The new CEO of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has pledged the NVI’s continued support to various research institutions in Ghana aimed at building their capacity to support Ghana’s quest to locally manufacture vaccines.
Addressing a delegation from the German Embassy, the European Union (EU), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Charité Medical Center in Berlin, Germany, he stressed the need for advanced training frameworks in virology and immunology that will bolster vaccine research and production, away from the initial focus on viral diagnostics.
The delegation had paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the NVI on Monday, March 24, 2025.
During a brief meeting with the delegation, he praised the ongoing research collaboration between Charité Medical Center in Berlin, Germany, and the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR).
The partnership between Charité Medical Center and KCCR has been in place long before the establishment of NVI. Now, Dr Sodzi-Tettey is working to integrate this collaboration into the broader vaccine research and development ecosystem.
By aligning their work with national and international R&D initiatives, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey’s goal is to enhance the efficiency and impact of vaccine innovation and production.
“Africa’s almost total reliance on imported vaccines has left us highly vulnerable in times of global health crises. This is the reason why under the leadership of the Africa CDC, member states have committed to producing at least 60% of continental vaccine requirements locally, by 2040. This R&D Hub will help to equip Ghana with the capacity to locally research into new candidate vaccines and ultimately develop them as part of the efforts of the government to secure the health of the population,” said Dr. Sodzi-Tettey.
Prof Christian Drosten, head of virology at Charité Medical Center, who was part of the delegation that called on Dr. Sodzi-Tettey, announced plans to expand the research hub at KCCR, incorporating the establishment of basic immunologic and virological laboratory methods, training of junior scientists at masters and doctoral levels, and the provision of support for local manufacturing companies.
Overall, these efforts aim to lead to a robust R&D Hub to strengthen Ghana’s vaccine research, production and pandemic preparedness and response.
The new R&D Hub is expected to achieve the following:
- Establishing virological and immunological laboratory methods for vaccine research and quality control.
- Training the first cohort of junior scientists at the doctoral and master’s levels to build a future-proof research ecosystem.
- Expanding North-South and South-South cooperation in technology transfer and resource-sharing.
- Collaborating with local pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the transition from basic research to vaccine production.
During the brief meeting with the new NVI CEO, Prof. Drosten disclosed a cost-effective model for training junior scientists to masters and doctoral levels in Ghana, as opposed to sending them away to Germany.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey agreed, pointing out that this cost-effective model offered the NVI the opportunity to seek the needed resources to expand national research capacity and train more scientists in vaccine research and development beyond the current scope of the Charite-KCCR partnership.
Support for R&D Hub
Daniel Boehme, deputy Head of Cooperation, German Embassy; Timothy Dolan, Team Leader of the Economic, Private Sector and Trade Section of EU delegation in Ghana, and Prof Drosten, all expressed support for the R&D Hub, noting that it fits into the broader objectives of their partnerships with Ghana.
Timothy Dolan, on behalf of the EU, also outlined the EU’s broader support for the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana and to the NVI with both he and Dr. Sodzi-Tettey pledging ongoing collaboration.
Through its Center for Global Health, which is also headed by Prof Drosten, Charité has organized a series of seminars focused on enhancing vaccine uptake and production on the continent.
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