Project description
A vaccine training network is combating bacterial and societal resistance simultaneously
Antimicrobial resistance has taken on pandemic proportions. Simultaneously, a growing number of people have become resistant to vaccination. Scientists are increasingly called upon to advocate for societal problems of all kinds, stepping into the spotlight rather than donning white robes in isolated labs with minimal public contact. BactiVax intends to do just that. This project is tackling vaccine development for bacterial infections throughout the pipeline from antigen discovery to vaccine delivery. However, its impact will not stop at scientific development. The team has made public engagement and awareness a key pillar, and the scientific and public advocacy hats will both be donned by early stage researchers as well as part of a bacterial vaccine training network.
Objective
BactiVax (anti-Bacterial Innovative Vaccine Training Network) is a European training network (ETN) that will provide high-level training in vaccinology to a new generation of 15 high-achieving, early-stage researchers (ESRs). This innovative ETN uniquely blends cutting-edge research training, non-academic placements and transferable skills. It will develop strong entrepreneurial and creative mindsets. BactiVax will train ESRs in a broad range of transferable skills enabling them to thrive in careers in vaccine research within academia and/or industry through discovery, development, and delivery of innovative therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines. The World Health Organisation has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the three greatest threats to mankind. There is a urgent need to train innovative ESRs in the development of new vaccines against AMR infections. BactiVax will tackle the societal challenge caused by the emergence of AMR pathogens and have significant impact on pathogens causing chronic, life-threatening respiratory and/or systemic infections. BactiVax training will cover critical areas of vaccinology from early antigen discovery to optimisation of host response and delivery of vaccine antigens. It will also encompass the increasing problem of vaccine hesitancy in its public engagement. The specific research objectives are to: 1) Identify novel, protective vaccine antigens against target pathogens; 2) Optimise the host response to vaccines; 3) Optimise vaccine delivery; 4) Lead on vaccine advocacy. BactiVax includes 2 SME beneficiaries, a multinational vaccine company and 4 SMEs as partners all of whom are involved in training, entrepreneurship, commercial vaccine development and vaccine antigen processing. All ESRs will have secondments in non-academic environment to enhance their exposure to the commercial. Overall, BactiVax will provide ESRs with rich experience and advanced multidisciplinary skills in the cutting edge area of vaccines
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Coordinator
4 Dublin
Ireland