University of Minnesota
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Virology Applicable to Vaccine Development

Virology goals and milestones address issues around continuous evolution of seasonal influenza viruses (antigenic shift) and the potential emergence of pandemic influenza viruses (antigenic drift), particularly at the human-animal interface. They also examine spread of influenza viruses in relation to population dynamics. View more details in the Influenza Vaccines Research & Development Roadmap.

Milestones completed
0
Milestones in progress
10
Milestones not started
2
Goals
Strategic goal
1.1

Virus evolution

Improve understanding of human and animal influenza virus evolution.

Milestones
1.1.a
High priority

Sampling strategies

1.1.b

Predictive tools

1.1.c

Genetic and antigenic characterization

1.1.d
High priority

Seroprevalence studies

Strategic goal
1.2

Forecasting seasonal viruses

Enhance the ability to forecast viruses that are likely to circulate in the upcoming season to improve the antigenic match between circulating influenza viruses and viral strains selected for vaccine production.

Milestones
1.2.a

Antigenic matching

1.2.b

WHO expert group consensus

1.2.c
High priority

H1N1 and H3N2 characterization

Strategic goal
1.3

Novel virus emergence

Improve the ability to detect and understand the emergence of novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

Milestones
1.3.a

Animal-human interface surveillance

1.3.b

Expanded surveillance plan

Strategic goal
1.4

Transmissibility

Enhance understanding of factors associated with viral transmissibility.

Milestones
1.4.a
High priority

Transmission study designs

1.4.b

Preclinical studies

1.4.c

Transmission modeling