A Call to Action Meeting
The Influenzer Initiative, hosted by the Wellcome Trust, engaged cross-disciplinary researchers, industry representatives, investors and policy thought leaders around engaging cutting-edge science and technology methods and talent to drive UIV breakthroughs.
Building on these insights, Sabin’s funding partner, Flu Lab, launched a platform to boost research collaboration and encourage replication of influenza research findings.
The Influenzer Initiative, hosted by the Wellcome Trust in London, engaged a group of outstanding influenza and vaccine researchers, along with champions of science and technology, leaders of industry, visionary investors and policy thought leaders.
This group was charged with a unique challenge: brainstorm practical ways to engage science and technology skill sets, methods and talent to drive UIV breakthroughs. Participants focused on opportunities to increase knowledge sharing, enable high-risk, high-reward research and funding tactics, and bring new minds from outside the traditional influenza and vaccinology communities into the challenge. They also considered obstacles for dedicating the time and energy required by UIV research, including the need for network building, a leadership body to direct and synchronize efforts and a physical or digital space dedicated to convergent thinking around UIV development.
Building on these insights, Sabin’s funding partner, Flu Lab, working with Center for Open Science and the Public Library of Science, launched a platform for proposals to boost collaboration in the field and expand access to null and negative results and encourage replication of influenza research findings.