Advisory committees

In the planning, execution and monitoring of its work, the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR) may seek advice from independent expert consultants. In most instances, IVR constitutes ad hoc committees that convene to advise on a specific vaccine research-related issue within an agreed time frame.

For some priority areas of work, IVR has constituted standing advisory committees to provide technical and programmatic advice on a more continuous basis. These committees have clear terms of reference that define the scope, membership and operating rules. Deliberations of these committees are an important input to the development of strategic and policy advice as formulated be SAGE.

Members are selected in a transparent process through open calls for nomination based on their technical excellence and knowledge of the field, with due consideration to regional representation and gender. Members must adhere to the operating rules and be compliant with WHO’s conflict of interest policies.

IVR provides the Secretariat to the following advisory committees:

• Technical advisory group on dengue vaccines in late stage development (Dengue TAG)
• HIV vaccine advisory committee (VAC)
• Immunization and vaccines-related implementation research (IVIR) advisory committee
• WHO IVR/Global Malaria Programme Joint Technical Expert Group on Malaria Vaccines Entering Pivotal Phase III Trials and Beyond (JTEG)
• Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC)