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Immunisation Research (VIRGo/Immunisation CCRE)

Overview

Immunisation research is conducted within two closely related groups. The Immunisation Centre for Clinical Research in Child and Adolescent Immunisation (Immunisation CCRE) is a joint MCRI, Melbourne University, and Menzies School of Health Research collaboration whose secretariat is located in the Department of General Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital campus. There are three programs of research in the CCRE: Special Risk Program, Rotavirus Vaccine Program, and the Indigenous Immunisation Program.  Go to CCRE

 

The Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group (VIRG) operates as a research collaboration with the University of Melbourne with our staff based in the School of Population Health. Research focuses on clinical trials of new vaccines in healthy infants, children and adolescents, the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) and evaluation of the impact of population-delivered vaccine programs, and mathematical modelling of vaccine-preventable diseases. Go to VIRGo.

 

 

Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Child and Adolescent Immunisation (Immunisation CCRE)

Research overview

The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Child and Adolescent Immunisation (Immunisation CCRE) was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2005 to conduct clinical immunisation research and train clinical immunisation researchers of the future. The Immunisation CCRE prioritises clinical research on vaccines that protect Australian children and adolescents from infectious diseases.

 

Immunisation CCRE is a joint initiative of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the University of Melbourne (School of Population Health, Department of Paediatrics and School of Nursing), Menzies School of Health Research and the Centre for International Child Health (CICH). The CCRE secretariat is located on the Royal Children's Hospital campus. The CCRE works closely with the joint MCRI/Melbourne University Vaccination and Immunisation Research Group (VIRGo) which is located in the School of Population Health at The University of Melbourne Parkville campus.

 

The Immunisation CCRE aims to develop new immunisation knowledge that will lead to the improved health of children and adolescents in Australian and worldwide.

 

Research – The CCRE research focuses on 3 program areas:

1.      Special Risk Program: Immunisation of patients with chronic illness  (e.g. cancer, immune deficiency, arthritis) who may be at increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, led by Dr Jim Buttery.

2.      Rotavirus Vaccine Program: Development and clinical trials of a novel Australian rotavirus gastroenteritis vaccine for newborns and infants, led by Professor Julie Bines.

3.      Indigenous Immunisation Program: Studies on new uses of pneumococcal vaccines to prevent ear disease, pneumonia, and invasive infections, the need for routine influenza immunisation, and the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination, led by Professor Jonathan Carapetis (at Menzies).

 

Training - Provide high quality training and education for clinical researchers in vaccine-related areas of the target CCRE programs.

 

Knowledge transfer - Transfer new research knowledge into clinical practice through educational activities, training programs and interaction with policy forming bodies and the media.

 

Collaborations – Promotion of collaborations with Australian and overseas immunisation researchers, policy-makers, service providers and the vaccine industry.

 


Vaccine & Immunisation Research Group (VIRGo)

Research overview

The Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group (VIRG) operates as a research collaboration with the University of Melbourne with our staff based in the School of Population Health. Research focuses on clinical trials of new vaccines in healthy infants, children and adolescents, the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) and evaluation of the impact of population-delivered vaccine programs, and mathematical modelling of vaccine-preventable diseases. VIRGo works closely with the joint MCRI/Melbourne University/Menzies Centre for Clinical Research in Child and Adolescent Immunisation (CCRE) which is located in the Department of General Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital campus. Research focuses in three program areas.

 

Clinical trials

1.      Phase II clinical trial of a new combined Hib-Meningococcal serogroup C and Y conjugate vaccine given in early infancy, booster at 12 months

2.      Phase II clinical trials in children and adults of a candidate pandemic influenza (H5N1) vaccine. The purpose of this research study is to identify a vaccine that may prevent the spread of 'bird' (or avian) flu in the event of a human pandemic. The results of this study will be crucial to make a vaccine that could protect the Australian population in the event of an influenza pandemic.

3.      Phase II clinical trial of a new vaccine to prevent herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV2) infections, given in early adolescence

4.      Planning for Phase II trial of a conjugate Men-ACYW vaccine and a conjugate Hib-MenC combination vaccine

 

Epidemiologic research

Community-based cohort study of the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in children and their families using multiplex PCR with particular interest in influenza and the recently discovered coronavirus (HCoV-NL23) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Other studies evaluate the effectiveness of screening for chlamydia infection; evaluation of the prevention by conjugate pneumococcal vaccine of severe pneumonia in Australian Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory; and studies of the effectiveness of polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine and inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing hospital admissions due to community-acquired pneumonia.

 

Mathematical modelling

Mathematical modelling of the spread of infectious disease and possible epidemics is used to gain insights into potential public health interventions ranging from vaccines to community interventions such as border control measures and school and business closures. Contributing to an NHMRC-funded national infectious disease modelling network of scientists from mathematics, medicine, public health and health policy backgrounds, studies focus on pandemic influenza as well as common vaccine-preventable bacterial infections (such as Hib and pertussis).

 

 

Professor Terry Nolan

Immunisation CCRE Director

Department of General Medicine
5th Floor, AP1 Building, Royal Children's Hospital
Parkville VIC 3052  AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 9345 4496
Fax: +61 3 9345 4751

Email: t.nolan@unimelb.edu.au