Deadline: 28-Feb-22
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is pleased to launch a Call for Proposals (CfP) to identify and select potential laboratories partners.
Types of studies that pre-approved providers might be asked to perform could include, but are not limited to, binding antibody assays (for example ELISA), neutralizing antibody assays (with Wild type virus and or (BSL-3 and 4) and pseudo-virus (BSL-2)) T-cells assays (for example ELISPOT and Flow cytometry) and other immunological assays. Pre-approved providers might be asked to develop and tech transfer assays and produce key reagents (e.g.: coating antigens for ELISA, pseudo particles, peptides for ELISPOT, etc…) for all the laboratories of the network.
Lab-specific support for instrumentation and software might be available. CEPI may offer support for additional technical staff to not-for-profit organisations.
The CfP is open to any laboratory worldwide that is able to perform one or more vaccine-relevant immunological assays for SARS-CoV-2 and/or other pathogens for preclinical and/or human samples under a high-level quality system.
In order to reduce some of this complexity, better compare the immunological profile of each vaccine candidate, and provide robust assays for regulatory purposes, CEPI is planning to expand the CEPI Centralized Laboratory Network, which was initially created to tackle SARS-CoV-2, to:
- new geographical areas for Covid-19 for laboratories located in South America, Africa, Oceania and
- new viral diseases (including CEPI priority pathogens) for any laboratory worldwide
to measure the immune response elicited by different vaccines in preclinical and clinical studies, establishing common protocols and ensure information sharing.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must have the ability to perform one or more vaccine-relevant immunological assays for human and/or animal samples.
- Applicants must have the ability to perform those assays testing immunity CEPI priority pathogens and new emerging pathogens.
- Applicants must have experience with immunological assay(s) development.
- Applicants should demonstrate experience in tech transfer the assay(s) to and from other laboratories and be willing to share protocols.
- Applicants must be able to perform studies under GLP/GCLP conditions or a quality system that assures data quality and integrity.
- Applicants must be willing to work with CEPI to collaboratively design the most relevant immunological assays for the purpose.
- Applicants must be able and willing to prioritize CEPI work over other on–going projects.
- Applicants must support preclinical and clinical programs to ensure protocols and ethics applications for trials are aligned with the analytical plans.
Evaluation Criteria
All applications will be reviewed based on the following evaluation criteria:
- Applicant competencies, experience and track record.
- Adequate capacity for the studies.
- Ability to prioritize analysis of samples from CEPI vaccines trials over any other on-going projects.
- Appropriate quality systems in place.
- Proven ability to maintain sufficient reagent stocks.
- Appropriate project management capabilities.
- Proven record of receiving samples from multiple geographical locations.
- Ability to work in a network of international labs to harmonize protocols, reagents and data.
- Competitive pricing.
The applications will be reviewed by CEPI internal experts and external experts.
For more information, visit https://cepi.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CEPI-Centralized-Lab-Network_Call-Text-1.pdf