Established in 2017, VALIDATE is an international network of researchers working together to accelerate vaccine development for three groups of complex neglected intracellular pathogens that cause significant mortality and morbidity throughout the world, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs): Mycobacteria (causing tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases), Leishmania (causing leishmaniasis) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (causing melioidosis). A second, important aim of the VALIDATE Network is to facilitate career progression for its members, particularly Early Career Researchers, and (recognising career progression inequity) researchers from LMICs and researchers identifying as female.
VALIDATE connects over 750 members from 312 institutes across 76 countries (48 LMIC), increasing collaboration among its membership, and increasing information dissemination across different research disciplines, countries, institutes, both target and model species, and across our focus pathogens; we have a multidisciplinary and One Health approach. We provide this central hub website, which highlights grants, jobs and training opportunities in our research field, as well as shared SOPs and data-sets; award Fellowship, pump-priming, training and travel grants; organise events, including an Annual Meeting, workshops, research seminars, public lectures and school talks; and have mentoring and equipment exchange schemes. To date the Network and our various activities have so far facilitated over 100 new collaborations, produced 72 peer-reviewed publications, and attracted £16m in follow-on funding for VALIDATE and its members.
The VALIDATE Network is led by Director Prof Samantha Sampson (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), Co-Directors Prof Andrea Cooper (University of Leicester, UK), Dr Maria Adelaida Gómez (CIDEIM, Colombia), and Prof Helen McShane (University of Oxford, UK), with Executive Manager & Co-Investigator Samantha Vermaak (University of Oxford, UK). Membership is free and open to all - to find out more (and to join VALIDATE) just look around on this website, or get in touch with our team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk.