Peru Vanderbilt – PREvention through VacciNation Training (PREVENT) program

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SUMMARY While vaccination is the most efficient tool for the prevention of infectious diseases both in developed and developing countries, the implementation of effective vaccination programs is challenging. The development, introduction and implementation of effective vaccination depends on availability of locally generated evidence, especially data required by local regulatory authorities. An essential requirement to make this happen is to have well-trained local researchers who have a clear understanding of the process behind vaccine development, vaccine introduction and program implementation. Training of researchers on the achieved impact of vaccination on antimicrobial resistant infections, the relevance of indirect protection and the biological pressure induced by vaccination programs are examples of well-established vaccination topics that are commonly overlooked. A proper understanding of the effects of vaccination on unvaccinated groups through indirect or herd immunity is crucial, but this is frequently misinterpreted. Moreover, there is a growing distrust in vaccines and vaccination programs that needs to be addressed by researchers with appropriate technical skills. Thus, there is a growing global need for training in vaccinology and the study of vaccine-preventable diseases encompassing the entire process from vaccine development to field implementation and program evaluation. To address these needs, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), the Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional (IIN) and the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) are joining forces to build the Peru-Vanderbilt Prevention through Vaccination Training Program (PREVENT). The overall goal of PREVENT is to develop a cadre of researchers and educators equipped with modern knowledge and expertise to lead vaccine preventable diseases research and training in Peru and to encourage US-based researchers to engage in vaccination research in low- and middle-income country (LMICs). PREVENT builds on the very successful 14-year Research Partnership with the IIN and UPCH and on the Vanderbilt Vaccine Training and Evaluation Unit and the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology's expertise in the study of vaccine preventable diseases, training and mentoring. PREVENT will support 10 medium-long term trainees (Master's, PhD and faculty fellowships). Specifically, PREVENT aims to 1) Train a cadre of researchers and educators (trainers) to conduct multidisciplinary vaccine preventable diseases research and build training capacity in Peru; 2) Train scientists and future leaders in vaccine-preventable diseases research in Peru; and, 3) Ensure and document PREVENT's long-term impact. The ongoing IIN/UPCH-Vanderbilt Research Partnership has proven highly productive and successful. A new training program focusing on Vaccinology and the study of vaccine preventable diseases and the growth of structures and efforts to increase grant success will move IIN and UPCH toward a new horizon in vaccine preventable diseases and address Peru's need for a world-class workforce trained in vaccinology.