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Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH)
The Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) is a research institute established by Novartis in 2007 dedicated to the translational research and development of vaccines. The NVGH will focus on diseases that are not receiving adequate attention, especially those diseases which are particularly devastating to developing countries.
With its not-for-profit mission, the NVGH will build on the research and development expertise and assets within Novartis to help address the vast unmet medical need that exists for vaccines to prevent some of the developing world’s most prevalent diseases.
The NVGH is located on Novartis campus in Siena, Italy, where it shares the world-class facilities and technologies that the company possesses at its vaccines research headquarters.
NVGH’s initial projects focus on diarrheal diseases
With more than 4.5 billion cases per year (WHO 2002), diarrheal disease is ubiquitous around the globe. In areas where water and sanitation are compromised, dehydration caused by diarrhea can be particularly devastating. Of the estimated 1.8 million deaths due to diarrheal diseases, a vast majority occur in developing countries.
The NVGH’s first project aims to develop a broad-range enteric vaccine for Salmonella infections.
Success through partnerships
The NVGH works in partnership with universities, research institutes and other public and private organizations to develop the scientific basis for vaccine development. The NVGH will bridge an existing gap between the discovery of promising vaccine candidates, often from academia and research institutes, and manufacturing and distribution of vaccines, by providing the means and expertise for pilot scale vaccine production and human proof of concept studies. The NVGH will collaborate with organizations such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the WHO and UNICEF, and other non-governmental and non-profit organizations that are working hard to bring international attention to this important issue.
Through global cooperation we aim to bring much needed effective and affordable vaccines to the people who need them most.
Learn more about Salmonella infections
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Related Articles and links
Download the NVGH fact sheet
(30 KB)
Download the Salmonella infections fact sheet
(50 KB)
Read the article ‘Outlook: neglected diseases’
Nature 449, No. 7159, 157-182 (13 Sept 2007)
Read the article ‘A place in the sun’
Nature 446, 124 - 125 (07 Mar 2007)
Read the article The NVGH: a new initiative for developing vaccines for neglected diseases in developing countries
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (17 Mar 2008)
Read the article Neglected diseases get vaccine research boost
Nature News (27 Feb 2008)
Read the article Vaccine partnerships to tackle neglected diseases
Nature Reviews (April 2008)