June, 17th, 2024, Paris, France – the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Emerging Infectious Diseases Agency in France (ANRS MIE) in Paris joined hands to sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The primary aim of this partnership is to foster high quality clinical research with a particular focus on addressing the healthcare needs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This initiative will engage members of the ANRS MIE international network, which spans across countries including Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Vietnam and Zambia.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Director of the ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases Agency, and by Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI.

‘This MOU not only underscores our shared commitment to combating infectious diseases in the hardest-hit regions but also ignites a new era of collaboration and innovation. By merging our expertise, we can significantly strengthen clinical research capacities in low- and middle-income countries. Together, we are well-positioned to make a profound and lasting impact on global health, – stated Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI.

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About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Program with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that also achieved WHO prequalification in early 2024.

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya. IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. Forty two countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, Austria and Thailand provide state funding. For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int.

About ANRS Emerging infectious diseases (ANRS MIE)

ANRS Emerging infectious diseases, founded on January 1, 2021, is an autonomous agency of Inserm whose missions are to facilitate, evaluate, coordinate, and fund research into HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (emerging respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, viral hemorrhagic fevers, arboviruses…).

Under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and directed by Prof. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, ANRS Emerging infectious diseases covers all areas of research: fundamental, clinical, public health, human and social sciences, placing the accent on innovation and the strengthening of international partnerships.

With its One Health approach focused on human health, animal health and human impact on the environment, the agency is preparing a response to the scientific challenges presented by emerging diseases and for the deployment of that response in times of crisis.

The agency federates and facilitates a number of national and international networks of researchers and doctors employed by the principal research organizations, universities, hospitals, and associations. Patient associations and civil society representatives have a prominent place within the organization of ANRS Emerging infectious diseases. For more information visit: www.anrs.fr

CONTACT

Elena Krivovyaz, Communications Manager, Europe Regional Office,
T: +46 737069966, E-mail: Elena.krivovyaz@www.ivi.int