Webinar on Immunization Research Area Prioritization for the WHO SE Asia Region

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Webinar on Immunization Research Area Prioritization for the WHO SE Asia Region
Dates: 3 June 2025

The WHO South-East Asia Regional Office successfully hosted a webinar to present and discuss the 25 newly prioritized immunization and vaccine research areas identified through a robust regional prioritization exercise. This initiative marks a significant step in promoting evidence-informed decision-making and building a stronger research ecosystem in support of immunization programmes across the Region.

The webinar was attended by over 450 participants from 31 countries across the globe, including 10 countries from the WHO South-East Asia Region. These participants were from government agencies, academia, technical institutions, and development partners, reflecting the shared interest in strengthening the immunization research ecosystem.

Dr. Vinod Bura, Coordinator, IVD, WHO SEARO, opened the session by welcoming participants and emphasizing the importance of aligning research investments with programmatic needs. Dr. Nivedita Gupta (ICMR) highlighted India’s national research prioritization and the urgency of addressing gaps in implementation science. Prof. Narendra Kumar Arora (INCLEN) explained the multi-phase prioritization methodology, involving desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, and expert validation. Dr. Rahul Srivastava (WHO SEARO) presented 25 prioritized research areas spanning vaccine delivery, digital innovations, equity, and pandemic preparedness—over 70% of which are operational. He stressed the dynamic nature of the list and WHO’s plan to incorporate emerging needs.

Development partners from ADB, CEPI, Gavi, Gates Foundation, and UNICEF shared reflections, endorsing the initiative’s relevance and highlighting opportunities for collaboration, joint planning, and capacity building. Dr. Naor Bar-Zeev (WHO HQ) provided a global perspective, commending SEARO for contextualizing immunization research under IA2030.

The session featured an interactive poll to capture participant perspectives and concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Bura, reaffirming WHO’s commitment to supporting Member States through research partnerships and implementation support.

Watch the recorded webinar on YouTube.