IVI co-organized the fifth Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (GVIRF), a biennial event hosted by WHO, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to track progress and discuss obstacles related to priority vaccine research and development; identify gaps, opportunities, and actions for the vaccine R&D and immunization community; and review progress made toward the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).

This year, GVIRF took place March 28-30 in Incheon, Korea, a nod to the country’s rapidly advancing ecosystem of vaccine R&D, manufacturing, and training capabilities and infrastructure. The forum brought together nearly 450 vaccine experts and researchers across public health, academia, government, industry, and civil society from around the world to reflect on lessons learned from the outcomes and shortcomings of the WHO’s Global Vaccine Action Plan and to home in on IA2030’s priorities, particularly Strategic Priority 7: Research and Innovation.

Dr. B. Fenton (“Lee”) Hall, Chief of Parasitology and International Programs Branch at the NIAID/NIH, and Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, opened the forum and Dr. Barney Graham, the former Deputy Director of the NIAID Vaccine Research Center, gave the keynote speech.

On Day 1, Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, co-chaired a plenary session on the current status of vaccine R&D for HIV, TB, malaria, and universal flu along with Dr. Annie Mo, a senior program officer at NIAD/NIH. The presenters focused on recent progress made toward research and development and policy implementation of vaccines against these infectious diseases that continue to kill millions every year globally.

The following day, Dr. Kim delivered a keynote speech on “Translating pandemic R&D learnings into the broader global health agenda” to guide conversation around better preparing for future pandemics. To dive deeper into IVI’s role and activities in global health, IVI invited 150 GVIRF participants, including graduate students from the University of Siena, to an Excursion to IVI on the final day of the conference.