New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS): Global NGO, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), has received a grant of $350,000 from leading pharmaceutical and healthcare firm Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) to support implementation of the Human Vaccines Project that seeks to transform disease prevention across the world.

The GSK grant is aimed to help the NGO establish the project's global consortium and plan its research programme.

"For all that we have achieved with vaccines, there are still far too many diseases that we can't prevent and which have a devastating impact, particularly in the developing world," said Emmanuel Hanon, senior vice president, vaccines research and development, GSK.

"The more we can do - both individually and collectively - to overcome the current scientific challenges the better. We are very pleased to support the Human Vaccines Project and we encourage others to join us in this potentially ground-breaking initiative," he added.

The project aims to address the common scientific obstacles preventing development of vaccines against major and emerging infectious diseases and cancers and complement ongoing disease- specific vaccine development efforts.