EUR 6 million for new universal flu vaccine

Within the EU’s 7th Framework programme, a grant of EUR 6 million has been awarded to the UNISEC Consortium, a joint effort to develop a new universal influenza vaccine involving three university partners, five national health institutes and four small and medium-sized enterprises. In this context, UNISEC partners Prof. E. Hak (Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics) and Prof. E. Frijlink (Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy) of the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy will receive EUR 1.5 million; Prof. A. Huckriede (Molecular Virology) of the UMCG will receive EUR 0.5 million.

Combining leading expertise in influenza vaccine research and development with a proven track record, including participation in the successful EU FLUSECURE project, the UNISEC partners aim to develop a vaccine that offers both universal protection and commercial opportunity. In a single study, the three most promising vaccines are identified, further developed and clinically tested. The results will directly contribute to the development of a timely, longer-term, broader, more effective and cheaper universal vaccine for the prevention of annual and pandemic influenza.