Malaria is the second-biggest killer of children in PNG. In February this year the Australian Government ommitted$10 million (on top of more than$8 million committed in 1995) to the PNG Institute of Medical Research in recognition of the progress already made towards the development of a malaria vaccine. The additional undoing will enable us to broaden our operational base,’ says Dr Reeder. ‘We are working in support of the National health Plan, and this includes research into respiratory diseases which continue to be the biggest killer of children in PNG. If we can evaluate and introduce vaccines for pneumococcal pneumonia and homophiles influenza type b(Hib) we might reduce child mortality by up to 60 per cent in some of the highland areas. Research into vaccines involves collecting thousands of blood samples which need to be checked and cross-checked. Countless hours are spent looking into microscopes, gazing at computer screens and analyzing data. ‘But what drives us is the ability to see a picture emerging,’ says Dr Reeder. ‘It is extremely exciting to be the first to discover something .