The fiesty WHO malaria chief, Dr. Arata Kochi, thinks that the Gates Foundation's $1.2 billion supporting for malaria research gives them too much influence over the field. He believes that it is now becoming difficult to find non-biased scientists to peer review research, and that the Foundation using its weight to to ensure that research from its scientists is put into policy instead of letting the best research win.
Dr. Kochi is apparently known for being undiplomatic, and this could easily just be a turf war – he might simply be worried that the WHO will lose some of its clout as the health policy arbiter for the world. But that doesn't mean he's necessarily wrong, either. It's definitely something to watch.
