University of Minnesota
https://twin-cities.umn.edu/
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About the IVR Initiative

The Influenza Vaccines Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap (IVR) was created to serve as a strategic planning tool to facilitate R&D, coordinate funding, and promote stakeholder engagement in R&D aimed at improving seasonal influenza vaccines and generating broadly protective or universal influenza vaccines.

CIDRAP IVR Leadership and Staff

Core Team

Meredith Arpey, MPH, Research Assistant

Eve Lackritz, MD, Deputy Director and IVR Project Director

Anje Mehr, MPH, Research Specialist and IVR Project Manager

Kristine Moore, MD, MPH, Sr Advisory for Public Health Science & Policy, IVR Project Director until Apr 2023

Julie Ostrowsky, MSc, Research Scientist

Angela Ulrich, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor and IVR Research Scientist

Natalie Vestin, MPH, Research Associate

Jim Wappes, Editorial Director
 

Former IVR Core Team

Lauren Bigalke, MPH

Alison Kraigsley, PhD

Maya Peters, MPH

IVR Steering Group and Taskforce

IVR development was led by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, with financial support from the Wellcome Trust. A steering group and a global taskforce of subject matter experts provided a wide range of knowledge and experience in influenza vaccines R&D. The taskforce was expanded following IVR development for the IVR monitoring, implementation, and adjustment (ME&A) phase; concurrently, some taskforce members retired from the project following IVR development. Current and former steering group, taskforce, and core team members are listed below:

Steering group

Joseph Bresee, MD, Task Force for Global Health, USA

Martin Friede, PhD, World Health Organization, Switzerland

Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH, Georgetown University School of Medicine, USA

Usman Nakakana, MBBS, MSc Vaccinology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Sonja Olsen, PhD, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota, USA

Diane Post, PhD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA

Sophia Wang, PhD, Wellcome, UK

Charlie Weller, PhD, Wellcome, UK
 

Taskforce

William Ampofo, PhD, University of Ghana, Ghana

Ed Belongia, MD, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, USA

Marco Cavaleri, PhD, European Medicines Agency, The Netherlands

Christopher Chadwick, PhD, MS, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA (formerly participated with the IVR Initiative as a steering group member)

Cheryl Cohen, PhD, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Benjamin Cowling, PhD, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

Rebecca Cox, PhD, University of Bergen, Norway

Alicia Fry, MD, MPH, Task Force for Global Health, USA

Jennifer Gordon, PhD, NIAID, USA

Swati Gupta, PhD, MPH, International AIDS Vaccine Institute, USA

Ian Gust, AO, MD, University of Melbourne, Australia

Scott Hensley, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Bruce Innis, MD, PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation & Access, USA

Irina Isakova-Sivak, PhD, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Russia

Kari Johansen, MD, PhD, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (retired), Sweden

Eric Karikari-Boateng, MPharm, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana

Stacey Knobler, MPH, MSc, Science & Public Health Policy Expert, USA (formerly participated with the IVR Initiative as a steering group member)

Florian Krammer, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA

John CW Lim, MBBS, MS, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore

John McCauley, PhD, Frances Crick Institute, UK

Richard Pebody, MBChB, PhD, UK Health Security Agency, UK

Punnee Pitisuttithum, MD, Mahidol University, Thailand

Rino Rappuoli, PhD, National Institute for Pandemic Preparedness, Italy

Tiago Rocca, Instituto Butantan, Brazil

Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA

Ethan Settembre, PhD, Seqirus, USA

Yue-Long Shu, PhD, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

James Southern, PhD, Adviser to South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, South Africa

Kanta Subbarao, MBBS, Laval University, Canada; Doherty Institute, Australia

John S. Tam, PhD, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China

Rajeev Venkayya, MD, Aerium Therapeutics, USA

Jerry Weir, PhD, Food and Drug Administration, USA
 

Former steering group

Francesco Berlanda Scorza, PhD, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA

Josie Golding, PhD, Wellcome, UK 

Peter Hart, PhD, Wellcome, UK

Rosalind Hollingsworth, PhD, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA

Keith Klugman, MD, PhD, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA

Ann Moen, MPA, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA

Divya Shah, PhD, Wellcome, UK

Padmini Srikantiah, MD, MPH, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA

Janet White, MBA, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
 

Former Taskforce

Wendy Barclay, PhD, Imperial College London, UK

David Brown, MBBS, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil

Amanda Glassman, MSc, Center for Global Development, USA

Gagandeep (Cherry) Kang, MBBS, MD, PhD, Christian Medical College, India

Jacqueline Katz, PhD, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (retired), USA

Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA

Janet McElhaney, MD; In memoriam, Dr. Janet E. McElhaney, 1954-2021; Scientific Director, Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Meta Roestenberg, MD, PhD, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Larisa Rudenko, MD, PhD, DSc, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Russia

Marilda Siqueira, PhD, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil

IVR Components

The Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap

A much-needed framework for organizing efforts of influenza researchers while identifying a wide range of opportunities to encourage new investigators to join the work

The Universal Influenza Vaccine Technology Landscape

A frequently updated index of novel influenza vaccine candidates in preclinical and active development and stimulates informed investments in influenza vaccine research and technologies 

The R&D Progress Tracker (coming soon!)

A library of scientific, regulatory, manufacturing, and policymaking activities for the 93 roadmap milestones that aim to accelerate the development of improved influenza vaccines
 

The IVR Funding Dashboard

A compilation of data that illustrates how funding aligns with the IVR, thereby supporting decision-making and guiding investment

Selected Resources

A curated collection of recent publications relevant to the IVR goals and milestones, including information relevant to specific influenza vaccine candidates in development

Sabin Media Library (coming soon!)

Videos and audio elements developed by the Influenzer Initiative team at the Sabin Vaccine Institute to catalyze innovation and collaboration toward the development of an universal influenza vaccine

IVR Core Team Publications

Taaffe J, Ostrowsky JT, Mott J, et al. Advancing influenza vaccines: a review of next-generation candidates and their potential for global health impact. Vaccine 2024;42(26). doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126408 [Full text

Moore KA, Ostrowsky JT, Kraigsley AM, et al. A research and development (R&D) roadmap for influenza vaccines: looking toward the future. Vaccine 2021 Oct 29;39(45):6573-84. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.08.010 [Full text]

Ostrowsky J, Arpey M, Moore K, et al. Tracking progress in universal influenza vaccine development. Curr Opin Virol 2020;40(28-36). doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.02.003 [Abstract]

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment (ME&A) Meeting Reports

This collection houses materials developed by the CIDRAP IVR team as part of the IVR Initiative’s monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment (ME&A) project. This section will be updated regularly to include IVR ME&A annual reports, taskforce meeting summaries, and other materials created for the ME&A project.

For a database of recent publications relevant to the IVR goals and milestones, please see the Resources page.
 

ME&A Meeting Summary Report - December 2023
The summary of the December 2023 meeting of the IVR expert steering group and taskforce
 

First Annual IVR ME&A Summary Report - March 2023
The first annual report, covering progress in meeting IVR goals and milestones identified from the time of launching the IVR in September 2021 through the first year following release of the roadmap (September 2022)
 

ME&A Meeting Summary Report - September 2022
The summary of the September 2022 meeting of the IVR expert steering group and taskforce

IVR Newsletters

The IVR Initiative newsletter highlights recent news, research, and events pertaining to influenza vaccine R&D.

IVR Initiative Newsletter - October 2024
IVR progress-tracking website and updated roadmap coming in 2025, three IVR posters at 2024 OPTIONS XII for the Control of Influenza, publication informed by the IVR landscape, highlights from the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Influenza Vaccine Innovation (IVI) program, noteworthy news and publications related to influenza vaccine R&D, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - July 2024
Spread of H5N1 Avian Influenza Reinforces the Need for Broadly Protective Influenza Vaccines, Influenzer Initiative Documentary “Influence of the Stars” is Now Available, noteworthy publications related to influenza vaccine R&D, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - March 2024
IVR Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Taskforce Meeting, IVR monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment (ME&A), noteworthy publications related to influenza vaccine R&D, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - September 2023
IVR posters at ESWI, interview with IVR taskforce member Ethan Settembre, PhD, noteworthy publications related to influenza vaccine R&D, and upcoming meetings and conferences


IVR Initiative Newsletter - June 2023
IVR Funding Tracker Dashboard is now available, IVR updates, Episode 2 of the Flu Vaccines Forum podcast, noteworthy publications related to influenza vaccine R&D, and upcoming meetings and conferences


IVR Initiative Newsletter - February 2023
New IVR resources tool now available, the new Flu Vaccine Forum podcast, interview with IVR taskforce member Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - November 2022
IVR at OPTIONS for the Control of Influenza XI, influenza vaccine R&D funding tracker, seasonal influenza update, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - September 2022
IVR at OPTIONS for the Control of Influenza XI, flu vaccine forum webinar series, call to action, interview with Florian Krammer, PhD, and upcoming meetings and conferences
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - June 2022
New at the IVR Initiative, clinical updates, BARDA Strategic Plan, the Universal Influenza Vaccine Technology Landscape, and upcoming meetings and conferences 
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - April 2022
Perspectives from Dr. Joseph Bresee, seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness, upcoming meetings and conferences, and selected reading
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - February 2022
New at the IVR Initiative, European Scientific Working Group on Influenza Satellite Symposium, new funding announcement, Universal Influenza Vaccine Technology Landscape, upcoming meetings and conferences, and selected reading
 

IVR Initiative Newsletter - September 2021
IVR website, Call to Action and how to support it, IVR endorsement from the Global Funders Consortium for Universal Influenza Vaccine Development, the Universal Influenza Vaccine Technology Landscape, upcoming conferences, and recent publications from the scientific literature

GFC Endorsement

The Global Funders Consortium for Universal Influenza Vaccine Development endorses the Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap. The Consortium is comprised of global funders and stakeholders that support the development of a universal influenza vaccine; these stakeholders include:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

China CDC

Department of Biotechnology, Government of India

European Commission

Flu Lab

Human Vaccines Project

Inserm

Open Philanthropy

Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction (PIVI)

PATH

Sabin Vaccine Institute

Task Force for Global Health (TFGH)

US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

Wellcome Trust

World Health Organization (WHO)

Multimedia

Why a Roadmap?
Roadmap to a Flu-Free Future

Watch the Influenzer Initiative's episode on the Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap as part of their lessons from COVID-19 documentary series.

Charlie Weller, PhD

Wellcome Trust

London, UK

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN, USA

Kanta Subbarao, MBBS, MPH

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity

Melbourne, Australia

Rajeev Venkayya, MD

Aerium Therapeutics

Cambridge, MA, USA

William Ampofo, PhD

University of Ghana

Accra, Ghana

Cheryl Cohen, PhD

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg, South Africa

John CW Lim, MBBS, MS

Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School

Singapore

Margaret Hamburg, MD

National Academy of Medicine

Washington, DC, USA

John McCauley, PhD

Frances Crick Institute

London, UK

Martin Friede, PhD

World Health Organization

Geneva, Switzerland

"There is an urgent need for better tools to prevent, detect, control, and treat influenza, including more effective vaccines . . . that would instill public confidence and uptake, especially in low- and middle-income countries.”

—WHO Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030

Before the roadmap, there was broad agreement that the world urgently needed better influenza vaccines, but no consensus on how to get there. Now, for the first time ever, we have tapped a global brain trust of influenza experts united behind a clear strategy for developing vaccines that can reduce the burden of seasonal outbreaks, improve pandemic preparedness and accelerate the quest for universal influenza vaccines.”

—Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH, Rockefeller Foundation