Funded Directors' Fund Projects

Dr Susana Flores Villalva - Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Mexico

Vaccines Across Species: understanding mechanisms, importance, and shared benefits under a One Health approach

This project promotes public understanding of vaccines and their role in human and animal health through the One Health framework. It will train a group of “knowledge disseminators” specialized in vaccine communication, building local leaders capable of engaging their communities. After capacity-building workshops, they will design and deliver interactive sessions and outreach activities in Morelos, Mexico. The program highlights the shared history of vaccines across species, explains their mechanisms and challenges, and emphasizes their importance in preventing zoonotic diseases. Activities include expert-led workshops, community events, and a public mural to foster long-term awareness and social appropriation of knowledge.

Dr Shuailin Li - University of Oxford, United Kingdom (UK)

Employing a high-throughput screening platform to identify epitopes recognised by mycobacteria-reactive TCRs that expand in the lung mucosa following aerosol BCG challenge

This study aims to employ a high-throughput screening platform to identify epitopes recognised by mycobacteria-reactive TCRs that expand in the lung mucosa following aerosol BCG challenge. This project will focus on optimising the high-throughput screening platform, enabling systematic identification of vaccine-relevant mycobacterial epitopes.

Dr Suventha Moodley - Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Understanding Upper-airway Pathobiont Colonization and Risk Factors in Paediatric Tuberculosis (UPLIFT-TB)

This project aims to characterise pathobiont airway colonization in paediatric TB cases before TB treatment. To improve the interpretation of future paediatric vaccine work, this work will standardize the nasopharyngeal swab (NP) pathobiont airway colonization in paediatric TB population compared to non-TB controls and provide methods that vaccine studies can implement in the context of other VALIDATE priority organisms which are all identified in children.

Dr Stephen Muhi - University of Melbourne & Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia

M. ulcerans challenge agent clinical-grade manufacture

The project supports the creation of the world’s first human challenge model for Buruli ulcer (MuCHIM), through the manufacture of the clinical-grade Mycobacterium ulcerans challenge agent (strain JKD8049), producing a vialed, frozen WCB of JKD8049, ready for clinical use. This foundational activity is critical to the broader MuCHIM program, which will enable vaccine evaluation in humans.

Dr Cristian Alfredo Segura-Cerda - Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño de Jalisco (CIATEJ) & Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), Mexico

LINE; Vaccines around the city

"LINE: Vaccines Around the City” is a science communication campaign held in Guadalajara, Mexico, that brings clear and reliable information about vaccines to the public through live talks, interactive exhibitions in metro stations, and inclusive digital content. Led by researchers in immunology, medicine, and science communication, the project aims to strengthen vaccine confidence, counter misinformation, and inspire children and young people to pursue scientific careers. By combining creativity, culture, and research, the initiative fosters public trust in vaccination and highlights the role of science in improving community health and promoting informed decision-making.

Mr Oluwaseun Taofeek - Crescent University, Abeokuta (CUAB), Nigeria

Assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and implementation strategies for novel TB vaccines among adolescents and adults in Nigeria

This project will assess the feasibility and acceptability of introducing novel tuberculosis vaccines (M72/AS01E and BCG revaccination) among adolescents and adults in Nigeria, and identify implementation strategies, barriers, and enablers to inform national TB vaccine rollout. The study will employ a qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured in-depth interviews with key expert stakeholders, purposively selected based on expertise in TB, vaccines, policy, and delivery, and representing civil society organizations (CSO), academia, government, and NGOs.

Dr Andy Tran - City St George’s, University of London (SGUL), United Kingdom (UK)

Design and development of an open-source ELISpot reader enabled by 3D printing

This project aims to design and develop affordable, open-source laboratory equipment for VALIDATE researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), by building two fully functional ELISpot readers, utilising enabling technologies such as CAD and 3D printing. These will be made available to VALIDATE members through an open application process, with the longer term benefit being an open access resource and a publication with a step-by-step guide for manufacturing and material resourcing, empowering others to replicate and adapt the build.