Vaccines for life

The panel take questions from the audience. (L-R Dr Kirsty Mehring-Le Doare, Prof Nicholas Grassly, Dr Chris Chiu, Prof Robin Shattock

IGHI latest forum gathered to discuss vaccines in the LMICs.

Vaccines have become an effective way of preventing illnesses and disease. But it is a complex area of medicine full of discussion and challenges. The Institute of Global Health Innovation’s  Global Health Forum this month focused on vaccines in four different settings.

Jointly hosted by the IGHI's Centre for International Child Health, co-director Dr Kirsty Mehring-Le Doare chaired the event introducing the first speaker, Professor Shiranee Sriskandan, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine. Her talk focused on the need for a vaccine of Group A strep.

Professor Robin Shattock, Chair in Mucosal Infection and Immunity, in the Department of Medicine at Imperial then discussed the progress made towards a prophylactic HIV vaccine. Following this, Head of the new Imperial Vaccine Research Network, Dr Chris Chiu and Clinical Senior Lecturer presented on the challenges of a vaccines for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

The final presentation came from Professor Nicholas Grassly, Professor of Infectious Disease & Vaccine Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health who gave attendees some insight into the opportunities and biological challenges with oral vaccinations in low-income countries.

The full event can be watched in the video below.

Video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bx5BpXOV6g&t=1708s 

Get involved  

IGHI’s monthly Global Health Forums provide a platform to bring together Imperial researchers, students, and staff from across all of Imperial’s Faculties to highlight, discuss and disseminate findings on current research and innovations on relevant global health topics. The Forums encourage interdisciplinary discussions with the intention that they will foster inter-Faculty research initiatives and leverage the immense strengths of Imperial College to resolve global health priorities of the early 21st Century.

The next forum will take place next on 19 May in Anthony De Rothschild lecture Theatre in St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London and will look at the impact of conflict on health and post-conflict healthcare.

To find out more and to register, visit the event page here.