VALIDATE Vaccines for Skin NTDs Seminar: Social Aspects Part 1

About the Talks

The Social Challenges of Clinical Research in Skin NTDs in Remote Rural Areas
Mrs Alexandra Cossio Duque, CIDEIM, Colombia

Clinical research in remote rural settings faces unique and persistent barriers — from limited infrastructure and workforce shortages to social dynamics that influence participation, follow-up, and trust. In this talk, Mrs Cossio outlines the real-world challenges encountered when conducting research on skin NTDs in underserved areas and proposes context-sensitive strategies that help ensure studies are ethical, feasible, and meaningful for the communities involved.

Integrating the Vaccine Sciences Within Social, Economic and Policy Perspectives
Prof Maria Elena Bottazzi, Baylor College of Medicine, USA / Honduras

Vaccine development is shaped by an interconnected system of scientific, social, economic, and policy forces. Prof Bottazzi will explore why incorporating these broader perspectives early in the research and development pathway is essential to ensuring successful translation — particularly for NTD vaccines intended for low- and middle-income countries. She will highlight challenges and opportunities for accelerating equitable access to vaccines for the world’s most underserved populations.

About the Speakers

Mrs Alexandra Cossio Duque
CIDEIM, Colombia

Alexandra Cossio, RN, MSc in Epidemiology, and PG Certificate in Clinical Trials, is a TDR/WHO Clinical Research Fellow at Novartis Switzerland and Co-Lead for Clinical and Community Research at CIDEIM. With more than 15 years of research experience focused on NTDs, she works to improve diagnosis and treatment access for vulnerable populations. She is a strong advocate for community-centred research and equitable healthcare across underserved regions.

Prof Maria Elena Bottazzi
Baylor College of Medicine, USA

An internationally recognised vaccinologist and global health leader, Prof Bottazzi co-created the patent-free COVID-19 vaccine technologies behind Corbevax and Indovac. She leads major partnerships to advance vaccines for diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest communities and has played a key role in shaping global health policy and science communication. In 2022, she was jointly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to vaccine equity.