IVI and the European Union
Member State Relations
European Member States of IVI
Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden are States Parties of the IVI Establishment Agreement, while Malta and Romania are signatories.
Additional European Union Partners of IVI
IVI has ongoing and historical engagement with partners in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Slovak Republic, and Spain.
In 2021, IVI and the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a collaborative relationship, in particular around innovative approaches to zoonoses, infectious diseases and in addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
IVI Europe Regional Office (IERO)
IERO operations began on September 1st, 2022. As IVI’s first regional office outside of its headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea, this new presence in Sweden bolsters the life science and global health networks in Sweden and Europe, creating joint opportunities with research centers, academia, industry, and governments to advance vaccine R&D for neglected and emerging infectious diseases. IERO also enables more effective engagement with collaborators in Africa, where IVI has helped build an extensive network of disease surveillance and clinical trial sites.
In June 2024 Austria became IVI’s 27th State Party (43rd member state overall). The accession signifies Austria’s commitment to supporting global health through IVI.
IVI Austria Country Office serves as IVI’s direct link to Austria, closely collaborating with the Austrian government and the life science ecosystem to create opportunities for joint vaccine R&D initiatives. In addition, the Austria Country Office supports IVI’s Europe Regional Office with European outreach.
IVI Programs Funded by the European Union
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction in Africa program (THECA)
Grant agreement: RIA2017S-2027
THECA is a consortium led by the University of Cambridge Department of Medicine and funded by a €13 million Euro grant from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). THECA tackles key research questions surrounding the rollout of typhoid conjugate vaccines in Africa. The project includes clinical trials, mass vaccination campaigns, and advocacy efforts across four countries: Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Burkina Faso.
THECA’s European consortium partners include the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp of Belgium and the Mérieux Foundation of France.
Vaccines Against Schistosomiasis for Africa (VASA)
European Union Horizon 2020 Grant: 815643
With a €6.6 million Euro grant from EU Horizons 2020, The University of Cambridge and IVI launched VASA in 2019. The project is developing a vaccine for schistosomiasis – a disease caused by parasitic worms – while addressing critical research gaps in the disease’s epidemiology, economic impact, and immunology in Africa. Additionally, a controlled human infection model study was conducted in the Netherlands.
The project includes disease surveillance and cost-effectiveness studies, the formation of a global consortium to advance schistosomiasis vaccine research, and an Integrated Product Development Plan (IPDP) for development of the vaccine backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In 2024, the project completed a seroepidemiology study, a controlled human infection model study, and a Phase Ib clinical trial at its Madagascar site to assess the safety and reactogenicity of the SchistoShield® vaccine. Follow-up activities continue in Burkina Faso. The project is developing the trial protocol for a Phase IIa clinical trial.
VASA’s European consortium partners include: the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, the University of Tübingen in Germany and Gothenburg University in Sweden.
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction in Madagascar
The Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction in Madagascar (TyMA) project aims to curb the spread of typhoid fever in the country by vaccinating at-risk groups and supporting the development of a national typhoid fever control plan. The vaccine effectiveness study, which utilizes the TYPHIBEV® typhoid conjugate vaccine, includes a geographic information system-supported census, vaccination, and surveillance.
As of November 2024, more than 36,500 people have been vaccinated with the typhoid conjugate vaccine, including 33,000 children. Both passive and active surveillance activities are underway, identifying typhoid-positive cases among fever patients and conducting monthly household visits to improve fever detection and better estimate the true burden of Salmonella Typhi. Among the project’s funders are: European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership and Government of Sweden.