Strengthening vaccine research at CERMEL focusing on biomedical and social sciences (VARSAF)

Aims and objectives The Biomedicine and social sciences group is an interdisciplinary research group I am setting up at CERMEL in Lambaréné, Gabon. Our scientific scope covers vaccine research and social and economic impacts of biomedical research. The current proposal combines biomedical and sociological researches to strengthen vaccine research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)settings . The biomedical component of my proposal will assess the extent of reduced responses induced by vaccines among sub-Saharan populations and explore the roles of immune activation and controlled viral replication to improve the design of vaccines for SSA populations. The sociological component will study and strengthen the integration of biomedical research activities by SSA societies. Methods The biomedical research agenda To compare efficacy, effectiveness and correlates of protection induced by childhood vaccines between populations living in SSA versus India, Europe and Northern America using a systematic review and meta-analysis. This will assess whether reduced protection is specific to some vaccines and their components or intrinsic to the SSA populations. To assess the states of immune activation in participants enrolled in vaccine trials before, during and after the course of vaccination on the kinetics of vaccine-induced responses against a VSV vectored Ebola vaccine and attenuated sporozoite based malaria vaccine (PfSPZ) and on the efficacy of PfSPZ vaccine. To study and understand the boosting effect of the VSV vector on the immune responses induced by licensed vaccines The social sciences research agenda To study the degree of integration of biomedical sciences by SSA societies and to propose a framework to evaluate the social and economic impacts of biomedical sciences in SSA societies. Fit with scope and objectives of EDCTP The project aims to generate to improve vaccine immune responses against PRDs . In addition, the project will provide a tool to assess impacts of biomedical research. These objectives address the control of PRDs at both scientific and societal levels. Expected impacts I expect to publish high impact factor papers and attend major scientific meetings. In parallel, I will enter into two professorship programs and set up a monthly seminar with the aim to have it incorporated into a Master or PhD curricula of the future school of public health being implemented in Lambaréné, Gabon. The results will be communicated to stakeholders in Africa. After my fellowship, I will lead regional and international networks with CERMEL.