Summarizes two meetings FasterCures convened in late 2005 to discuss ways to steer investments -- whether philanthropic or for profit -- to disease research that is cutting-edge, collaborative and results-oriented. A common theme that emerged was the need for more information about the work being done by medical researchers (regardless of affiliation) and for better performance measures and standards by which to evaluate them. At the end of the report, FasterCures outlines an Innovation Investment Agenda (see page 49) for projects that they will continue to pursue.

New organization, International Networked System for Total Early Disease Protection, formed to detect early signs of emerging, global health crises, such as bird flu.

Google Inc. named Larry Brilliant, a former high-tech executive and doctor specialized in global health issues, to head its Google.org philanthropic arm.