Our team
The Vaccine Research, Development and Policy (RDP) unit within the WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) provides global leadership on vaccine innovation, research, development, evaluation, and policy guidance. The unit works across the vaccine development continuum from identifying public health priorities and supporting research and clinical development to facilitating regulatory pathways, evidence generation, and policy recommendations for vaccine use.
Key teams and functions within RDP focus on vaccine research and development, product innovation, immunization policy support, and the assessment of emerging vaccine technologies. The unit collaborates closely with Member States, researchers, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, funding agencies, and global health partners to accelerate the availability of safe, effective, affordable, and equitable vaccines.
Major areas of work include establishing preferred product characteristics and research priorities, supporting clinical evaluation of vaccines, developing evidence for policy recommendations, advancing vaccine innovation and delivery technologies, and addressing unmet public health needs, particularly for epidemic-prone and neglected diseases.
Strategic priorities include strengthening the evidence base for immunization policies, promoting equitable access to new and improved vaccines, fostering innovation in vaccine development and delivery, and supporting pandemic preparedness and response. Through these efforts, RDP contributes to IVB’s mission of expanding the benefits of immunization and advances WHO’s broader goals of reducing vaccine-preventable disease, improving global health security, and achieving universal access to life-saving vaccines.
Working Groups
Burden of Enteric Diseases Morbidity Working Group provides technical guidance to WHO IVB to evaluate the burden of long-term morbidity associated with enteric infections.
Measles and Rubella Microarray Patches (MR-MAP) Working Group provides technical guidance to WHO IVB to identify opportunities to expedite the development of MR-MAPs, a critical vaccine delivery innovation needed to eradicate measles and rubella.
Vaccines against AMR Working Group provides technical guidance to WHO IVB to identify workstreams needed to facilitate the assessment, articulation and communication of value of vaccines against antimicrobial resistance.
RSV vaccine and mAbs working group provides technical advice to guide WHO’s activities and to assist in the evaluation of new data relevant to its work related to RSV preventive strategies, including vaccines and passive immunization with RSV monoclonal antibodies.
HIV vaccines and mAbs working group provides technical advice to WHO related to the development of HIV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee
Prioritization and research agenda setting is conducted through the independent advice of the Product Development for Vaccines advisory committee (PDVAC). Established in 2014, PDVAC is an independent standing WHO committee of experts which provides external advice to WHO’s Department on Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) related to vaccine and antibody candidates for infectious diseases, generally at the Phase 2 stage of clinical evaluation or earlier.