Peru-Vanderbilt Prevention through Vaccination Training Program (PREVENT)

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Research-Training

While vaccination is the most efficient tool for the prevention of infectious diseases both in developed and developing countries, implementing effective vaccination programs is challenging. The development, introduction, and implementation of effective vaccination depend on the availability of locally generated evidence, especially data required by local regulatory authorities. An essential requirement is to have well-trained local researchers who understand the process behind vaccine development, vaccine introduction, and program implementation. 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.  

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), the Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional (IIN) and the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) are joining forces to establish the Peru-Vanderbilt Prevention through Vaccination Training Program (PREVENT). PREVENT aims 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 encourage US-based researchers to engage in vaccination research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). PREVENT builds on the successful 14-year research partnership with the IIN and UPCH, the Vanderbilt Vaccine Training and Evaluation Unit, and the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology’s expertise in the study of vaccine-preventable diseases, training and mentoring.  

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.
  3. Ensure and document PREVENT’s long-term impact. 

Drs. Carlos Grijalva and Leigh Howard from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Dr. Theresa Ochoa from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) and Dr. Claudio Lanata from the Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional (IIN) will lead the project as co-principal investigators.

PREVENT is funded by the NIH/Fogarty International Center (D43TW012468)