The following information relates to the first phase of the Consortium (‘VIMC 1.0’, from 2016-2022). A summary of our plans for our new project phase, VIMC 2.0 (2022 – 2027), can be found here.
Imperial College London, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology - Coordinating institution
The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London is one of the largest academic departments specialising in infectious disease epidemiology in Europe. Its highly interdisciplinary research focuses on the transmission, evolution, and control of infectious diseases in human and animal populations. The Department’s particular strengths are in epidemiological and genetic analysis and mathematical modelling, backed by focussed field and experimental research.
The research work spans a wide range of disease areas, including emerging infectious diseases, HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, polio, influenza, mosquito-borne viral infections, sexually transmitted infections, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and bacterial and fungal infections. Since much of the research has direct relevance to policy, the Department works in close partnership with a wide range of public and global health organisations – notably Public Health England and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The work of the Consortium is largely enabled through the participation of the modelling groups generating the vaccine impact estimates. The models employed by the Consortium reflect the disease portfolio of the primary funders and address the need for measuring the vaccination impact. The Consortium aims to employ two models per disease wherever possible.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Funder
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - Funder
Gavi is an international organisation that was created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Gavi is the Vaccine Alliance, which brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to vaccines for children, wherever they live.