrician on-site.
Intrapartum sensors
Wearable intrapartum sensors can be used in any setting to capture key data on how labor is progressing.
These sensors help doctors and midwives in remote communities recognize life-threatening complications during childbirth, helping to signal what actions healthcare workers should take to save lives.
Postpartum hemorrhage drape
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of death for women after childbirth—sadly, many PPH cases are diagnosed too late to be prevented, largely because health workers face difficulties measuring blood loss during labor.
Now, a simple, low-cost drape that looks like a V-shaped plastic bag is identifying when blood loss is dangerously excessive. By simply connecting this drape to container that can more accurately measure the amount of blood lost, healthcare workers can intervene faster to treat PPH.
Next-generation contraceptives
Next-generation contraceptives such as a once-a-month pill, injectable contraceptives that last six months, and discreet microarray patches can empower women and girls to make contraceptive decisions that suit their life circumstances.
Contraceptive options have remained largely unchanged for generations, despite women’s changing needs. To address this inequity, our foundation has committed US$280 million annually from 2021 to 2030 to develop new and improved contraceptive technologies that respond to the preferences of women and girls in low- and middle-income countries and address the barriers that prevent them from using contraceptives, including cost and access. Next-generation contraceptives such as a once-a-month pill, injectable contraceptives that last six months, and discreet microarray patches can empower women and girls to make contraceptive decisions that suit their life circumstances.
Novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2)
A next-generation polio vaccine, nOPV2 more efficiently stops poliovirus outbreaks to protect children against illness and paralysis.
nOPV2 earned full licensure and WHO Prequalification in December 2023 and as of June 2024, approximately 1.2 billion doses of nOPV2 have been administered in 41 countries globally, with plans underway to increase production capacity dramatically over the next two years. Greater availability and wider use will mean that the goal of protecting all children from polio is within reach.
Hexavalent vaccine
The hexavalent vaccine offers an efficient way to protect infants against six diseases at once: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis B and polio.
By reducing the number of injections, the vaccine helps simplify vaccine delivery and sustainability and is vital for maintaining polio eradication once it's achieved.
Maternal RSV vaccine
The first approved vaccine to protect infants against severe RSV—an illness that causes at least 100,000 infant deaths per year globally—can protect babies even before they are born.
In clinical trials, the vaccine was shown to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of severe RSV among infants under 6 months when administered to pregnant women. In September 2024, the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization recommended use of the vaccine for pregnant women during their third trimester.
Single-dose HPV vaccine
Ninety percent of cervical cancer deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. The HPV vaccine can prevent most cases, but getting it to girls in those countries can be challenging.
The HPV vaccine is an extremely effective way to prevent most cervical cancer cases. Girls in many wealthy countries have had access to the vaccine since 2006, but low- and middle-income nations have struggled for years to get access. However, a 2022 recommendation from WHO concluded that one dose of the HPV vaccine is as effective as a two or three-dose regimen. A single-dose schedule is making the HPV vaccine more accessible in lower-income countries by cutting delivery costs and simplifying delivery.
Learn more about HPV single-dose
Tuberculosis vaccines
The current TB vaccine is 100 years old, and its effectiveness is limited. New or improved vaccines are urgently needed to confront a major global health challenge.
The current TB vaccine, known as BCG, has been around for a century. It has been proven effective in infants, but researchers are exploring how changes in how the vaccine is used might boost its efficacy. The BCG ReVax clinical trial currently underway is an effort to understand whether revaccination with BCG can extend TB protection in adolescents. In addition, the M72/AS01E vaccine shows significant promise for preventing disease and is expected to enter Phase III trials in 2024.
mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases
During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines saved millions of lives, bringing the promise of mRNA technology into the spotlight. Now the world has an opportunity to apply recent innovations in vaccine technology to address major inequities in global health.
The use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic proved how effective the technology could be in saving lives. Now researchers are exploring how to deliver on the promise of mRNA by bringing it to the fight against diseases that continue to kill people around the world, including HIV, TB, malaria, and the flu. With simpler research and manufacturing processes than for traditional vaccines, mRNA technology can help more countries and regions gain access to high-quality vaccines that meet the needs of their people.
Vaccine microneedle array patches (VMAPs)
Microneedle, or microarray, patches are small, adhesive patches that contain microscopic projections that painlessly penetrate the skin to deliver a vaccine.
They are more thermostable and easier to administer than traditional injectable vaccines during travel from warehouses to health clinics. Thanks to this simple tool, health workers can be sure the vaccines they administer are safe and effective.
Refrigerator technology
Innovative fridges use alternative energy sources and advanced cooling technology to preserve the viability of temperature-sensitive vaccines and medicines in areas with unreliable power grids that often face disruptions to electricity.
Solar Direct-Drive (SDD) Refrigerators use solar power to keep vaccines at the proper temperature, helping ensure they reach clinics in rural and remote communities.
Monoclonal antibodies for infectious diseases
Unlike a vaccine, which relies on the body’s ability to mount a strong immune response and requires time to develop a high level of protective antibodies, a monoclonal antibody can provide protection almost immediately after injection and can work even in people with compromised immune systems.
Monoclonal antibodies can be developed quickly and are extremely potent and generally safe. These medicines are the fastest-growing class of drugs and have been used to treat a range of illnesses and diseases, including cancer and autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. They have become better known in recent years as a treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19.
One of the most exciting prospects for monoclonal antibodies is for malaria prevention. In 2022, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trial found that a single dose of a certain monoclonal antibody was 88% effective in protecting adults in two rural communities in Mali during a six-month malaria season.
Next-generation diagnostic platforms
COVID-19 was a wakeup call, exposing the limitations of many current diagnostic platforms. Innovations in diagnostic testing, driven by the need to respond to COVID-19, could help provide essential tools in the fight against other diseases.
Diagnostic tools are critical to improving global health. Lessons learned and approaches developed during the COVID-19 pandemic are spurring innovation in the prevention and treatment of other diseases, such as the flu, TB, and HPV. Low-cost, point-of-care molecular testing platforms provide an accessible, sensitive, and portable option for health workers to get rapid, accurate results from patients in the remotest communities.
High-quality, accessible diagnostics are an important line of defense during public health emergencies and play an indispensable role in stopping the spread of disease.
New forms of HIV prevention
Injectables like CAB-LA have the potential to address some of the unique risks of HIV infection faced by young women and teen girls.
HIV is still a huge problem in many communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where millions of people cannot access antiretroviral therapy or preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection.
Injectables being researched, such as long-acting PrEP (CAB-LA) and lenacapavir, hold the potential to increase uptake through easier and less frequent administration.
Along with funding the development of new innovations like CAB-LA, we are committed to supporting a comprehensive strategy to ensure that long-term injectables to prevent HIV are available and affordable to everyone around the world.
