The VALIDATE Network aims to accelerate vaccine development for complex intracellular pathogens that cause significant disease burden in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Our initial focus is on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes TB), Leishmania species (leishmaniasis), Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy).
The Network’s priorities lie in bringing together researchers from different specialities, different countries, different institutes and who work on different pathogens, with the aim of together making significant progress towards vaccines against our focus pathogens. The Network provides pump-priming research grants to Network collaborations to further research in this field, via competitive application.
The VALIDATE Network also aims to encourage Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and career progression amongst its members, particularly early career researchers and researchers from LMICs. We provide a central hub website that highlights job and training opportunities in the field, and organise workshops, seminars, a mentoring scheme, and award Fellowships and training grants. More information about all of these can be found on this website.