Congratulations to VALIDATE member Paul Kaye who has been awarded EUR8m funding by EDCTP for an "European-African partnership to advance the development of a Leishmania vaccine". This will include Phase II clinical trials in Sudan of a therapeutic vaccine, PREV_PKDL, developed at University of York by Paul and his team. In parallel to the two clinical trials in Sudan, the project partners also plan to conduct research studies in different endemic countries (Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda) to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and the underlying immune mechanisms. The results of these studies, and the development of research capacity for monitoring immune responses, will help to underpin future research and product evaluation. “This funding from EDCTP represents one of the most significant single investments in leishmaniasis vaccine development for many years and it is exciting to see the years of investment in fundamental research beginning to pay off as we move towards the goal of patient benefit” says Paul Kaye.
Over the last week we've welcomed a number of new members to VALIDATE. Welcome to new Investigators Rachel Simmonds (University of Surrey, UK), Maria Elena Bottazzi (Baylor College of Medicine, USA), and to new Affiliates Sadaf Sulman (University of Leicester, UK), Silvia Figueiredo Costa (USP, Brazil), and Aloysius Logio (University of Surrey, UK).
Events:
Job opportunities:
On Twitter, we've posted/retweeted about: the Crick African Career Accelerator Awards (more info on this funding call here); tips and guidance from funders and researchers on the switch from being a member of a lab to running your own; winning the war on TB; the latest StopTB newsletter; the anniversary of Jenner's first 'vaccine'; a school report card for a Nobel Prize winner that just shows you should never give up on your dreams due to other people's opinions; a video guiding you through the new UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); a great T-shirt with the slogan 'Vaccines cause Adults"; the launch of the NC3Rs' gateway, maximising the impact of 3Rs technology and approaches; the Plos OpenSource Toolkit Channel - now updated with software; how world leaders have the power to end TB; and, as it's Mental Health Awareness Week, how to manage stress. Follow @NetworkValidate to easily keep up to date with all the news in vaccine development.
Finally, just to warn you that there will be a two week pause in our weekly updates due to annual leave in VALIDATE's management team. We'll still be live on Twitter, and we'll be back in June on the website, so watch this space, keep an eye on Twitter, and do send us anything you spot in the meantime!
Published: 16 May 2018
