The International Vaccine Institute kicked off its annual Advanced Vaccinology Course in the Asia-Pacific Region at its headquarters in Seoul on Monday as part of efforts to support vaccine research and immunization capacities in developing countries, officials said.

The IVI, established in 1997, is the world’s only international group exclusively devoted to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the poor, especially children, in developing countries.

From May 12-16, the 14th annual program will cover vaccine discovery, development and delivery processes.

For 71 trainees from 20 countries, dozens of leading experts from global institutions including the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Institutes of Health will serve as faculty members and deliver lectures, the IVI said.

Discussions will also cover vaccine-preventable diseases and perceptions about vaccines and ethics in clinical trials, it added.

“The IVI will continue to provide quality training for health care professionals and vaccine scientists to ensure a wider use of vaccines by populations in need, and seek to develop a network among course alumni to expedite post-event exchange and communications,” said Thomas F. Wierzba, deputy director general of vaccine development and delivery for the organization.

The course is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Korea Exchange Bank Foundation and Pfizer. The core support is provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Korean Ministry of Education.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)