Consultant – Immunology and Animal Model Research at World Health Organization (WHO)

JOB TITLE: Consultant – Immunology and Animal Model Research

JOB DETAILS:

• Contribute to developing medical countermeasures under the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics.

Background

• The R&D Blueprint for epidemics is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics. Its aim is to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crises.
• Information on the activities can be found here Blueprint (who.int).
• At the core of its efforts lies the concept of ‘Pathogen Prioritization’ to target medical countermeasure research on pathogens that have the greatest risk of causing a future epidemic, pandemic or PHEIC. In November 2022, the WHO launched a new global Pathogen Prioritization effort that involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries who reviewed evidence across 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, totalling 1,652 pathogens.
• On 9-10 May 2024, a Pathogen Prioritization meeting was organized served as the culmination of the process and provided an opportunity to finalize the prioritization results and develop a strategy for the future.
• The new strategy was presented at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 in Rio de Janeiro (Report) (Press Release).
• It advocates a broad-based approach, emphasizing research across all pathogen families, regardless of their current pandemic potential.
• This comprehensive strategy aims to reduce the risk of overlooking emerging pathogens that may evade existing surveillance systems.
• By prioritizing research at the family level rather than focusing on individual pathogens, we are better equipped to respond to unforeseen variants, zoonotic transmissions, and unknown threats, ensuring that research efforts are more agile and comprehensive.
• To implement this new scientific framework, WHO is partnering with global research institutions to establish CORCs for each pathogen family. Each consortium will be anchored by a WHO Collaborating Centre that will serve as the research hub. CORCs will include researchers, developers, funders, regulators, and trial experts to foster collaboration and promote equitable participation—especially from regions where these pathogens are known or likely to circulate.
• This decentralized structure ensures representation from high-, middle-, and low-income countries, enhancing the global response to emerging health threats.

Deliverables
Preclinical development of vaccines and therapeutics: 

• Understand virus pathogenesis, host immune responses and transmission
• Design preclinical models for testing of vaccines and therapeutics
• Provide recommendations on preclinical data of vaccine candidates
• Coordinate global preclinical research to avoid duplication of efforts
• Design and standardize immune assays to evaluate vaccine and natural immunity
• Develop research roadmaps for blueprint virus families

Contribute to vaccine trials:

• Research design
• Data analysis

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential:

• Advanced university degree or higher in health medicine and science.

Desirable:

• Training in public health, research, and laboratory sciences.

Experience
Essential:

•  At least 10 years of experience in immunology and animal model research and transmission of viruses, research involving animal models, zoonotic diseases. 

Desirable:

• Good working experience in emergency/crisis setting.

Skills/Knowledge
Essential:

• Ability to design animal models studies for emerging pathogens

Desirable:

• Knowledge of assays to assess immunogenicity

Languages and level required
Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of Spanish or French 

Remuneration

• Band level C: USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the ongoing World Health Organization (WHO) job recruitment, visit the job APPLICATION PORTAL to submit your application!