Call for nominations for experts to serve on a Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Working Group on COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccination
A call for nominations for experts to serve on a Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Working Group on COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccination has been posted on the SAGE website: https://www.who.int/immunization/policy/sage/en/
This SAGE working group will be set up with the aim of establishing an independent process through SAGE to advise WHO and its Member States on the use of initially pre-licensed vaccines, followed by updates as additional information on product use becomes available. The timeliness of setting up this group will ensure a coordinated approach with the vaccine Research and Development (R&D) community, in order to accelerate timelines and maximize global efforts to make evidence-informed policy decisions for the best use of a vaccine against COVID-19. The ultimate goal of a vaccine against COVID-19 is to rapidly contain the pandemic, save lives, protect health care systems, and restore global economies.
The SAGE Working Group is established with a program of work to:
(1) Provide continuous review of the available evidence on the progress of candidate vaccines against COVID-19, and provide regular updates to SAGE;
(2) Provide guidance for the development of prediction models to determine the optimal age groups and target populations for vaccine introduction and guide vaccine introduction for optimal impact, and contribute to updates of target product profiles of vaccines for outbreak and for endemic use;
(3) Prepare policy advice to SAGE on the accelerated use of vaccines (pre-licensure and post-licensure) to mitigate the public health impact of COVID-19, to possibly curtail the ongoing pandemic, as well as to prevent or reduce the risk of spread of disease in the future. This will include recommendations for early allocation of vaccines when vaccine supply is still limited;
(4) Provide guidance to ensure equitable access to vaccination, and guidance on the safety of vaccines when safety data from wider population use become available, in close collaboration with Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS).
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13Th Edition Of The Edctp Forum To Take Place In Madrid, Spain, From 5 To 9 April 2027
We are delighted to announce that the 13th edition of the EDCTP Forum will be celebrated on 5-9 April 2027, at IFEMA Palacio Municipal in Madrid, Spain.
The event will be co-hosted by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) under the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Fundación CSAI (FCSAI) under the Ministry of Health, and is co-organised by Global Health EDCTP3 and the EDCTP Association.
Over the past two decades, the biennial European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Forum has evolved to become a cornerstone event for global health research, bringing together leading voices advancing the fight against infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. It showcases the latest scientific breakthroughs, highlights impactful capacity-building efforts, and creates a space for vibrant cross-regional collaboration.
The EDCTP Forum 2027 expects to convene 1,500 participants and stakeholders, from researchers, universities and clinicians to governments, regional bodies, civil society, regulators, and public and private R&D partners, drawing participation primarily from Africa and Europe.
Dr Tuelo Mogashoa Becomes First Tagendi Phd Graduate
Botswana-born scientist Dr Tuelo Mogashoa, a PhD Fellow in the ‘Addressing Gender and Diversity Regional Gaps in Clinical Research Capacity’ (TAGENDI) programme, has successfully defended her PhD in Molecular Biology (Tuberculosis Genomics) at Stellenbosch University. Her virtual oral examination, held on 12 January 2025, marked the culmination of years of research and training.
Her doctoral thesis, titled “Rifampicin- resistant tuberculosis: an emerging threat to human health in Botswana,” addresses one of the most pressing challenges in TB control.
Dr Mogashoa is the first of seven PhD fellows from the inaugural TAGENDI cohort to complete her doctoral studies. The TAGENDI fellowship, implemented under the Trials of Excellence in Southern Africa (TESA) Network, is part of a dedicated PhD fellowship scheme launched by EDCTP2 in 2020 to support women in health research across sub-Saharan Africa. Coordinated by the EDCTP Networks of Excellence, the initiative received funding from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (Department of Health and Social Care).
As part of her PhD requirements, Dr Mogashoa was expected to produce four manuscripts, with at least two accepted in peer-reviewed journals. She has exceeded this requirement, publishing three peer-reviewed articles from her doctoral work, with a fourth manuscript currently under review.
Her journey highlights the transformative impact of long-term investment in research training, mentorship, and gender equity. As she moves into the next phase of her career, her work promises to make a meaningful contribution to improving TB diagnosis, treatment, and control.
More information:
- Dr Tuelo Mogashoa Successfully Defends PhD in TB Genomics
- Tuelo’s journey: building Botswana’s capacity for cutting-edge health research
Prof. Novel Chegou Elected As Fellow Of The African Academy Of Sciences
Prof. Novel Chegou, EDCTP Senior Fellow and Acting Head of the Division of Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, has been elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences. This important achievement recognises his scientific leadership and impactful research on tuberculosis, particularly his work on biomarkers to improve diagnosis and patient care in resource-limited settings.
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