The US-based Emory Vaccine Center and the Italian firm International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) have teamed up together to float Joint ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center in New Delhi.
According to official sources, the centre will be dedicated to vaccine research focused on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, dengue virus, malaria and other infectious diseases. The centre in New Delhi will be housed in 5,000 square feet area with the facilities like immunology laboratory and other facilities including a level-3 biosafety laboratory. As per the collaboration, Emory University will provide the funding to support scientific staff, while ICGEB will provide space and infrastructure. Both partners will contribute their scientific expertise in vaccine research and development. It is learnt that the collaboration could eventually expand beyond New Delhi to ICGEB components in other countries.
Commenting on the joint venture, Thomas J Lawley, dean of Emory University School of Medicine, said, "This new vaccine centre joins the unique expertise of leading scientists at our two institutions to create a major international research collaboration. I have every expectation that this new joint vaccine centre will have a significant impact on future vaccine discoveries aimed at fighting the most difficult infectious diseases".
The new Joint ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center also is a primary focus of the Emory Global Health Institute, a university-wide initiative that fosters international partnerships to address challenging health problems. According to the university, its School of Medicine is in the process of recruiting faculty members to establish cutting edge research programs at the joint centre in India. The Emory scientists will have the opportunity for close and productive collaboration with scientists at the ICGEB.
Talking on the collaboration, Rafi Ahmed, director of Emory Vaccine Center, stated that the centre will provide unique opportunities for collaborative research in vaccine development and which will go beyond what is currently available. He added that they are planning to develop new vaccines and help move them from the laboratory through complex testing, approval and manufacture to local health centres where they can benefit individuals with the greatest need.