Vision
People everywhere need life-saving vaccines.
But those in developing countries need them even more
– and they need them now.
But making this happen is not simple. It requires trained
professionals to rollout effective national immunization plans,
to generate local clinical data on vaccine safety and efficacy,
to measure impact of immunization programs, and to share their
public health expertise with others.
This means equipping local healthcare professionals with
skills and competencies that are of the highest standards.
Through our Master Program in Vaccinology and Pharmaceutical
Clinical Development, young doctors from developing countries
develop the scientific and practical know how they need to
lead the new generation of public health professionals back home.
Every two years, we select and train the best and most
passionate medical graduates from developing countries
across the globe – countries that are most in need of
sustainable immunization programs and timely access to
quality, cost-effective vaccines.
Graduates of our program return home with a better
understanding of their countries’ epidemiology and public
health needs, and a broad knowledge about vaccinology
and immunisation. Being trained theoretically and practically
by the world’s most reknowned experts in vaccinolgy and
immunization, they bring back confidence and hope where
it is needed most.
The Master Program of the University of Siena offers
a hope for development.
+90%
of the students
are in the field
of vaccinology
bringing hope
to over
30
countries
Program Description
We want our graduates to be leaders in academia, public health,
and R&D focused on vaccines and immunization.That's why we offer
an internationally recognized program delivered by top-class experts
from international universities, supranational organizations, and industry.
The curriculum is conducted in English and features a one-year lecture
course on vaccinology and clinical development, along with practical training at the University Hospital of Siena. And as clinical development as well as public health and regulatory regulations change worldwide, our Technical Scientific Committee, makes sure that these are rejected in the program. Comprised of members from the University of Siena and the Sciences Academy, the committee ensures only the best information and knowledge is passed on when it comes to clinical development, the global regulatory environment, pharmacovigilance, and public health science.
After the lecture course, the skills of our students are enhanced through
a 6-month internship within University Hospital, different academic
institutions and industry partners. This is also done via field training
at various clinical investigational sites in Europe and through public
immunization healthcare units in Italy. The program culminates with the
submission of a thesis and the awarding of a Master’s Degree from one of
the oldest and most respected European universities, the University of
Siena Medical School
We make sure that we find the right profiles through our rigorous selection
process. After all, it's an intensive and demanding course… And our students -
all of whom are medical graduates with at least 2 years experience and strong
English language skills – would not have it any other way.
What do the students learn?
There are 10 modules in year 1, each designed to prepare
our students to play an active role in the complex system
of the immunization world. From these modules, they would
acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to assess and improve
immunization programs, to lead clinical trials, and to understand
regulatory and pharmacovigilance environments in the developing world.
Developing vaccines is a lengthy, costly, and complex
regulated process that demands specific expertise in the
area of vaccinology and in pharmaceutical development. This
process does not end at product registration, it goes beyond it.
Experts are needed at central and local levels of national
and supranational authorities and global communities to
ensure an adequate financing mechanism, product introduction,
and surveillance of impact. Local experts are needed to ensure
proper planning for a sustainable immunization program. The
national surveillances must monitor the outcome and impact via
the epidemiologic results, control of diseases, vaccine safety,
and public health impact.
Progress measures
Each student’s progress is assessed through a written exam
after each module, a final year exam, activity reports
(visits to investigational sites, working groups activities),
internship evaluations, and professors’ feedback. At the end
of the program, the final step in evaluation comes from the
written thesis and a thesis defense in front of the examiner’s
committee at the University of Siena Medical School.
There are 10 modules in year 1, each designed to prepare our students to play an active role in the complex system of the immunization world. From these modules, they would acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to assess and improve immunization programs, to lead clinical trials, and to understand regulatory and pharmacovigilance environments in the developing world.
Impact
We are building capacity, enhancing skills, sharing knowledge.
This is how the Master Program in Vaccinology and Pharmaceutical
Clinical Development is making a difference.
Our alumni have taken up a range of key roles in their own countries;
applying expertise learned at the University of Siena where it is
needed most. They run vaccine clinical development and pharmacovigilance
programs; work as research scientists on vaccine studies; train others
at universities and hospitals; help to raise the standards of vaccine
manufacturing in the developing world; and work in their communities
as GPs and public health advocates.
That's impact.
The Master’s coordination team actively follows former students for
five years post graduation. Over 90% of alumni are actively working
in vaccinology or public health five years after completing the program.
And twice as many students are working in clinical development after
the program.
Imagine how much more we can do.
+90%
of graduates active in
Vaccinology
Faculty Members
(Partner Institutions)
WHO, PATH, GAVI, FIOCRUZ, Novartis, PEI, IVI, CDC, Pfizer, FIDEC, G-Con, Roche, Sabin Institute, Health Dep London, Health dep Italy, ECDC, EC, VisMederi, Tropical lab Antwerp, Welcome Trust, CHERMID, CHMP, MRC Gambia, Federal agency Belgium, Institute Pasteur, John Hopkins, ERASMUS, Brighton Collaboration, Butantan, Valneva, Curevac.
Universities: Florence; Bologna; Roma; Pisa; Antwerp; Ghent; Halifax; Oxford; Texas; Ghana; Finland; Cincinatti; Spain; Sweden; Karolinska; Imperial College; Surrey; Sao Paulo; Carlos Chagas Institute; Florence; Bologna; Maryland, Mali; Los Andes, Chile; Argentina; Colorado; Tokyo, Japan.
introduction