Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)

The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) was established in 1994 as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit US scientific organization to optimize the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for leishmaniasis and other diseases of the poor. It was supported by public funds and the former Corixa Corporation, an R&D-based biotechnology and vaccine company that was merged with GlaxoSmithKline in mid-2005. IDRI is also funded by the Lilly Foundation.

In March 2000, IDRI received a USD 15 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to fund its efforts to develop a vaccine to prevent leishmaniasis. IDRI has conducted clinical trials for leishmaniasis candidate vaccines in Brazil, Colombia and Peru, and has a trial ongoing in India.

IDRI helped develop a tuberculosis vaccine being tested by the Aeras Global TV Vaccine Foundation. It also developed a blood test for Chagas disease in collaboration with Corixa and is working on a possible vaccine.