Aims and role of Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH)

In developing countries, infectious diseases are a major cause of mortality in children. Vaccines able to control diseases primarily affecting developing countries are often not available, due to the lack of commercial incentives to invest on their development. The Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) was created at the beginning of 2008 with the non for profit mission of developing effective and affordable vaccines for neglected infectious diseases of developing countries. NVGH is co-located with Novartis Vaccines in Siena, Italy and has access to all assets and know how used by Novartis for vaccine development. Therefore, one of NVGH's major strengths is the ability to bring the industrial best practices, the technical know how and the physical resources needed for reliably developing new vaccines. NVGH's current focus is on the development of new vaccines against diarrheal diseases which cause a high burden in developing countries. In particular NVGH is developing new vaccines against Salmonella (Typhoid Fever, Paratyphoid Fever and Non Typhoid Salmonella), Shigella and related diseases. As part of the international vaccine community, in addition to vaccine development, NVGH is very committed to capacity building and educational activities and organizes PhD programs, Masters and undergraduate programs. Among these programs, the post graduate Masters on Vaccinology and Pharmaceutical Clinical Development is primarily designed for medical doctors from developing countries.