EU boosts efforts to advance TB vaccine development
The 'Establishment, strategy and initial activities of the tuberculosis vaccine initiative: coordination of European efforts with global research initiatives' (ESI-TBVI) project worked to establish a Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) as a private public partnership. The goal was to facilitate a productive link between EC-supported projects and worldwide initiatives working to develop new TB vaccines. A TBVI working group was set up to enhance coordination of activities in the area of TB vaccine development. Regular meetings were held to define preclinical and clinical approaches, assist efforts to complete vaccine development, and sustain and expand relevant project management activities. The TBVI was established in 2008 as a not-for-profit private foundation. Over 40 TBVI partners belong to 2 programmes for vaccine development: 1 for biomarkers and 1 for support in infrastructure activities and clinical trials development. Both programmes are managed by a TBVI steering committee, which receives feedback from the product and clinical development teams (guiding the advancement of each product. A board of trustees advises the steering committee on strategic issues and approves the overall TBVI budget, while the governance board verifies process and financial resources of allocated project funds. Supporting the steering committee, the board of trustees and governance board in their tasks, the operational office prepares project proposals, offers project management expertise and assists in mobilising resources. Activities to mobilise resources resulted in a USD-3-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation and approval of the Seventh Framework Programme NEWTBVAC collaborative project proposal. Meetings were held with various government officials in Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the UK. In Brussels a public debate was held in the European parliament on 24 March 2010, on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day. Annual reports of 2008 and 2009 and the TBVI website provide further information. These wide-ranging activities have created TB awareness and boosted efforts made by TBVI to boost TB vaccine development.
