Third Global Forum on TB vaccines
Cape Town, South Africa
The Third Global Forum on TB Vaccines, organised to discuss progress on TB vaccine development, will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 24-27 March 2013, under the auspices of the Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New TB Vaccines. Co-ordinated by the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) and Aeras, the event will be hosted for the first time on the African continent, where TB disease rates are amongst the highest in the world.
Immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives and prevent disease for a lifetime. Unfortunately, the only available TB vaccine – Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) – is unreliable in preventing pulmonary TB, which is the most common and infectious form of the disease. New, effective tuberculosis vaccines would protect people against TB and lead to its elimination.
Hundreds of researchers worldwide are working on the development of new TB vaccines. Much progress has been made in the past decade, and there is hope that a new TB vaccine may be on the market by 2020. Following on the very successful and productive 2nd Global Forum on TB Vaccines held in Tallinn, Estonia in 2010, the Third Global Forum on TB Vaccines will provide an opportunity for researchers, advocates and policy makers to review progress made, identify key issues and priorities to advance and accelerate TB vaccine research, and lay the groundwork for licensure and uptake of new TB vaccines.
Mark your calendar: Sunday 24 to Wednesday 27 March 2013, to attend the Third Global Forum on TV vaccines at Kramer Building, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Conference topics:
- Basic Research: new findings in molecular, immunological, and pathogenesis and epidemiologic research; vaccine delivery and adjuvants
- Applied Research: vaccine products; assay development; biomarkers and preclinical studies
- Clinical Research: vaccines in clinical studies; lessons learned from trials; immunisation strategies; phase II and III studies; next generation vaccines
- Manufacturing, Regulation, Access: pilot facilities; industrial development of TB vaccines; role of developing countries; IP issues and technology transfer; global regulation pathways; GMP assays
- Partnerships, Coordination: role of major institutions and international organisations in TB vaccine development; coordinating new vaccine and new diagnostics studies; working in developing countries
- Advocacy and Communication: creating awareness in developed countries; engaging communities
Updated information can be found on the conference website.
Contact
Ms. Erna Balk
Director Communications & Advocacy Relations
+31 320 277 552
erna.balk(at)tbvi.eu