About the initiative - NIVI
The aim of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) is to revolutionize and accelerate vaccine development in Denmark by bridging the gap between academic research and industry innovation. NIVI conducts basic and translational research with an emphasis on developing new vaccines targeting respiratory-route pathogens that have epidemic potential or that promote the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Vaccination is one of the most effective tools in the fight against infectious diseases, saving millions of lives every year. However, despite recent advancements in novel vaccine technologies, there remains a critical need for new or improved vaccines for many pathogens. Of particular concern are pathogens transmitted through the respiratory tract. Several airborne infectious diseases have the potential to cause fatal infections, exacerbate antimicrobial resistance and importantly, pose a significant epidemic and pandemic threat.
NIVI brings together leading experts in immunology and vaccine development from Denmark and around the world to develop vaccine candidates against some of the most important and deadly respiratory pathogens. In so doing, NIVI aims to create a knowledge hub in airway immunity and establish vaccine development pipelines that can be rapidly adapted to respond to new emerging pathogens.
Organisational structure
NIVI is a partnership between the University of Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Statens Serum Institut (SSI) is an important key partner in the initiative. SSI has substantial expertise in vaccine design and development, and highly relevant research programs and infrastructure.
The initiative is comprised of two distinct entities:
1) The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NCVI)
NCVI strives to be a excellent academic research center anchored at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen. NCVI directs the research, discovery and educational aspects of the NIVI initiative.
For detailed information, please visit the About NCVI webpage.
2) The Novo Nordisk Foundation Vaccine Accelerator (NVAC)
NVAC A/S is a limited liability company owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. NVAC will facilitate the translational efforts of NIVI by providing industry-level expertise in vaccine development and conducting the early clinical testing of our vaccine candidates.
NCVI and NVAC will operate in synergy to ensure that new knowledge and promising inventions generated in the academic research setting can be rapidly channeled into clinical development, potentially expediting the timeline for vaccine development. Any revenue generated by NVAC will be reinvested in NIVI.
NVAC’s role within NIVI is to facilitate access to essential technologies, expertise, and capabilities that bridge the gap between the initial discovery phase of vaccine development (that is conducted within NCVI) and clinical development up to Phase ll trials. Specifically, NVAC enables key research to occur by in-licensing intellectual property, optimizing early process development and technology transfer, and overseeing the clinical testing and potential out-licensing of new lead vaccine candidates. NVAC therefore ensures the translational aims of the initiative can be rapidly achieved.
Vision
Mission
NIVI's mission is to i) generate knowledge on host immunity, host-pathogen interactions, and vaccine technologies and ii) translate this knowledge into vaccines that provide robust, durable and broad immunity against respiratory pathogens.