About

Established in 2017, VALIDATE is an international network of researchers working together to accelerate vaccine development for three groups of complex neglected intracellular pathogens that cause significant mortality and morbidity throughout the world, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs): Mycobacteria (causing TB, leprosy, buruli ulcer), Leishmania species (leishmaniasis), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis). A second, important aim of the VALIDATE Network is to facilitate career progression for its members, particularly Early Career Researchers and, recognising inequality in career progression, especially researchers from LMICs, and researchers identifying as female.

VALIDATE connects over 1060 members from 441 institutes across 81 countries (52 LMIC), increasing collaboration among its membership, and increasing information dissemination across different research disciplines, countries, institutes, both target and model species, and across our focus pathogens; we have a multidisciplinary and One Health approach.

We award Fellowship, pump-priming, training and travel grants; organise events, including an Annual Meeting, workshops, virtual research seminars, public lectures and school talks; provide this central hub website that highlights grants, jobs and training opportunities in our research field; and have mentoring and career development programmes – and much more!

To date, the VALIDATE Network and our various activities have facilitated over 240 new collaborations between our members, 102 peer-reviewed publications, hosted more than 3,900 event attendees, and attracted £26M in follow-on funding.

Membership is free and open to all - find out more here.

VALIDATE members

The VALIDATE Network is grateful to the following funders for their support:

• The UK's MRC and BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), a UK-funded award that was part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union
• The UK MRC International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF) and Partnership Grant funding streams
• The Gates Foundation
• Wellcome Enriching Engagement

We are proud to partner with the Collaboration for Tuberculosis Vaccine Discovery (CTVD). CTVD is an international network of scientists and experts dedicated to fostering innovation, cooperation, and collaboration in the up-stream TB vaccine discovery, translational research and development space. CTVD serves as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s major mechanism for enhancing collaboration in the field.