The Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease at INGEBI–CONICET, led by Dr. Alejandro Schijman, is part of an international initiative funded by the GHIT Fund that aims to advance the regulatory registration of a rapid molecular diagnostic test (LAMP) for the diagnosis of congenital Chagas disease in Argentina and Bolivia, contributing to early access to diagnosis and improved control of this neglected disease.

INGEBI is part of this international project, which received funding from the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, one of the leading global initiatives dedicated to the development of new tools to combat neglected diseases.

The project focuses on the registration and future implementation of a rapid LAMP-based molecular diagnostic test for congenital Chagas disease in Argentina and Bolivia. This tool is essential for detecting infection in newborns and enabling timely and effective treatment. Chagas disease remains a major public health challenge in Latin America, and mother-to-child transmission represents one of the key obstacles to its control.

Within INGEBI–CONICET, the work is carried out by the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease, led by Dr. Alejandro Schijman, an internationally recognized expert in molecular diagnostics for this disease. The group contributes its extensive expertise in analytical validation, diagnostic performance evaluation, and the generation of scientific evidence, all of which are critical for advancing regulatory approval processes.

The initiative is coordinated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and brings together academic institutions, research organizations, and industrial partners from multiple countries, including Eiken Chemical (Japan) and Wiener Lab (Argentina), as well as health organizations in Bolivia. In this context, the contribution of the INGEBI–CONICET Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease is key to consolidating a technological development with real impact on health systems in the region.

The funding provided by the GHIT Fund will make it possible to complete the studies required by regulatory agencies in both countries, strengthen collaboration between public science and industry, and move toward the availability of an accessible and sensitive diagnostic tool aligned with the WHO goals for the elimination of congenital Chagas disease by 2030.