ABSTRACT
Safe, effective, and accessible vaccines are urgently needed to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030. The 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines, convened virtually 22–25 February 2022, was hosted by Toulouse, France, under the high patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, and the patronages of Minister for Solidarity and Health, Olivier Véran, and Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frédérique Vidal. The theme for the meeting, "New horizons for TB vaccines”, reflected the changing landscape in which TB vaccine research and development (R&D) is being conducted: TB vaccines advancing into late-stage clinical trials and toward licensure, innovative research toward diversifying the TB vaccine pipeline and developing the next generation of candidates, increasing political, civil society, and community support for TB vaccines, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we summarize key themes and findings from the meeting, highlighting progress and gaps in the TB vaccine field.
ABSTRACT
The Global Forum on Tuberculosis (TB) Vaccines was held virtually from 20 to 22 April 2021, marking its 20th anniversary. The Global Forum on TB Vaccines is the world's largest gathering of stakeholders striving to develop new vaccines to prevent TB. The program included more than 60 speakers in 11 scientific sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. It provided an overview of the state of the field, and an opportunity to share the latest research findings, as well as new and innovative approaches to TB vaccine research and development (R&D). This year, it was held against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and convened researchers, developers, funders, and other stakeholders remotely to discuss opportunities and challenges for TB vaccine R&D in these unprecedented times.