Public Health–Driven Research and Innovation for Next-Generation Influenza Vaccines, European Union

Influenza virus infections are a major public health threat. Vaccination is available, but unpredictable antigenic changes in circulating strains require annual modification of seasonal influenza vaccines. Vaccine effectiveness has proven limited, particularly in certain groups, such as the elderly. Moreover, preparedness for upcoming pandemics is challenging because we can predict neither the strain that will cause the next pandemic nor the severity of the pandemic. The European Union fosters research and innovation to develop novel vaccines that evoke broadly protective and long-lasting immune responses against both seasonal and pandemic influenza, underpinned by a political commitment to global public health

The need for innovation and implementation research for maternal and newborn health

Despite substantial progress during the Millennium Development Goals era, figures remain staggering: 303 000 women died due to pregnancy or childbirth-related causes in 2015;1 225 million women wanting to avoid pregnancy do not use safe and effective family planning;2 and 45% of all under-5 deaths happen during the neonatal period.