MRC Workshop to Support the Development of Next-Generation COVID-19 Vaccines

The 22 September workshop will precede a new £16 million funding opportunity that will support research aiming to anticipate and block the spread of new COVID-19 variants.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is hosting a workshop on 22 September ahead of the launch of a new £16 million proactive vaccinology funding opportunity that will support research aiming to anticipate and block the spread of new variants of COVID-19.  The funding available will support the development of next-generation vaccines with broader, more durable and, optimally, transmission-blocking efficacy.

Two consortia will be funded for five years. These will focus on complementary themes that reflect critical knowledge gaps that are currently precluding the development of next-generation vaccines, namely:

  1. Fundamental virology: drivers and impact of variant emergence.
  2. Underpinning immunology to support vaccinology.

The workshop aims to facilitate engagement between attendees and provide an opportunity for them to discuss ideas and identify potential partners for their consortia applications. The MRC will also articulate the scope, timeline and expectations for the call during the event. Information on the call will also be available on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) website after the workshop.

The workshop will be held at 58 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DS from 11:00 to 14:30. Applicants must be eligible for MRC funding.

Interested applicants are requested to fill in the registration survey by the 9 September 2022 deadline.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)