The initiative is the first global initiative to focus solely on understanding how to generate immunity in the airway itself. This is a potentially revolutionary and the overall aim is to block infection, and prevent airborne diseases spreading between humans.
Research at the NNF Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) will focus initially on TB, influenza, and Group A Streptococcus (GAS), which overall is responsible for more than 2.5 million deaths per year. While most vaccine development initiatives focus on a single strategy, NIVI will compare different vaccine antigens, platforms, and delivery methods side by side, and thereby increasing the chances of success. In the case of delivery methods, for example, various strategies will be tested and combined, including conventional injection in the muscle, and nasal sprays.
Additionally, NNF has established a limited liability company – the Novo Nordisk Foundation Vaccine Accelerator (NVAC), to enable and enhance the research of NIVI, by licensing and developing vaccine technologies, preparing vaccine formulations, reagents and assays, and coordinating the external clinical-grade production and clinical testing of promising vaccine candidates. Any revenue generated by NVAC will be reinvested in NIVI.
