The PREV_PKDL 5th annual meeting was held online on 15-17 May to present and discuss project advancements and upcoming activities.
ImmStat@Cure, the multi-dimensional, multiparameter phenotyping research study in patients treated for visceral leishmaniasis, to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and the underlying immune mechanisms is ongoing, with discussions on how to further strengthen immunology research capacity in in the East-African Region and to maintain capabilities beyond the lifespan of the project.
A status update was presented on the GMP manufacture of a new ChAd63-KH vaccine clinical lot and the phase Ib/II clinical trial in Sudan was discussed, with consideration to the recent conflict in Sudan.
Members of the project Scientific and Ethics Advisory Committee joined the meeting to provide their feedback and recommendations to the consortium.
The project is led by Dr Flavia D’Alessio (European Vaccine Initiative, Germany), with partners from United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan.