First report of "Vaccines and viral diseases" Task Force The "Vaccines and viral diseases" Task Force is one of the seven European Union research-industry task forces set up, in Autumn 1995, by Commissioners Cresson, Bangemann and Kinnock. The main purpose of this Task Force is to mobilize and coordinate vaccine research and develop... The "Vaccines and viral diseases" Task Force is one of the seven European Union research-industry task forces set up, in Autumn 1995, by Commissioners Cresson, Bangemann and Kinnock. The main purpose of this Task Force is to mobilize and coordinate vaccine research and development within the European Union. The mandate of the "Vaccines and viral diseases" Task Force notably includes: - Broad consultation with industry, public institutions and academia to identify research priorities and bottlenecks and to develop an understanding of technological needs and opportunities; - Clustering appropriate resources from across the Fourth Framework Programme and linking calls of programmes involving vaccine development; - Identifying options for supplementary funding, under the Fourth Framework Programme, for cooperation between industry, public institutions and academia in common European projects of industrial interest; - Pursuing the scope for greater international cooperation with third countries or international agencies involved in vaccine development. The Task Force has recently published its first report which gives an overview of the information gathered during the initial consultation phase. This includes: - The general status of vaccine development in the European Union; - Indicators of international competition; - Identification of research needs and priorities. The report also provides information on forthcoming activities of the Task Force and a list of Task Force members.
