VaxHub

‼️It’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week Vaccines play a vital role in fighting AMR by preventing infections, reducing antibiotic use, and limiting the spread of resistant pathogens 🦠 Let’s advocate for greater access to vaccines to protect public health and preserve antibiotics for the future. #AMRWeek #VaccinesWork #OneHealth

📣 New opportunity to join the VaxHub research team. As part of VaxHub Global we have a vacancy for a Research Fellow in Genomic Medicines Manufacturing. 📅 Application deadline: 28-Nov-2024 Based in the research group headed by Dr Marco Marques at UCL Biochemical Engineering the post will develop microscale platforms for genomic medicines manufacturing. The project focuses on the development of an automated multiproduct and agnostic sensor integrated continuous production platform, that allows the production of different mRNA modalities while maintaining consistent product quality. Full details and application can be found here. https://lnkd.in/er8uH66E

👉 Do you want to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in LMICs? 👉 Do you share our vision that simplified engineering solutions will enable the development of low cost, effective and globally accessible vaccines to LMICs? If you replied yes to the above questions, a Research Fellow position in Genomic Medicines manufacturing is now available at UCL Biochemical Engineering. This position is a key part of the Vaccines Manufacturing Hub for LMICs (VaxHub Global). Apply here (closing date: 28Nov): Ref Number: B04-05622 Job details: Research Fellow in Genomic Medicines Manufacturing Link: https://lnkd.in/dmVeEGbn

📣 New opportunity to join the VaxHub research team. As part of VaxHub Sustainable we have a vacancy for a Research Fellow in Bioprocess Sustainability Evaluation. 📅 Application deadline: 21-Nov-2024 Based in the UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering the post will quantitatively evaluate sustainability aspects of vaccine development and contribute to developing best practice for environmental foot-printing of biotechnology processes. In addition, the post holder will use LCA methods to propose strategies to reduce waste and evaluate the potential for industrial ecologies. Full details and application can be found here. https://lnkd.in/drTWQEeH

📣 New opportunity to join the VaxHub research team. Research Fellow in Antigen Display Characterisation A project led by Drs Stefanie Frank and Michael Thomas 📅 Application closing date 13th November 2024 Full details and applications at https://lnkd.in/eAS63pbc The position, based in the UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering, will address the development of experimental and computational tools to better understand the formation, stability and function of covalent and non-covalent antigen display for vaccines candidates. Proof of concept studies at UCL have shown antigen display on protein nanoparticles using different attachment methods. Models will be developed to simulate the dynamic nature of these methods, supported by characterisation of the proportion of functional antigens presented. The PDRA will develop mass-transport simulations to capture the various stages of assembly and disassembly of dynamic vaccine nanoparticles as well as the immunoassays and analytics needed to study them. These findings will allow a deeper understanding of the workings and potential of modular vaccine candidates employing advanced display strategies towards low cost, scalable and accessible modular vaccines for global good. These tools have further application towards the development of diagnostic tools for vaccine stability testing. The postholder will be responsible for undertaking original experimental research, reporting on project progress and the preparation and submission of research papers arising from these and related studies. The postholder will be one of a team of UCL-based researchers working as part of VaxHub Global, as well as several academic and industrial collaborators, so excellent team-working and communication skills will be required. The UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering has excellent research facilities including a full-scale £25m bioprocessing pilot plant.

We're recruiting a Project Manager to support our work on using microneedle patches to deliver vaccines, funded by CEPI. If you'd like to use your skills to support work improving access to vaccines, this could be the job for you! https://lnkd.in/g_3j8fit

📣 🎉 We are delighted to welcome the newest member of the VaxHub research team Dr Ryan Mellor, a recent PhD graduate from the UCL School of Pharmacy, joins VaxHub Sustainable as a Research Fellow in Automation of Vaccine Bioprocessing. With a background in pharmaceutical nanoscience and experience in programming, Ryan will contribute to developing innovative solutions for sustainable and flexible vaccine manufacturing. As part of the VaxHub Sustainable group headed by Duygu Dikicioglu based at UCL Biochemical Engineering, Ryan will focus on building an integrated hub for data and protocol sharing, enabling remote operation and collaboration. He will also work on developing automation protocols to facilitate rapid response in vaccine bioprocess development, while addressing challenges through the integration of miniaturized and automated bioprocessing techniques. Dr Mellor's skills and enthusiasm will support VaxHub Sustainable’ s mission of advancing vaccine manufacturing.

On Tuesday 8th October VaxHub Global Co-Director Prof Cath Green and Co-Investigator Dr Alexander (Sandy) Douglas gave evidence on lessons learned from the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out to the UK House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee. They were joined by Dr Adam Ritchie, Jenner Institute Oxford and Dr James Miskin, Former Chief Technical Officer, Oxford BioMedica. Important topics raised were, what facilitated the successful large-scale vaccine manufacturing programme, and what lessons have, or haven't, been learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen UK readiness for future pandemics. The witnesses stressed the need for joined-up thinking and coordination at a national level going forward, along with a broad collaborative approach covering development of multiple vaccine platforms and manufacturing strategies. Concerns were raised that the perceived success of dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 could lead to an over confidence in our ability to react to future unknow pathogens, and that we are in danger of falling behind other European countries when it comes to future emergency preparedness. The essential role of the UK Vaccine Taskforce during the pandemic, in supporting a portfolio approach and providing responsive access to funding in a timely manner was highlighted as one of the major reasons for the UK’s vaccine rollout success. The panel suggested that a “peace time” version of this approach should be developed and a 'venture capital' style attitude to funding allocation should be encouraged, drawing on expertise from industry, government and academia. The full recording of the session can be viewed here https://lnkd.in/gqi6yTAe  

VaxHub at Festival of The Girl 2024 🎉 An extended VaxHub Outreach team has just completed an exhausting but enormously rewarding 2-day stint at the 2024 Festival of the Girl. Promoting understanding of vaccine manufacture and hopefully helping to inspire a future generation of female vaccinologist and engineers. 👏 A big thank you to all of the team, Stephen Morris, Sean Elias, Salomé Magalhães, Sara Sousa Rosa, Nusrat Jahan and Ivana Stolfa, Ph.D.

📣 Professor Sarah Gilbert to give 2024 UCL Prize Lecture in Life and Medical Sciences on 'Vaccine development during and after the pandemic'. 📅 Wednesday 13th November 2024, 5 - 7:30pm GMT 🗺 Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, Wilkins Building, UCL, Gower Street London WC1E 6BT The UCL Prize Lecture in Life and Medical Sciences is a prize awarded annually by UCL since 1997. The prize lecture has become one of the pre-eminent series on contemporary science in Europe and the annual lecture provides an opportunity to debate and celebrate important scientific advancements. At the start of each academic year, staff and students in Life and Medical Sciences are able to nominate their scientific ‘hero/heroine’ and a Committee of senior professors makes the final selection. We are delighted to announce that the next UCL Prize Lecture in Life and Medical Sciences will be given by Professor Sarah Gilbert, discussing 'Vaccine development during and after the pandemic'. Information and registration to join in-person or virtually here https://lnkd.in/ev-SZBrf