WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs)
WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs), inside the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), are a crucial element of influenza prevention and control, especially vaccine response.
Currently there are four WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories within GISRS.
What ERLs do
- ERLs provide continually updated reagents required for the implementation of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine campaigns, as well as vaccine guidance.
Why ERLs do it
- To ensure effective vaccination strategies: supporting the timely availability of seasonal influenza vaccines to protect populations from influenza epidemics.
- To protect global public health: minimize the impact of influenza outbreaks and future influenza pandemics via vaccines.
When ERLs do it
- Biannual vaccine strain selection: every February and September for the northern and southern hemisphere vaccine recommendations respectively: generation of data for the WHO vaccine virus selection and provision of reagents after every WHO influenza vaccine recommendation.
- Continuous data collection and generation of candidate vaccine viruses: ongoing laboratory work and data sharing throughout the year.
- Ongoing engagement throughout the year with WHO GISRS partners to support pre-pandemic and seasonal activities.
How ERLs do it
- Collaborate with global laboratories and health organizations: work with WHO Collaborating Centres of GISRS to analyse data and identify gaps and needs for vaccine production.
- Develop and calibrate vaccine reagents: create high-yield candidate vaccine viruses and potency testing reagents through rigorous testing and quality control.
- Conduct regular technical consultations: participate in WHO’s biannual meetings to decide on vaccine composition recommendations for the northern and southern hemispheres.
WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) list of laboratories
Jerry Weir
Division of Viral Products
Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring
Maryland
United States of America
Fax: +1 301 480 9748
http://www.fda.gov/cber
Othmar Engelhardt
Vaccines
Science, Research &
Innovation
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar
Hertfordshire EN6 3QG
United Kingdom
Fax: +44 1 707 641 050
Email: othmar.engelhardt@mhra.gov.uk
http://www.nibsc.org/science_and_research/virology/influenza_resource_.aspx
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