The Global Forum on TB Vaccines (Global Forum) is the world?s largest gathering of researchers, clinicians, product developers, policy makers, advocates, health officials, and other stakeholders striving to develop new effective vaccines to prevent tuberculosis (TB). In 2015, TB killed an estimated 1.8 million people, more than any other single infectious disease agent, and 10.4 million become sick with the disease (1). The United Nation?s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the World Health Organization?s (WHO) End TB Strategy, and the Stop TB Partnership?s Global Plan to End TB 2016-2020 recognize that new vaccines will be essential for reaching global targets to eliminate TB. The Global Forum provides a unique opportunity for the TB vaccine research and development (R&D) community to come together to review the state of the field, share the latest research and findings, and identify new and innovative approaches to TB vaccine R&D, with the end goal of developing new TB vaccines. The Global Forum program topics range from basic research to clinical trials, licensure, access, and advocacy. The 5th Global Forum on TB Vaccines will take place in New Delhi, India from February 20-23, 2018. India?s prominence in research expertise and vaccine manufacturing capabilities, combined with the important role it plays in the global effort to end the TB epidemic, make it a relevant and impactful location to host this important conference. As with past Global Forums, the 5th Global Forum will provide a platform for scientific exchange, opportunities to identify potential partners and collaborators, and a platform for a global discourse on the R&D path towards an effective TB vaccine. The organizers will seek ways to enhance networking and promote interactions amongst participants and to bring together participants with common interests. Additionally, the Forum encourages and supports early-career researchers in sharing their research, and offers multiple opportunities to learn from and engage with experts in the field. Aeras is requesting funding from the NIH to support travel for early-career researchers and participants from TB endemic countries who would not otherwise have the resources to attend, present their research, or participate in the discussions that take place at the Global Forum. The 5th Global Forum will follow on the very successful 4th Global Forum in Shanghai, China (April 2015); 3rd Global Forum in Cape Town, South Africa (March 2013); and 2nd Global Forum in Tallinn, Estonia (September 2010). The first Global Forum on TB Vaccines was organized by the WHO and took place in Geneva in 2001.
Tuberculosis (TB) kills more people than any other single infectious disease agent, having caused 1.8 million deaths globally in 2015 (1). The development of new effective vaccines is a critical component of the strategy to reach the global targets to eliminate TB identified in the United Nation?s Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organization?s End TB Strategy. The Global Forum on TB Vaccines is the largest convening of stakeholders from around the world and across all sectors and areas of research to facilitate dialogue, share the latest information and research findings, and promote partnership and collaboration, with the goal of accelerating TB vaccine research and development.
