The Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC) is a partnership between the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, and PATH, an international nonprofit organization. TyVAC aims to accelerate the introduction of new typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) as part of an integrated approach to reduce the burden of typhoid in countries eligible for support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
TyVAC employs a multidisciplinary approach, working with global and local partners to accelerate the introduction of TCVs in low-income countries and facilitate access to typhoid vaccines as part of an integrated prevention plan that also includes improved water, sanitation, and hygiene. We work to ensure that typhoid prevention and control are global health priorities and that stakeholders and decision-makers have the data and tools they need to make evidence-based decisions for TCV introduction.
Dr. Matthew Laurens, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health
Project Director, Dr. Matthew Laurens, is a Professor in Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He is a pediatric infectious disease specialist, with research interests in typhoid, malaria, and other tropical infectious diseases that disproportionately affect people living in resource-limited settings. Dr. Laurens has been an integral part of TyVAC since its inception and played a key role in studies in Malawi and Burkina Faso. He is a member of the World Health Organization Technical Advisory Group on Salmonella Vaccines and served on the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Microarray Patch Full Vaccine Value Assessment Expert Group for Vaccine Innovation Prioritization Strategy.
Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, Immediate Past (Founding) Director, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health
Dr. Kathleen Neuzil is an internationally recognized research scientist and advocate in the field of vaccinology and led TyVAC from its inception in 2017 – April 2024. She has more than 300 scientific publications on vaccines and infectious diseases. Dr. Neuzil is a member of the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and the prestigious National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Neuzil continues to serve TyVAC in an advisory role.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Oxford University
Working closely with Dr. Laurens is Deputy Director, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, who is one of the leading typhoid experts in the world. Dr. Pollard brings considerable technical knowledge and experience in coordination of international typhoid networks and consortia. Dr. Pollard is the Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group. He chairs the United Kingdom’s National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, the European Medicines Agency’s vaccine Scientific Advisory Group, and is a WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts member, bringing the knowledge and expertise necessary to lead and deliver on this complex project.
Dr. Emmanuel Mugisha, PATH
Dr. Emmanuel Mugisha (PATH), based in Kampala, Uganda, leads PATH’s objectives of the TyVAC project. Dr. Mugisha has nearly 30 years of public health and management experience, including work in HIV, HPV, vaccine clinical trials, vaccine introduction, and vaccine technical support. His work has spanned the African region. Dr. Mugisha leverages his leadership and expertise to increase uptake of TCVs as part of an integrated approach to typhoid prevention and control.
TyVAC is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To learn more, visit Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC) | University of Maryland School of Medicine (umaryland.edu)
