Meeting summary: Global vaccine and immunization research forum, 2023.

At the 2023 Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (GVIRF), researchers from around the world gathered in the Republic of Korea to discuss advances and opportunities in vaccines and immunization. Many stakeholders are applying the lessons of Covid-19 to future emergencies, by advancing early-stage development of prototype vaccines to accelerate response to the next emerging infectious disease, and by building regional vaccine research, development, and manufacturing capacity to speed equitable access to vaccines in the next emergency. Recent vaccine licensures include: respiratory syncytial virus vaccines, both for the elderly and to protect infants through maternal immunization; a new dengue virus vaccine; and licensure of Covid-19 vaccines previously marketed under emergency use authorizations.

Identifying WHO global priority endemic pathogens for vaccine research and development (R&D) using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA): an objective of the Immunization Agenda 2030.

Background: To date, global priorities for new vaccine R&D have not been systematically identified for endemic pathogens. As part of Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030), we have systematically identified priority endemic pathogens for new vaccine R&D based on country and regional stakeholder values to address this need.

Methods: MCDA surveys targeting policy makers and immunisation stakeholders in each World Health Organization (WHO) region were used to weight eight criteria for prioritisation.

Single-centre experience of implementing physiotherapist-led prehabilitation for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Introduction: This report outlines the evaluation of physiotherapist-led prehabilitation/rehabilitation for recipients of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy.

Methods: A hybrid approach was used, incorporating in-person assessment of quality of life and functional capacity (6-min walk test and timed sit-to-stand test), and a personalised home exercise programme with remotely delivered physiotherapist support pre/post-admission.

Results: Functional deficits were prevalent at referral for CAR-T.

Outcomes with single-agent gilteritinib for relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutant AML after contemporary induction therapy.

Gilteritinib is the current standard of care for relapsed or refractory fms related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia in many countries, however outcomes for patients relapsing after contemporary first-line therapies (intensive chemotherapy with midostaurin, or nonintensive chemotherapy with venetoclax) are uncertain. Moreover, reported data on toxicity and health care resource use is limited. Here, we describe a large real-world cohort of 152 patients receiving single-agent gilteritinib in 38 UK hospitals.

The role of maintenance therapy following autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: Considerations on behalf of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT.

Recent treatment advancements in multiple myeloma have led to significant improvements in patient outcomes. Maintenance therapy following autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) is now standard of care and has been demonstrated to prolong and deepen treatment responses. Currently, lenalidomide remains the single agent that has been approved for maintenance post-AHCT in Europe and the USA which, if tolerated, is continued until disease progression.

Meeting Summary: Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum, 2021.

The 2021 Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum highlighted the considerable advances and recent progress in research and development for vaccines and immunization, critically reviewed lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccine programs, and looked ahead to opportunities for this decade. For COVID-19, decades of investments in basic and translational research, new technology platforms, and vaccines targeting prototype pathogens enabled a rapid, global response. Unprecedented global coordination and partnership have played an essential role in creating and delivering COVID-19 vaccines.

Accelerating access for all through research and innovation in immunization: Recommendations from Strategic Priority 7 of the Immunization Agenda 2030.

Research and innovation have been fundamental to many of the successes in immunization thus far, and will play important roles in the future success of Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). Strategic Priority 7 (SP7) of IA2030, which addresses research and innovation, is explicitly informed by country needs and priorities, and aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystem through capacity building and collaboration at country, regional, and global levels. SP7 identifies four key focus areas: (1) "needs-based innovation", (2) "new and improved products, services, and practices", (3) "evidence for implementation", and (4) "local capacity".

Improving access to human papillomavirus vaccines: A case study in the IA2030 core principle of partnership.

Partnerships are fundamental to progress in immunization, and this is especially true for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, which must be delivered in the context of a broader immunization, sexual and reproductive health, and cervical cancer prevention programs. Starting from the discovery and development of HPV vaccines, through to implementation and improvement of the program's resilience, partnerships have played a critical role. In May 2018, the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer set a target for 90 % of girls to be fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15 years.

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Smartphone App to Facilitate Medication Adherence: Protocol for a Human Factors Design Study.

Background: Medication Guides consisting of crucial interactions and side effects are extensive and complex. Due to the exhaustive information, patients do not retain the necessary medication information, which can result in hospitalizations and medication nonadherence. A gap exists in understanding patients' cognition of managing complex medication information.

The inclusion of health data standards in the implementation of pharmacogenomics systems: a scoping review.

Despite potential benefits, the practice of incorporating pharmacogenomics (PGx) results in clinical decisions has yet to diffuse widely. In this study, we conducted a review of recent discussions on data standards and interoperability with a focus on sharing PGx test results among health systems. We conducted a literature search for PGx clinical decision support systems between 1 January 2012 and 31 January 2020.

Pharmacogenomics cascade testing (PhaCT): a novel approach for preemptive pharmacogenomics testing to optimize medication therapy.

The implementation of pharmacogenomics (PGx) has come a long way since the dawn of utilizing pharmacogenomic data in clinical patient care. However, the potential benefits of sharing PGx results have yet to be explored. In this paper, we explore the willingness of patients to share PGx results, as well as the inclusion of family medication history in identifying potential family members for pharmacogenomics cascade testing (PhaCT).

Choosing Evolution over Extinction: Integrating Direct Patient Care Services and Value-Based Payment Models into the Community-Based Pharmacy Setting.

The American healthcare payment model introduced Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) into a position of power that currently puts into question the state of the pharmacy profession, especially in the community field. Reimbursement plans had been designed to benefit all stakeholders and save patients money but have only been shown to increase costs for these involved parties. There exist unresolved gaps in care as a result of the healthcare structure and underutilized skills of trained pharmacists who do not have the federal means to provide clinical services.

Global Vaccine Action Plan Lessons Learned II: Stakeholder Perspectives.

Introduction: The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), unanimously endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2012, defined an ambitious strategy to improve immunization. At the end of the decade, significant progress has been made but four of the five GVAP goals are likely to be missed. This report describes a set of surveys and interviews relating to GVAP, conducted to inform the immunization strategy for the next decade.

Global Vaccine Action Plan lessons learned III: Monitoring and evaluation/accountability framework.

Introduction: The Monitoring & Evaluation/Accountability (M&E/A) framework of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) was used to report progress annually to the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Methods: Stakeholder feedback was obtained through five reviews consisting of surveys and semi-structured interviews conducted from 2017 to 2019. Participants consisted of individuals involved in the development and implementation of GVAP or its M&E/A process, national immunization managers, academics, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations.

Eliminating Meningococcal Epidemics From the African Meningitis Belt: The Case for Advanced Prevention and Control Using Next-Generation Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccines.

The introduction and rollout of a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine, MenAfriVac, in the African meningitis belt has eliminated serogroup A meningococcal infections for >300 million Africans. However, serogroup C, W, and X meningococci continue to circulate and have been responsible for focal epidemics in meningitis belt countries. Affordable multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines are being developed to prevent these non-A epidemics.

Meeting report: Global vaccine and immunization research forum, 2018.

Every two years, the Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum takes stock of global research in vaccines and immunization. As in prior years, the 2018 meeting addressed vaccine discovery, development, decision-making, and deployment. This time, however, it also featured two overarching themes: "Innovating for Equity" and "End-to-End Integration.

Meeting report: Global vaccine and immunization research forum.

Building on the success of the first Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (GVIRF), the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health in the United States of America, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation convened the second GVIRF in March 2016. Leading scientists, vaccine developers, and public health officials from around the world discussed scientific advances and innovative technologies to design and deliver vaccines as well as novel tools and approaches to increase the uptake of vaccines throughout the world. This report summarizes the discussions and conclusions from the forum participants.

Redox-Triggered Release of Moxifloxacin from Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Functionalized with Disulfide Snap-Tops Enhances Efficacy Against Pneumonic Tularemia in Mice.

Effective and rapid treatment of tularemia is needed to reduce morbidity and mortality of this potentially fatal infectious disease. The etiologic agent, Francisella tularensis, is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen which infects and multiplies to high numbers in macrophages. Nanotherapeutics are particularly promising for treatment of infectious diseases caused by intracellular pathogens, whose primary host cells are macrophages, because nanoparticles preferentially target and are avidly internalized by macrophages.

Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum: Opportunities and challenges in vaccine discovery, development, and delivery.

The World Health Organization, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation convened the first Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (GVIRF) in March 2014. This first GVIRF aimed to track recent progress of the Global Vaccine Action Plan research and development agenda, identify opportunities and challenges, promote partnerships in vaccine research, and facilitate the inclusion of all stakeholders in vaccine research and development. Leading scientists, vaccine developers, and public health officials from around the world discussed scientific and technical challenges in vaccine development, research to improve the impact of immunization, and regulatory issues.

Tuberculosis: pH-Responsive Isoniazid-Loaded Nanoparticles Markedly Improve Tuberculosis Treatment in Mice (Small 38/2015).

On page 5066, J. I. Zink, M.

pH-Responsive Isoniazid-Loaded Nanoparticles Markedly Improve Tuberculosis Treatment in Mice.

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem for which improved therapeutics are needed to shorten the course of treatment and combat emergence of drug resistance. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of tuberculosis, is an intracellular pathogen of mononuclear phagocytes. As such, it is an ideal pathogen for nanotherapeutics because macrophages avidly ingest nanoparticles even without specific targeting molecules.

Functional nanovalves on protein-coated nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo controlled drug delivery.

A multifunctional mesoporous drug delivery system that contains fluorescent imaging molecules, targeting proteins, and pH-sensitive nanovalves is developed and tested. Three nanovalve-mesoporous silica nanoparticle (NV-MSN) systems with varied quantities of nanovalves on the surface are synthesized. These systems are characterized and tested to optimize the trade-off between the coverage of nanovalves on the MSNs to effectively trap and deliver cargo, and the remaining underivatized silanol groups that can be used for protein attachments.

Complexity perplexity: a systematic review to describe the measurement of medication regimen complexity.

Introduction: Complex medication regimens are error prone and challenging for patients, which may impact medication adherence and safety. No universal method to assess the complexity of medication regimens (CMRx) exists. The authors aim to review literature for CMRx measurements to establish consistencies and, secondarily, describe CMRx impact on healthcare outcomes.