Deadline: 7-Jan-22
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is seeking applications to participate in a SA national research consortium to advance mRNA-based vaccine development, testing and manufacture.
The South African mRNA technology transfer hub is a public/ private partnership consortium established to advance mRNA vaccine development, testing and manufacturing for Africa and other developing economies. The hub is intended to drive greater and more diversified vaccines manufacturing capability, strengthen African regional health security and respond more equitably to the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics. As part of this hub, the SAMRC is leading a workstream to establish a national research consortium to leverage off existing research expertise to develop a portfolio of (m)RNA vaccine candidates by Africa for Africa.
Goals
Focussing initially on vaccine candidates for African COVID-19 variants, the overall goals of the consortium are:
- To build a pipeline of RNA-based (South) African vaccine candidates. This could be in the form of novel RNA vaccine candidates or novel immunogens incorporated into existing mRNA platforms for boosting
- To leverage government investments in research platforms in (South) Africa to facilitate the development, testing and manufacture of local mRNA vaccines
- To leverage local investments in genomic surveillance in South Africa (and African CDC) to identify appropriate immunogens
- To integrate forwards from the research groups to ultimately prepare GMP clinical trial batches at Afrigen and Biovac with supporting preclinical data, such as genotype to phenotype assessment, as well as robust immunogenicity data to move into clinical testing
Focus Areas
This call for EoIs seeks to open the opportunity to participate in this national (m)RNA research consortium to other researchers and entities in South Africa with the requisite expertise to contribute to the development, testing and manufacturing of RNA-based vaccines, including in the following areas:
- mRNA-based vaccine platforms
- Novel mRNA carriers- synthesis of novel cationic and modified lipids and alternate approaches for improved efficacy, safety and thermo stability
- Preclinical models for assessing efficacy against COVID-19 (prevention and/or treatment)
- Tox models/assays for lipids, especially myocarditis
- Immunogenicity analysis (antibodies, neutralization, T-cells)
- Downstream purification for large-scale RNA production
- Potency and stability assays for mRNA vaccines
- Structural biology for mechanistic studies on vaccines
- Development of (m)RNA-based vaccines for TB, HIV and other priority diseases for Africa
Eligibility Criteria
Invitation to SA-based universities, organisations and companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to participate in a SA national research consortium to advance mRNA-based vaccine development, testing and manufacture
For more information, visit https://www.samrc.ac.za/request-for-applications/expressions-interest-eois-participate-sa-national-research-consortium