Helen McShane University of Oxford What is VALIDATE? • Network of researchers working on vaccine R&D for complex intracellular neglected pathogens – Mycobacterium tuberculosis – Mycobacterium leprae – Burkholderia pseudomallei – Leishmania spp • Funded by MRC/BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund • 36 months in duration • Start date 1st June 2017 VALIDATE Vision - To create an engaged and interactive community of researchers, decision makers and general public - To accelerate vaccine R&D for our focus neglected pathogens - To help Early Career Researcher members progress their careers Cross pathogen Cross species M. tb, Leishmania spp, Mouse, guinea pig, dog, B. pseudomallei, M. leprae cow, NHP, human VALIDATE Cross continent Cross discipline UK, Africa, South East Asia, Basic immunology, clinical, South America social science Image from social sciences.cornell.edu Management Management Team Network Management Board Director Co-Director Network Manager Helen McShane Helen Fletcher Samantha Vermaak Uo Oxford LSHTM Uo Oxford Mitali Chatterjee Andrea Cooper Tracy Hussell Paul Kaye Jomien Mouton Scientific Advisory Board IPGMER Uo Leicester Uo Manchester Uo York Uo Stellenbosch Jo Prior Ann Rawkins Rajko Reljic Rachel Tanner Bernardo Tom Solomon Nicolas Fasel Jelle Thole Dstl PHE SGUL Uo Oxford Villarreal-Ramos Uo Liverpool Uo Lausanne TBVI APHA Network Members Animal Human Clinical & immun • 213 members: human trials -ology 76 Investigators; 63 Associates; 74 Affiliates models • From 105 institutes in 37 countries (24 LMIC) • 62 Academic; 21 governmental; 12 industry; 7 NGO; 3 other Veterinary Basic pathogens science • 103 Female : 110 Male Bioinform- atics & Social Epidem computer science -iology modelling Structural Chemistry biology Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Pump-priming Grants • Up to £50,000 over 12 months • Projects giving pilot/POC/initial data leading to larger external grant applications • Scientifically excellent • Collaborative - involve members from at least 2 institutes • Within VALIDATE remit • Can be led by ECR and/or LMIC researchers Funded Projects Identification of Leishmania donovani and In vivo protection studies of chimeric Vaccines to target people with diabetes: Mycobacterium tuberculosis- derived Burkholderia pseudomallei antigens characterising the pathways of immune proteins on the surface of infected presenting multiple epitopes on protein response to M. tuberculosis and B. macrophages that are associated with scaffolds and outer membrane vesicles pseudomallei in people with diabetes ADCC induction - LSHTM, Uo Milan, Uo Pavia, Khon Kaen compared to non-diabetics – Uo York, Uo Leicester University - Uo Oxford, LSHTM Enhancing BCG efficacy: the Social The effect of BCG vaccination in immune How do functional and metabolic Technology Lab initiative responses against visceral leishmaniasis in characteristics of trained monocytes affect - LSHTM & KCL a natural (canine) model of infection their anti-bacterial activity? - Uo Surrey, FIOCRUZ, UFBA - LSHTM, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, dstl Establishment of a functional assay panel Overcoming innate tolerance in the Natural variation of the bovine lymph node to evaluate the role of antibodies in respiratory tract for optimal vaccine design microenvironment and its possible effect defence against melioidosis and TB - SGUL & Uo Manchester on BCG immunogenicity - MORU, Uo Oxford, LSHTM - Uo Oxford, APHA, Uo Manchester Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants of £3,000 • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Training Grants • Associates • Up to £3,000 • CPD opportunity e.g. 3D imaging workshop Vaccinology course Flow cytometry training course Laser capture micro dissection training Laboratory Exchange Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Fellows 2018-2020 Dr Jomien Mouton Stellenbosch University, South Africa Identification of latency associated antigens and biosignatures associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Dr Rachel Tanner University of Oxford, UK Characterising the BCG-induced antibody response to inform the design of improved vaccines against M.tuberculosis, M.leprae and M.bovis Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants of £3,000 • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants of £3,000 • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information - grant calls, events, publications, and training and job opportunities via our website and social media • Early sharing of research results • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Information Dissemination www.validate-network.org Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants of £3,000 • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results eg, F1000, data portal • Scientific seminars • New collaborations Benefits of Membership • Pump-priming grants of £50,000 • Training grants of £3,000 • Fellowships • Mentorship • Information • Early sharing of research results ortal • Scientific seminars - by members streamed live online • New collaborations - network events, pump-priming projects, lab exchanges, online members’ directory Coming Up… • 3rd Pump-priming round closes 12 February 2019 • Training grant round closes 12 February 2019 • 3rd Mentoring round opens February 2019 • 3rd Annual Meeting 1-3 October 2019 in London, UK • 2nd ECR Workshop 30 September 2019 Further Info & How to Join (free!) www.validate-network.org @NetworkValidate [email protected].