New Vaccines
We work across two distinct but closely related sub-groups to develop, evaluate and enhance vaccination strategies worldwide.
Clinical and epidemiology
This group is involved in Surveillance for pneumococcal disease and carriage in Mongolia, evaluating the effectiveness pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to reduce rates of invasive disease, radiologic pneumonia, carriage, and the cost-effectiveness of vaccination.
Immunology
One of the key questions the Vaccine Immunology group is addressing is the cellular basis of long-term immunity following pneumococcal and HPV vaccination, with a particular emphasis on B cell memory. We have completed studies in Fiji with an ongoing clinical trial in Vietnam designed to answer this question.
The laboratory evaluates pneumococcal vaccine immunogenicity using a range of WHO-recommended and internationally standardised methodologies. It is one of the few groups worldwide with the capacity to evaluate pneumococcal vaccine immunogenicity as part of large clinical trials to all serotypes in the currently available vaccines using WHO ELISA, multiplexed opsonophagocytosis and B cell assays.
Our research interests are in a variety of areas related to current and potential vaccines. The vaccines include Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccines (PCV), Human Papilloma Virus vaccines (HPV), Typhoid Conjugate vaccines (TCV) and potential vaccines for Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines (RSV).
Our projects
COVID-19 Fourth Dose Study
A fourth dose is now available for people aged 30 years and older or those aged 16 years and older who are in a high-risk group. It is currently unclear what vaccine schedules will provide the best immune responses and safety profile, and how often people will need to be vaccinated. The COVID-19 Fourth Dose Study was developed to answer these questions.
CEPI COVID-19 Booster Study
This study aimed to assess the immune responses of two different booster vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), given either as a standard or fractional (reduced) dose, among people who have previously received two doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines.
Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccines
2014-2022; Immunogenicity and NP carriage study on alternative PCV schedules building on existing trial. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Few data are available to support the choice between the two currently available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), ten-valent PCV (PCV10) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13). Here, the group report a head-to-head comparison of the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of PCV10 and PCV13.
2016-2022; Evaluation of the impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine introduction in Mongolia.
This study is describing the epidemiology of hospitalised children aged 2-59 months with pneumonia enrolled into a surveillance program in the period prior to and following pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction in Mongolia. Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae precedes disease, is the source of pneumococcal community spread, and the mechanism for herd protection provided by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). There are few PCV impact studies in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Asia. In 2016, Mongolia introduced the 13-valent PCV (PCV13) in a phased manner using a 2 + 1 schedule, with catch-up. We are assessing the impact of PCV13 introduction on nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage and density in children in Mongolia through community carriage surveys.
2018-2021; Evaluation of PCV schedules in a naïve population in Vietnam, Nha Trang, Vietnam.
2018-2022: Evaluation of the impact of childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) introduction on adult pneumonia in four districts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines
2018-2019 Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection rates and immunogenicity in women who received one dose of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in Mongolia.
Emerging observational evidence suggests a single-dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be protective against vaccine-targeted HPV infection and associated cervical dysplasia. We aimed to demonstrate whether a single dose of quadrivalent HPV (4vHPV) vaccine was immunogenic and reduced HPV detection rates in young women in Mongolia. We also assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine.
2018-2020; HPV detection in young women 5 years following the 4-valent HPV vaccine in Mongolia.
This was the first study measures early vaccine effectiveness and assess knowledge and attitudes of young women in Mongolia in relation to the human papillomavirus (HPV), the vaccine and cervical cancer.
2018-2021; Epidemiological, economic and sociological evidence to inform policy-making about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine introduction in India and Ethiopia.
This study is to determine whether HPV prevalence and genotype profile in young women can establish estimates of cervical cancer burden in different states in India and Ethiopia and to estimate the effectiveness and potential impact of the HPV vaccine. Using data on HPV risk factors to enable estimates of the cancer burden based on models developed in India and adapted to Ethiopia.
2016-2021; Epidemiological features, national burden of several HPV-related diseases and estimation of cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccines in Vietnam.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
2020-2021: Estimating the economic burden of acute respiratory illness in infants in Vietnam: a cohort study.
2018-2021: Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on RSV and Influenza Infections in Mongolia.
Funding
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
- GAVI Alliance
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- PATH
- Pfizer
Collaborations
- The University of Melbourne
- Menzies Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
- Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Mongolian Ministry of Health
- Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services
- Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
- Doherty Institute, Melbourne
Featured publications
- Quality of care for children with acute respiratory infections in health facilities: a comparative analysis of assessment tools 2022
- SARS-CoV-2 infections and public health responses in schools and early childhood education and care centres in Victoria, Australia: An observational study 2022
- The impact of 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine introduction on invasive disease in Fiji 2022
- Changes in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 1 Following Introduction of PCV10 and PCV13: Findings from the PSERENADE Project. 2021
- Changing Epidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Australia - delayed re-emergence in Victoria compared to WA/NSW after prolonged lock-down for COVID-19. 2021