PARTNERS

African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE)

Wits ALIVE is a vaccinology flagship program at the University of the Witwatersrand, addressing the need to increase research capacity in the African region while fostering global scientific leadership. As a university-wide partnership of internationally recognized scientists, ALIVE spans the entire discipline of vaccinology—from basic and clinical science to public health policy.

Adverse Events Following Immunisation – Clinical Assessment Network (AEFI-CAN)

AEFI-CAN was established in Australia in 2013 to develop a consistent and robust approach to severe adverse events following immunization. This involves creating standardized clinical protocols and facilitating uniform clinical follow-up through a national database, with the INSIS: AEFI-CAN collaborations led by SAEFVIC (the Victorian vaccine safety service) team, based in Melbourne.

The Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV)

CCfV, a partnership of Dalhousie University, IWK Health, and Nova Scotia Health, serves as Canada’s leading fully integrated vaccine research facility. Divided into Discovery, Evaluation, and Policy working groups, it spans from initial discovery to public health implementation. Utilizing a state-of-the-art Challenge Unit for controlled human infection trials, CCfV develops and evaluates technologies to mitigate high-impact global pathogens.

The Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS)

CPNDS, headquartered at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, is a nationwide active surveillance network identifying predictive genetic markers of severe adverse drug reactions. Backed by a major Genome Canada expansion, the network pairs next-generation sequencing with deep longitudinal clinical data to advance pediatric precision oncology and prevent life-altering treatment toxicities.

Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology Research Group, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital

Based in Rome at the "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, this research group conducts system immunology studies to identify tailored vaccine interventions for patients with special clinical needs. The team focuses on enhancing vaccine immunogenicity and safety for chronic-risk cohorts, newborns, and preterm infants. By combining clinical trials with high-dimensional bioinformatics, the group translates multi-omic data into precision pediatric immunization policies.

Dalhousie University

Based in Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University (Canada) delivers regional and global impact through its interdisciplinary infectious disease and host-pathogen research networks. Operating across 13 faculties, the university pairs fundamental immunology with robust clinical trial pipelines in collaboration with local health authorities. Backed by extensive public and industry funding, Dalhousie translates laboratory discoveries into evidence-based public health interventions.

Emory University

The Emory University School of Medicine (USA) hosts the Emory Vaccine Center and its Hope Clinic, which provide extensive translational and clinical trial capabilities for vaccine evaluation. This epicenter focuses on vaccinology, immunology, and infectious disease epidemiology. It aims to accelerate candidate therapeutics from bench to bedside using cutting-edge systems biology and international collaborative studies.

Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN)

GVDN, hosted by the University of Auckland (New Zealand), is a multinational, investigator-led research consortium spanning 29 countries and 35 sites. Accessing health data for over 300 million people, it conducts large-scale collaborative studies to evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness. The network utilizes standardized data models to detect rare post-licensure safety signals globally.

The Hospital for Sick Children

The Hospital for Sick Children (Canada) and affiliated with the University of Toronto, the SickKids Research Institute and its Centre for Global Child Health, drive massive research in pediatric infection and immunity. Utilizing adaptive clinical trials and surveillance across field sites in Africa and Asia, the institute leverages genomics and big data to prevent severe neonatal infections.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital (USA), affiliated with Harvard Medical School, utilizes its Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center and Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit to bridge discovery science and clinical trials. The hospital drives high-dimensional immunology and molecular pathogenesis, leveraging global field sites to convert laboratory innovations into fast-tracked clinical interventions.

Mayo Vaccine Research Group

The Mayo Vaccine Research Group (USA) addresses global infectious disease challenges and biological threats through advanced clinical and epidemiological research. As the pioneer of vaccinomics and adversomics, the group utilizes systems biology and immunogenetics to understand variations in vaccine response. By analyzing multi-omic data, it aims to design personalized immunizations and predict potential adverse events.

McMaster University

McMaster University (Canada) runs its vaccinology research through the Immunology Research Centre and the DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research. This hub specializes in mucosal immunity and antimicrobial resistance. It pioneers alternative, non-invasive delivery mechanisms—like inhaled aerosol platforms—to translate fundamental science into countermeasures against biological threats.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Based at the Melbourne Children’s campus in Australia, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute coordinates pediatric pathogen and vaccine research across the Indo-Pacific. Integrating laboratory science with the SAEFVIC vaccine safety network, MCRI conducts trials on the immunomodulatory effects of vaccines. They pair cellular immunology with longitudinal cohorts to drive evidence-based global child health policies.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (Canada) operates a specialized cardiovascular research engine that integrates clinical epidemiology and infection prevention. The institute focuses on tracking host immunologic vulnerability in cardiac patients and investigating post-vaccination cardiovascular adverse events. It leverages large longitudinal patient cohorts to optimize clinical safety outcomes for high-risk populations.

Peninsula & Alfred Health

Bayside Health (Australia), unifying Peninsula Health and Alfred Health, drives a powerful regional footprint in infectious diseases and clinical epidemiology. This consolidated network bridges urban clinical trial infrastructure with localized population surveillance. Using real-world health data, it focuses on minimizing healthcare infections and expanding equitable access to therapies.

Precision Vaccines Program (PVP)

PVP, based at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, fosters international collaboration to develop vaccines optimized for vulnerable populations like newborns and the elderly. Using cutting-edge systems biology, age-specific in vitro modeling, and adjuvant discovery, the program targets distinct immune phenotypes. Their multidisciplinary team translates complex omic data into tailored, next-generation immunizations.

University of Alberta

At the University of Alberta, researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and the Faculty of Nursing advance infectious disease, vaccinology, and immunology research to tackle global health challenges. Leading in pandemic preparedness, immunological discovery, and health surveillance, the university leverages infrastructure like The Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology (LKSIoV) & Applied Virology Institute (AVI) and the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness and Countermeasures to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and public health policies. The UofA also serves as the headquarters for INSIS, running the central INSIS Network Management Office (NMO).

University of Sydney

Based at the University of Sydney (Australia), the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute mitigates global pathogen threats and antimicrobial resistance. Operating under a "One Health" framework, it unifies human immunology, veterinary science, and genomics. The institute leverages Indo-Pacific field footprints to translate molecular surveillance and novel vaccine patches into public policy.

University of Witwatersrand

Based at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), Wits VIDA and Wits RHI drive a formidable clinical trial network tailored to African disease burdens. Specializing in pediatric vaccinology, maternal immunization, and HIV/TB prevention, these units pair cellular immunology with community surveillance to translate frontline clinical data into highly equitable health solutions.

VAC4EU

The Vaccine Monitoring Collaboration for Europe (VAC4EU) is an international public study network founded in January 2020 to monitor post-licensure vaccine safety and effectiveness. Accessing health data for over 180 million individuals, they use a federated data system and advanced epidemiology to generate regulatory-grade real-world evidence and guide international public health policies.

Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program (VVRP) was formed in 2001 to conduct clinical and translational research in new vaccines and therapeutics. As a core member site of the CDC-funded Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project, the VVRP plays a vital role in addressing vaccine safety issues, conducting clinical research on immunization safety, and assessing complex individual adverse events following vaccination.