Vaccines & Immunity Research MRC Unit, The Gambia
Lead Research Organisation:
MRC Unit, The Gambia
Abstract
The Vaccines & Immunity research at the MRC Unit, The Gambia extends from basic research into mechanisms of disease and immunity in young children to the development of tests in the field that can help with diagnosing certain infections. We also conduct vaccine trials to international standards, which can show that a vaccine is not only safe but also able to prevent a particular disease. We carry out laboratory and epidemiological studies to determine the organisms that are carried in the nose and throat before and after a vaccine is given to see the impact not only on the active disease but also on carriage, which is likely to be a prerequisite for disease in some instances. We provide the data of this work to the WHO and other partners to help estimate the effects of a certain intervention and to translate the research to policy and practice. We work closely with the national TB and malaria programs to inform them of any significant findings that have public health implications. We conduct analytical studies of vaccine coverage and inform the EPI program of potential problems and the benefits of implementing additional vaccines and we critically assess the impact of new vaccines on the immunity of existing ones. All of our work also aims to build capacity in the region and contribute datasets from Africa to international organisations.
Technical Summary
Vaccines & Immunity represents one of the three identified key themes of research at the MRC Unit in The Gambia and is headed by Prof Kampmann. Our research portfolio within Vaccines & Immunity comprises the following three areas, which are headed up by 3 senior investigators: Infant Immunology (Dr E Clarke), Molecular Diagnostics (M. Antonio) and Tuberculosis research (J. Sutherland).
Our research covers basic laboratory science, translational research and clinical trials from phase I to phase IV:
1. we aim to understand basic immunological mechanisms of protection and susceptibility in children of different ages to a wide range of infectious diseases causing major morbidity and mortality in our regional context, such as TB, pneumonia, diarrhoea, congenital infections
2. we investigate mechanisms of carriage and invasion of a variety of bacterial pathogens (strep pneumo, staph aureus, haemophilus and other causes of neonatal bacterial infections). These results guide the development of protective vaccines and other interventions.
3. We conduct clinical trials at all clinical stages of vaccine development, aimed at preventing serious infections in resource-poor settings in particular (pneumococcal vaccines, T vaccines, HIV, malaria, polio)
Over the last 12 months, we have completed a large-scale phase 4 trial of intramuscular polio vaccination (Lancet Global health 2016) and started another pneumococcal vaccine trial. We have completed the evaluation of a novel preparation of a pneumococcal vaccine which has now progressed to licensure via the EMA. We have set up a platform for the conduct of maternal immunisation trials and led an international conference on the issue. Our basic research is describing the interactions between the neonatal microbiome and early immune responses and explores age-related development of innate immune mechanisms in vitro. The international collaborations have enabled us to establish a number of new immunological assays in the Unit. Please find detailed descriptions of projects in the Infant Immunology report and the TB-CC report.
Our research covers basic laboratory science, translational research and clinical trials from phase I to phase IV:
1. we aim to understand basic immunological mechanisms of protection and susceptibility in children of different ages to a wide range of infectious diseases causing major morbidity and mortality in our regional context, such as TB, pneumonia, diarrhoea, congenital infections
2. we investigate mechanisms of carriage and invasion of a variety of bacterial pathogens (strep pneumo, staph aureus, haemophilus and other causes of neonatal bacterial infections). These results guide the development of protective vaccines and other interventions.
3. We conduct clinical trials at all clinical stages of vaccine development, aimed at preventing serious infections in resource-poor settings in particular (pneumococcal vaccines, T vaccines, HIV, malaria, polio)
Over the last 12 months, we have completed a large-scale phase 4 trial of intramuscular polio vaccination (Lancet Global health 2016) and started another pneumococcal vaccine trial. We have completed the evaluation of a novel preparation of a pneumococcal vaccine which has now progressed to licensure via the EMA. We have set up a platform for the conduct of maternal immunisation trials and led an international conference on the issue. Our basic research is describing the interactions between the neonatal microbiome and early immune responses and explores age-related development of innate immune mechanisms in vitro. The international collaborations have enabled us to establish a number of new immunological assays in the Unit. Please find detailed descriptions of projects in the Infant Immunology report and the TB-CC report.
Organisations
- MRC Unit, The Gambia, Gambia (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (Collaboration)
- The Statens Serum Institute (SSI) (Collaboration)
- Public Health England, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Imperial College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (Collaboration)
- West African Network for TB, AIDS and Malaria (Collaboration)
- University of Cape Town (Collaboration)
- University of Jos (Collaboration)
- Merck (Collaboration)
- University of Cincinnati (Collaboration)
- Stellenbosch University, South Africa (Collaboration)
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) (Collaboration)
- University of Bamako (Collaboration)
- University of Liverpool, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- PATH (Collaboration)
- University of San Francisco (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) (Collaboration)
- University of British Columbia, Canada (Collaboration)
- Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) (Collaboration)
- Boston Children's Hospital (Collaboration)
- University of Leicester, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
Publications
Newton S
(2011)
A functional whole blood assay to measure viability of mycobacteria, using reporter-gene tagged BCG or M.Tb (BCGlux/M.Tb lux).
in Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Ritz N
(2015)
Tuberculosis in young refugees.
in Lancet (London, England)
Zak DE
(2016)
A blood RNA signature for tuberculosis disease risk: a prospective cohort study.
in Lancet (London, England)
Pollock L
(2013)
Paediatric emergency care in resource-limited settings.
in Lancet (London, England)
Liu J
(2016)
Use of quantitative molecular diagnostic methods to identify causes of diarrhoea in children: a reanalysis of the GEMS case-control study.
in Lancet (London, England)
Bliss CM
(2017)
Viral Vector Malaria Vaccines Induce High-Level T Cell and Antibody Responses in West African Children and Infants.
in Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy
Piot P
(2019)
Immunization: vital progress, unfinished agenda.
in Nature
Weiner J
(2018)
Metabolite changes in blood predict the onset of tuberculosis.
in Nature communications
Hazen TH
(2016)
Genomic diversity of EPEC associated with clinical presentations of differing severity.
in Nature microbiology
| Title | Develppment of a "Speaking Book" to explain chidlhood vaccines |
| Description | we developed a book that has recorded messages about childhood vaccines in teh two most prevalent languages in The Gambia |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | We are currently assessing impact on vaccine up[take and use of the book to generate better knowledge about childhood vaccines from caregivers and healthcare professionals post introduction in sentinel sites in The Gambia |
| Description | Advisory Board Maternal Immunisation |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Via setting up immunisation services in antenatal clinics we have improved uptake |
| Description | ECDC advocacy workshop |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | Raising the profile of paediatric tuberculosis in international organisations such as ECDC and WHO has led to the inclusion of recommendations specifically for children in the guidelines. |
| Description | Implementation of prophylaxis for TB exposed children in 4 SSA countries |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a national consultation |
| Impact | Implementation of the recommended prophylactic therapy with INH has been hindered in most SSA countries due to lack of knowledge and experience. Engagement in our research project has enabled governmental organisations (National TB programs) to roll out IPT at sentinel sites and gain experience with a number of different approaches and assess the cascade of care where patients might get lost. This leads ot improvement of services for patients and families. |
| Description | Introduction of MenAfriVac vaccine in the Gambia |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | Following our multi-centre clinical trial for the safety and immunogenicity of the MenAfriVac vaccine, a vaccine against meningitis A, this vaccine is now introduced into he national immunisation schedule |
| Description | Maternal Immunization Pharmacovigilance - Landscape Review - A Roadmap for Program Development in Low and Middle Income Countries |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
| Impact | The document resulting from this advisory committee consultation is expected to be used to focus future work to measure health impacts in expectant mothers receiving vaccines in low and middle income countries as well as to direct the development of the otherwise fledgling regulatory framework globally |
| Description | Member - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Expert Advisory Group on Single Dose HPV vaccine scheduling |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | The expert committee has been set up to drive the research and implementation agenda for single dose HPV vaccine schedules in Low and Middle Income Countries |
| Description | Membership in the Advisory Boards for WHO, BMGF and CEPI on maternal immunisation |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | Our work in vaccines and particularly within the IMPRINT network has gained visibility at high levels and we have regularly acted as advisors to the WHO, BMGF, CEPI on issues relating to the implementation of vaccines in pregnancy. This is an ongoing process- an example is our contribution to the roadmap for the development of RSV vaccines for pregnant women, cited in the URL |
| URL | https://www.path.org/articles/roadmap-advancing-maternal-immunization-against-rsv/ |
| Description | NIH case-definition workshop |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
| Description | New classification of childhood tuberculosis |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
| Impact | the NIH-commissioned workshop of which I was an invited member drafted a new case classification for research in childhood tuberculosis. This classification is now standard to attract funding for diagnostic-related research in this area. |
| Description | Novartis maternal immunisation strategy board |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
| Impact | the advice from the group of which I was an scientific member led to critical appraisal within industry which vaccines to push forward for maternal immunisation. |
| Description | Participation in NIH workshop on reserach agenda for latent TB infection- represnted paediatric components |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Participation in NIH/BMGF advisory meeting - Harmonization of Safety Reporting in Immunizations in Pregnancy |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | The meeting drove the further expansion of the use of harmonized terms for safety reporting in pregnancy |
| Description | Pfizer GAVI advisory board |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
| Impact | possible impact, as Nigeria haas now introduced the PcV vaccine which was advised by the board |
| Description | Press panel RCPCH |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a national consultation |
| Description | WHO Consultation on the Research Agenda for Fractional Yellow Fever Vaccination |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | WHO advisory board |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
| Impact | improvements in delivery of clinical services to children exposed to TB by advocating contact tracing for vulnerable groups in the WHO guideline document to which I contributed |
| Description | WHO pre-qualification of a vaccine tested in the Gambia |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The licensure of the novel preparation of the conjugated pneumococcal vaccine willed to more affordable and wide distribution f this vaccine- Impact should be tangible in the next few years. WHO pre-qualification occurred because of the trial conducted by the Vaccines & Immunity Theme. |
| URL | http://www.mrc.ac.uk/ |
| Description | WHO prequalification of Pneumosil, a novel conjugated pneumococcal vaccoen where my team conducted the clincial trials in The Gambia |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | The clincial trials conducted by my team in The Gambia have led to WHO prequalification of a novel much cheaper conjugated pneumococcal vaccine called Pneumosil, produced by the Serum Institute in India. This vaccine will cost a fraction of the currently available PCv10 and 13 and will change the support needed from GAVI once fully licensed, upscaled and introduced. |
| URL | https://www.path.org/media-center/new-pneumococcal-vaccine-serum-institute-india-achieves-who-prequa... |
| Description | guidelines for use of IGRA in children |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | our research has clearly identified the correct use of IGRA for the the diagnosis of TB in children. We were commissioned to publish our guidelines in a UK Education?actice Journal, which has an international audience |
| Description | introduction of new vaccine in The Gambia EPI |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | In August 2013 the Government of The Gambia introduced the Rotavirus vaccine into the EPI schedule. This was amongst other things prompted by data from the MRC Unit showing that rotavirus made a significant contribution to morbidity and mortality in children in The Gambia. The lab work was led by Vaccinology (Dr Antonio) |
| Description | work cited in international guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in systematic reviews |
| Impact | rational use of resources |
| Description | Al Thrasher Award |
| Amount | $350,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Thrasher Research Fund |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2014 |
| End | 11/2017 |
| Description | Al Thrasher Award |
| Amount | $350,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Thrasher Research Fund |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2014 |
| End | 04/2017 |
| Description | Assessment of case definitions for reporting the outcomes of maternal vaccination trials |
| Amount | $25,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Clinical Trial |
| Amount | $1,200,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Pfizer Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 06/2015 |
| Description | DGF |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | EU/IMI |
| Amount | € 30,000,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | Foundation Award GCRF |
| Amount | £580,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | GC6-2013 |
| Amount | $6,000,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | 43172 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | GC6-74 |
| Amount | $12,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2006 |
| End | 12/2012 |
| Description | GCRF |
| Amount | £580,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | GCRF Vaccine network |
| Amount | £2,600,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 06/2020 |
| Description | German Government |
| Amount | € 2,000,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | German Federal Ministry of Education and Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | German Government- BMBF- International collaborations |
| Amount | € 2,000,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | German Federal Ministry of Education and Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 07/2016 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Global Health Wellcome Trust fellowship Dr LeDoare |
| Amount | £55,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2013 |
| End | 09/2014 |
| Description | HIPC |
| Amount | $8,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 01/2022 |
| Description | In kind contribution of vaccines and consumables |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Merck |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 05/2022 |
| Description | Investigator initiated proposal |
| Amount | $350,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Pfizer Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | LAMP TB test |
| Amount | £16,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Start | 11/2013 |
| End | 06/2015 |
| Description | MRC Capital funds |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 06/2013 |
| Description | MRC Program grant |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | MRC Harwell |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | MRC mid-career grant |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 06/2013 |
| Description | MRC studentship Dr Togun |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2012 |
| End | 01/2016 |
| Description | Multi-dose PcV 13 Clinical Trial PI |
| Amount | $2,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Pfizer Inc |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 03/2015 |
| Description | Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen diversity study |
| Amount | $2,000,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | R01 AI090928 |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 07/2012 |
| End | 06/2015 |
| Description | N/A |
| Amount | $4,700,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | PATH Vaccine Solutions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 12/2016 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Description | NIH HIPC Consortium- EPIC study "Early Omic signatures can predict Infant vaccine responses" |
| Amount | $12,000,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | NIH 5U19AI118608-02 |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 01/2022 |
| Description | NIH- Biomarkers for Childhood TB |
| Amount | $2,500,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 02/2020 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Description | NIH- Biomrker Award PI Levin |
| Amount | $2,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Networks of Excellence EDCTP |
| Amount | € 3,066,638 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) |
| Department | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | PATH- Pneumosil trial |
| Amount | $3,400,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | PATH |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | Pfizer-MatImms Africa project |
| Amount | £450,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Pfizer Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | PhD studentship Dr Battersby |
| Amount | £370,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 098980/Z/12/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2013 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | PhD studentship Dr Egere |
| Amount | € 20,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 10/2013 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | PhD studentship Dr Saikou Bah |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2012 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | PhD studentship for Dr Basu-Roy |
| Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2013 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | Project grant Polio trial BMGF |
| Amount | $2,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 07/2016 |
| Description | Screen-TB |
| Amount | € 2,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | DRIA2014-311 |
| Organisation | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) |
| Department | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Stanford University - The effects of the infant microbiome on the immune responses to vaccination |
| Amount | $160,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Stanford University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | Thrasher Foundation |
| Amount | $25,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Thrasher Research Fund |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2020 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | WANETAM- network |
| Amount | € 2,000,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship |
| Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Department | Wellcome Trust Bloomsbury Centre |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2016 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship |
| Amount | £247,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Department | Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship to Dr Anja Saso |
| Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Title | The development of a research platform within which to undertake maternal vaccination safety and immunogenicity trials in The Gambia |
| Description | Maternal vaccination trials in low income countries require the development of significant research infrastructure. IN particular we have established an antenatal ultrasound facility within which to undertake gestational ultrasound assessments (not otherwise available in the country) and a framework for the capture and reporting of safety outcomes |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The platform will be used for future research in this field in The Gambia and is also likely (based on a planned publication related to the development of the platform) to guide researchers elsewhere |
| Title | app |
| Description | designed an app tool to improve uptake of maternal immunisation |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | this tool is publicly available fro the app store and is not restricted to researchers |
| Title | design of a public health contact tracing model for TB control in the community |
| Description | the contact tracing model was developed by my TB research group to facilitate the linking of index cases to childhood contacts. it has been developed in collaboration with public health england and an adapted version also in use at the MRC Unit in The Gambia. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | contact tracing and chemoprophylaxis for children is now part of the activities of the National TB program in the Gambia |
| Description | British Columbia University |
| Organisation | University of British Columbia |
| Department | Department of Pediatrics |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | provided support for field sample collections and vaccinations, plus laboratory facilities |
| Collaborator Contribution | access to protocols |
| Impact | publication, presentation at international meeting, visibility |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | GC6-2013 |
| Organisation | University of Cape Town |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Part of multi-site study for TB biomarkers. MRC recruited patients and their household contacts to generate incident cases - contacts who develop active TB within 2 years of recruitment. These subjects hold the key to understanding protective immunity to TB. RNA, plasma and PBMC are being analysed for biomarkers of TB 'risk'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Securing funding and providing resources for RNA and plasma analysis. |
| Impact | 2 consortium papers (Sutherland et al., 2013, CMI; Sutherland et al., 2013, Plos One). RNA-seq data published in Lancet in 2016. 3 publications in 2018: AJRCCM, Nature Communications, Frontiers in Microbiology Multi-disciplinary: epidemiology, clinical, immunological, microbiological |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | GCRF Foundation award partner |
| Organisation | University of Bamako |
| Country | Mali |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Grant Facilitates Recruitment site for childhood GCRF grant, MRC Gambia provides training |
| Collaborator Contribution | Able to recruit patients to collaborative project |
| Impact | ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Harvard Levy lab |
| Organisation | Boston Children's Hospital |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | exchange of staff and technology |
| Collaborator Contribution | contributed research samples |
| Impact | publication by Burl et al |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Harvard Levy lab |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Institute of Child Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | exchange of staff and technology |
| Collaborator Contribution | contributed research samples |
| Impact | publication by Burl et al |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | ICH London Goldblatt lab |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Institute of Child Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | scientific exchange re pneumococcal immunisation policies, practice and research, sharing of reagents and assay development |
| Collaborator Contribution | scientific exchange re pneumococcal immunisation policies, practice and research, sharing of reagents and assay development |
| Impact | 1 shared PhD studentship, scientific workshop at MRC The Gambia input into senior appointments |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | IIDMM UCT |
| Organisation | University of Cape Town |
| Department | Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM) |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | joint supervision of PhD students academic links in the field of TB grant money to UCT |
| Collaborator Contribution | access to lab and field |
| Impact | joint publications joint grant applications |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Jos |
| Organisation | University of Jos |
| Department | Department of Paediatrics |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We engaged Dr Ebonyi as our partner in the research project and devised the protocol and data system to be implemented on site. We shared our training materials |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners in Jos have enabled implementation of the GCRF work and facilitated close links with the Nigerian National TB Control Program and have led training activities in Nigeria for chidlhood TB as well as informed documentation of implementation of IPT. |
| Impact | derived documents now used in National TB programs |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Levy Lab |
| Organisation | Boston Children's Hospital |
| Department | Levy Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | set up of systems vaccinology research for studies of EPI vaccines |
| Collaborator Contribution | bioinformatics support |
| Impact | several publications and a grant submission to the nIH |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Mask Study |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Mask study involves analysis of TB transmission and thus use of our TB case-contact platform to correlate patient transmission with infection status of the contacts. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of masks and analysis of all samples collected. |
| Impact | Publications pending. Multidisciplinary project including microbiology and immunology |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Merck Vaccines |
| Organisation | Merck |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | As part of a clinical trial of HPV vaccines we will provide serum samples to Merck to analyse on their multiplex based serology platform which has been used in past efficacy trial of the vaccine. The results will be provided to us (MRC Unit The Gambia) for analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As part of a clinical trial of HPV vaccines we will provide serum samples to Merck to analyse on their multiplex based serology platform which has been used in past efficacy trial of the vaccine. The results will be provided to us (MRC Unit The Gambia) for analysis. |
| Impact | Nil as yet - trial underway |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | NIH grant for biomarkers of chidlhood TB diagnostics |
| Organisation | University of San Francisco |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | this recently awarded NIH grant will allow us ot contribute stored samples form the MRC program grant and GCRF award to the validation of childhood TB diagnostic markers and to prospectively recruit a new cohort of children with TB and community controls |
| Collaborator Contribution | The grant is led by the colleagues from the University of San Francisco and we are research partners with a sub contract. |
| Impact | none yet |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Novartis Vaccine development |
| Organisation | Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) |
| Department | Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | generated data for pertussis seroprevalence |
| Collaborator Contribution | funding for consumables |
| Impact | manuscript in progress |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Oxford Vaccine Group |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Vaccine Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | mutual engagement in Vaccinology research |
| Collaborator Contribution | joint supervision of PhD student |
| Impact | new collaboration |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | PATH |
| Organisation | PATH |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Path vaccine roadmap work |
| Collaborator Contribution | scientific advice |
| Impact | funding |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Public Health Engalnd |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provision of clinical trial serum samples |
| Collaborator Contribution | Processing of clinical trial serum samples for serological analysis |
| Impact | Presentation of clinical trial results and World Health Organisation Meeting |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | RIVM Holland |
| Organisation | National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) |
| Department | Centre for Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Surveillance |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | analysis of samples at MRC using RIVM technology, following successful tec transfer from RIVM results on pertussis of interest to RIVM epidemiologists |
| Collaborator Contribution | facilitating Tec Transfer to MRC by hosting 2 technicians |
| Impact | 1 manuscript submitted, 1 in preparation |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Screen-TB |
| Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr. Sutherland is site-PI for a multi-site study on development of a rapid diagnostic test for TB. This involves recruitment of 200 patients with symptoms suggestive of TB but prior to diagnosis. These patients are then diagnosed for TB or other respiratory disorders (ORD) using GeneXpert and biomarkers for TB are determined. The second stage of the project will use 'real-time' finger-prick testing of patients at the outpatients clinic to validate our diagnostic test in a 'field' setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Grant co-ordinator/PI |
| Impact | Recruitment of patients will not begin until mid-2016. Outputs will occur by 2019. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Single dose HPV vaccine evaluation consortium |
| Organisation | Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Contribution to the development of the structure and reporting of the consortium. Ongoing membership of the clinical trials group and modelling group |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is a consortium funded by BMGF to assess the evidence for one dose HPV vaccine scheduling. The consortium aims to produce the data required for SAGE review of an alternative schedule |
| Impact | Nil currently |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Staten Serum Institute Denmark |
| Organisation | The Statens Serum Institute (SSI) |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | application of reagents in research studies |
| Collaborator Contribution | availability of reagents to our research study |
| Impact | joint publications |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | TB-Sequel |
| Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
| Department | Faculty of Medicine |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Part of a multi-site study for assessing risk factors for TB-sequelae. Dr. Sutherland is Research Task 2 (host immunity) leader and Prof. Kampmann is RT5 (capacity building) leader. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Coordination and management of grant for BMBF |
| Impact | We have not yet initiated recruitment of study subjects. This will occur mid-2017. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | UCAD |
| Organisation | University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar |
| Country | Senegal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Professor Mboup and Professor Gaye are partners in our West African Global Health Research initiative and a number of members of their respective departments are now involved in our research |
| Collaborator Contribution | exchange of ideas and potential for join grant applications |
| Impact | scientific workshops |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | UKRI-GCRF award for partenrship in chidlhood TB sequelae (just awarded) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This GCRF grant is held by my postdoc Dr Togun and myself at MRCG@LSHTM. We have small salary portions on it only as overall garnt small and money needed for the activities- hence we give time in lieu to set up this new collaboration to establish a platform to study lung outcome in chidlren who are/were affected by TB |
| Collaborator Contribution | This GCRF award has established a partnership with Dr Kevin Mortimer at Liverpool University and his team. The grant is held at MRC Gambia at teh LSHTM. Whilst he has a small salary contribution, his team is contributing in kind in order to set things up for the more substantial application next year. |
| Impact | not yet |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | University of Jos, Nigeria |
| Organisation | University of Jos |
| Department | Department of Paediatrics |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A paediatrician form Jos is developing a research project under my supervision and received funding via Imperial College in 2016. He is now also a collaborator on the Foundation GCRF award |
| Collaborator Contribution | set up of validators cohorts for childhood TB research |
| Impact | Foundation Award MRC |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | University of Munich |
| Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative grant award from the German ministry to conduct research into lung sequelae of TB |
| Collaborator Contribution | LMU is the grant holder and chose my TB program at MRC and the TBCC as a partner site in this 5-counry multicentre study. |
| Impact | the study is just starting, the website is being developed |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Viral illnesses in infants and mothers in the PROPEL trial |
| Organisation | University of Cincinnati |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of samples |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of laboratory supplies and expertise |
| Impact | Awaited |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | WANETAM network |
| Organisation | West African Network for TB, AIDS and Malaria |
| Country | Senegal |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The WANETAM network is an EDCTP funded network across partners in West Africa. My group leads the TB workpackage which has created a platform for the conduct of childhood TB research and funds research and career development for paediatricians and NLTP in the region to invest in better diagnosis and management of childhood TB. Most activities are led by my post doc Dr Toyin Togun who achieved his PhD under the original program grant form MRC to myself, I therefore see this as an impactful outcome. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in 7 West African countries are making contributions by dedication time and personnel to the aim of the network package, which is to achieve better diagnosis and management of childhood TB in the region. |
| Impact | ongoing, only started in 2019, training delivered, all Ethics through in all countries, MSc student appointed, database designed and shared- now recruiting |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | metabolomics |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | new collaboration on metabolomics analysis for TB samples |
| Collaborator Contribution | equipment and analysis capabilities available to me |
| Impact | analysis ongoing |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Title | transcriptomic signatures for identifying individuals at-risk for TB disease progression |
| Description | We have developed a blood-derived signature for detection of individuals at risk of TB disease progression. Identification of these individuals and subsequent TB treatment would reduce the TB burden by 4-fold. Several co-inventors are named on the application including Gerhard Walzl from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) as the submitting institute. |
| IP Reference | 1804019.6 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | We have received funding based on this discovery to test a fingerstick blood test for identification of at-risk household contacts. |
| Title | 10 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (generic for GAVI purchase) |
| Description | We have recently completed a phase 1/2 trial and a phase 3 licensure trial is now planned |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2017 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | The phase 1/2 trial completed and the phase 3 trial planned aim to result in the licensure of the first generic pneumococcal conjugate vaccine specifically targeting those pneumococcal serotypes prevalent in low and middle income countries |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02308540?term=VAC017&rank=1 |
| Title | Multi-dose PCV preparation |
| Description | We conducted a clinical trial for an alternative formulation of a licensed vaccine |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Market authorisation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2014 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| UKCRN/ISCTN Identifier | 1234568 |
| Impact | GAVI supported |
| Title | Prevenar13 (licensed vaccine) for use in expectant mothers (unlicensed indication) |
| Description | Prevenar13 is licensed in infants, children and adults but is not licensed in pregnancy. This trial is testing the safety and efficacy against pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage of the vaccine in pregnant women and newborns |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Late clinical evaluation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2017 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | The trial is currently underway and data has yet to be analysed. |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02628886 |
| Title | polio interference trial |
| Description | the trial assessed if the co-administration of inactive polio (IPV) with routine vaccines given at 9 months of age would impact on the immunogenicity of any of the vaccines administered. We found some concerns re rubella and yellow fever titres, but whether they are clinically significant remains to be established- the publication is under review |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Late clinical evaluation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2015 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | the policy re polio was influenced by the preliminary data we presented to the WHO and the IPV vaccine is now recommended to be administered at 4 months rather than 9 months of age. |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01847872 |
| Title | polio needleless devices |
| Description | 2 needleless devices to administer vaccines are currently under evaluation within Vaccinology/Inf Immunology. funding: BMGF/PATH |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Medical Devices |
| Current Stage Of Development | Late clinical evaluation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2013 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | trial ongoing |
| URL | http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01847872 |
| Title | polio vaccine |
| Description | currently conducting new application of polio vaccine to be given i.m at 9 months with other EPI vaccines funding: BMGF |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Clinical |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2013 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | trial in progress |
| URL | http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01847872 |
| Title | MatImms app |
| Description | app to inform pregnant women about vaccines to be given in pregnancy and how they work |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | only just launched |
| Description | Community sensitisation events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | The community sensitisation events are regularly conducted to inform past, present and future participants in our research on the results of previous studies and upcoming new research studies and clinical trials. They serve as a link to the community decision makers and are well supported by community members and MRC researchers. Increased participation in clincial trials and ongoign research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Engagement with local schoolchidlrne aroufn TB in the community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Several schools have been invited to workshops and information sessions at the MRC Unit to talk about TB, the symptoms, stigma-related issues- these activities are led by a member of our team, Dr Owalabi, who also received small funding for Public engagement from the LSHTM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | INMIS media interveiw |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | as part of the International Symposium for neonatal and maternal immunisations hick I organised in The Gambia I gave a television interview to the national media which was broadcasted on the same day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Immunology workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 70 post-graduate students and 15 international faculty attended an immunology workshop for West Africa. This was the first time such an event had been held in the region and consisted of lectures and practical sessions. The students also presented posters with prizes for the top 3. The event was deemed highly successful and generated mentoring and networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Impact Science Report 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | IMPRINT was featured in the latest Impact Science Report. Our network PIs Beate Kampmann and Chrissie Jones talked about the "value of vaccination in pregnancy". They discussed our innovative and game-changing network activities as well as the network´s long-term global impact. Our IMPRINT fellow Alansana Darboe is also featured and shares how the IMPRINT fellowship will foster his research career. The article aimed at increasing our visibility and attract new members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://impact.pub/December2018-2digitaledition/ |
| Description | Inaugural lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Travel with T cells, now on YouTube inerest in academic medicine by GCSE-level students, several University students requesting mentorship |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | London Maternity and Midwifery Festival 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | IMPRINT was promoted at the first London Maternity & Midwifery Festival that took place on February 13th 2018 with over 1600 participants. This national professional festival, with leadership speakers and exhibitions, is to be held annually to highlight developments in maternity and midwifery across the South East of the United Kingdom. Our IMPRINT network member Beth Holder and a team from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine attended the event to promote MatImms, a free Smartphone App designed by leading experts of paediatric infectious diseases at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that aims to improve vaccine information available to pregnant women, enabling them to make informed choices and encourages vaccination in pregnancy to protect newborn babies from preventable infections. MatImms collaborate with pregnant women alongside academic, clinical and policy partners such as Public Health England and antenatal services, in the UK and globally through the Centre for International Child Health. Matimms is led by Professor Beate Kampmann. We aimed to attract midwifes to our network and spark interest of the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.maternityandmidwifery.co.uk/events/london-2018/ |
| Description | MatImms App |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | we have designed an app to explain how vaccines work in pregnancy to women/interested people. this app can be downloaded free of charge from apple and android app stores. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Midwifery conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Open Day and midwifery conference at earls Court London, large exhibition of activities, promotion of our App for maternal immunisation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Open Forum MRC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | broader level of insight into the reserarch activities surrounding this theme, connecting up MRC and governmental activities closer collaboration with National TB program and wider public support |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Opening a borehole |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I sponsored a borehole to be built at one of our community sites and had the pleasure of handing it over to the community, which was much appreciated and featured on national radio throughout the day of the event and beyond. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Oral presentation at EDCTP meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation at the EDCTP forum in Portugal, September, 2018. Presentation was on results obtained for TB/HIV biomarker analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Partner: IMPRINT and the Vaccine Confidence Project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Heidi Larson, one of our network challenge leads also holds the position of the director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The purpose of the project is to monitor public confidence in immunisation programmes by building an information surveillance system for early detection of public concerns around vaccines. IMPRINT is featured as the Vaccine Confidence Partner on their website. We plan to open a call in the near future about patient and public engagement in vaccination, and the Vaccine Confidence project display gives us more visibility. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| URL | http://www.vaccineconfidence.org |
| Description | Project website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | With our website, we aim to build a sustainable network of stakeholders from basic science, immunology, vaccinology, social sciences, industry, public health and national and international policy makers, to tackle the challenges in the best use of vaccines in pregnancy and in newborns, and in the long term to improve maternal and newborn health. The website helps us to foster capacity for research and innovation within the UK and in developing countries and set up new collaborations. In February 2020, the released a complete redesign of the website, including a separate events page to announce and advertise IMPRINT network meetings and other events supported by IMPRINT. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| URL | http://www.imprint-network.co.uk |
| Description | Regular appearances on BBC, BBC World Service, BBC radio for vaccine related questions throughout the last 12 months |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I am a regular guest on various media channels, Victoria Derbyshire program, mainly BBC- there are too many to list individually. I have spoken about measles, HPV, corona virus and vaccine confidence, including in pregnant women. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47787908 |
| Description | School engagement activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of this workshop was to provide awareness to adolescents on Tuberculosis in order to increase health-seeking behaviours. The results from the study have been used as pilot data for a Wellcome Trust engagement award submission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | School visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to speak at the Open Science week of a prestigious London School. I have a talk on Ebola, which was well received. I had lunch with the students and many subsequent discussions arose. Some have approached me since for questions how to get into medical school and how to go about a career in international health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Speaking books debriefing workshop with Gambia EPI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In htis interactive workshop, we communicated the outcomes of a recent research project called the Speaking Books for Vaccines to members of the EPI program in The Gambia and the national immunisation committee members and regional health officers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | TB-sequel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Kick-off meeting for health systems networks which funds 5 projects in Africa for capacity building and development. The discussions generated new avenues for future funding and ideas for sustainability of the research networks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | TB2016 conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | TB2016 was adjunct to AIDS2016 and was the first time a TB meeting was attached to the internationally renowned AIDS consortium. The meeting included policy makers, activists, researchers and patients from around the globe. This resulted in increased awareness of TB which is directly related to the AIDS epidemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | The Value of vacciens to soceities- a presentation in Valencia, Spain on invitation of the British Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On invitation of the British Council, I presented on the topic of Value of Vaccines in society- do we really appreciate them? the session was held in the museum of Sciences in Valencia, Spain and is available on youtube. This was part of a regular open forum for general public organsied by the British Council in Spain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiBam59ErFg |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiBam59ErFg |
| Description | Twitter Account |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our Twitter account engages mainly scientists and the general public. We tweet about the topic of vaccination in general, retweet worldwide funding opportunities and engage with other GRCF funded networks on the topic of immunization. We also tweet about our own funding options. We attracted over 320 followers since Sept 2017 (up from 200 since the 2019 report). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/imprint_network |
| Description | Workshop cum Expert Review Meeting on Maternal Immunization, New Delhi |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Beate Kampmann, our network PI, Beth Holder, our challenge 1 co-lead and Sonali Kochhar, our challenge 5 co-lead, introduced IMPRINT at the "Workshop cum Expert Review Meeting on Maternal Immunization" September 10th in New Delhi, organized by the PRERNA Platform, KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune, with support from WHO-TDR Fellowship in Clinical Research and Development and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The meeting was attended by global and Indian public health, infectious disease, vaccine and clinical experts. The objectives of the meeting were to: - foster discussion among national and global leaders in maternal immunization to identify and prioritise research areas in maternal immunization in India - initiate research proposals - development in maternal immunization in collaboration with national and international partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.prernaindia.in/images/mi.pdf |
| Description | World TB Day community activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | For the World TB day on March 24th we coordinated joint activities with the NLTP of The Gambia in a coastal community. Schoolchildren and lay audience as well as healthcare workers and patents participated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.mrc.gm/mrc-unit-tb-research-world-tb-day-celebration/ |
| Description | World TB Day in conjucntion with National TB Program the Gambia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Each year our team collaborated with the National TB program in teh Gambia to stage events around World TB Day and to give visibility to all of the TB control activities. These events are always attended by national TV and radio and written up in national newspapers as well as publicised via the mRC comms channels. World TB Day is an international event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | World TB day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Each year we organise a world TB day celebration in a particular community to raise awareness for TB. The aim is to reduce stigma and increase health-seeking behaviours. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | input into various newspaper articles from Guardian, Telegraph, Wellcome Trust, Herald, Daily Mail- not all listed individually |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I am regularly quoted by printed media on vaccine related issues- see for example https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/08/hpv-jab-boys-raises-hope-eradicating-cervical-cancer/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/08/hpv-jab-boys-raises-hope-eradicating-cervical-cancer/ |
| Description | oral presentation at Keystone TB in Whistler, BC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk was at an international scientific meeting, which increased networking, publicity for The Gambia and interest in Tuberculosis studies within the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | this Imperial College podcast served to inform the audience about a recently published paper and my role was to put it in context of the wider scientific agenda in this area facilitated interpretation of research findings to a wider audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |