A new UK-led research initiative aims to increase the supply of critical effective vaccines, it was announced today.
The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub is led by Imperial College London, UK.
Project lead investigator, Professor Robin Shattock, explains: "Through the establishment of the Hub we are looking to exploit the next wave of biotechnology innovation to rapidly respond to emerging outbreaks and empower countries most at risk to infections to meet their local vaccine needs."
The initiative also involves four other UK universities and three UK institutes including NHS Blood and Transplant. It has initially been given almost 10m UK pounds from the Department for Health.
Overall management comes from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the UK’s main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences.
The Council’s Chief Executive, Professor Philip Nelson, said: "Vaccines and their availability can mean the difference between life and death for millions of people across the globe. Many of these deaths, whether they are a result of polio, diphtheria or measles, could be prevented through immunisation, and research at the Hub will look to overcome barriers currently blocking progress in this field.
"At the same time, this investment will also support the researchers as they strive to develop ways to respond rapidly and efficiently to threats such as Ebola and Zika and save many lives in the future."
Researchers at the Hub will work on vaccine manufacturing projects in India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Uganda and China, then progressing to other countries. Current challenges include the costs of vaccine production and purification, and the need for them to be stored within the correct temperatures.
Leave a Reply