2024年4月28日，中国国家自然科学基金委员会（以下简称“自然科学基金委”）和比尔及梅琳达·盖茨基金会（以下简称“盖茨基金会”）宣布发起联合资助项目，旨在支持疫苗创新技术的研发，以扩大疫苗的可及性和覆盖率，帮助中低收入国家应对传染性疾病和感染性疾病造成的严重挑战，挽救更多生命。 此次联合资助项目是自然科学基金委与盖茨基金会自2021年以来在全球健康和发展领域合作的延续，旨在通过推动国际合作，促进重点领域的研究和创新。今年的项目将重点资助两个领域的研究：可提高疫苗在中低收入国家市场可及性的RNA疫苗创新技术和疫苗控释递送技术。 RNA疫苗的研发在新冠疫情期间受到广泛关注，它不仅研发速度快，其安全性和有效性也得到了验证。目前，研究人员正在继续挖掘RNA疫苗的潜力，希望将其用于对抗艾滋病、结核病、疟疾等其他威胁生命的致命疾病。与传统疫苗相比，RNA疫苗的开发和制造都更为简单迅速，将有望帮助中低收入国家获得高质量且有效的疫苗，解决全球健康领域的重大不平等问题。具体而言，申请该项目的方案应聚焦于如何通过优化RNA为基础的疫苗技术平台，提高疫苗的保护效力和保护时间，使其更加适用于在中低收入国家市场的应用。 疫苗递送的创新可以帮助进一步提高疫苗可及性和覆盖率。例如，疫苗微针贴片无需复杂的冷链运输或训练有素的医务人员即可通过皮肤完成疫苗接种，这有助于保护常规疫苗接种方式最难触及的群体，而疫苗控释技术可进一步赋能疫苗递送，如通过分步释放抗原，让多次免疫接种减少为单次接种；通过缓慢持续释放抗原成分，增强和优化抗原免疫效果；或将一剂疫苗中的不同抗原组分封装于其各自适合的微环境，从而制备成可预防多种病原的联合疫苗，等等。 自然科学基金委副主任兰玉杰表示：“全球健康需要我们共同行动。我期待看到中国研究人员与国际同行并肩取得更加丰硕的成果，相信双方都将从合作中受益。” 盖茨基金会北京代表处首席代表郑志杰博士表示：“持续创新对加快提供更高质量、更新型的疫苗来挽救更多生命至关重要。盖茨基金会将一如既往地与更多中国伙伴合作，并为此次联合项目以及其他类似项目提供支持，帮助减轻中低收入国家的传染病负担。” 此次联合项目将最多资助六个疫苗创新方案。每个入选的研究方案将获得自然科学基金委不高于150万人民币和盖茨基金会不高于20万美元的资助。本项目特别鼓励女性科研人员申请。如需了解关于联合资助项目的更多信息，请点击此处：https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab1356/info92495.htm 关于中国国家自然科学基金委员会 中国国家自然科学基金委员会是由科学技术部管理，依法管理国家自然科学基金，相对独立运行的机构。自然科学基金委将国际合作作为优先事项，致力于通过国际合作推动科研进步，为中国科学家营造有利氛围，在世界科学界发挥更大作用。 关于比尔及梅琳达∙盖茨基金会 秉承所有生命价值平等的信念，比尔及梅琳达·盖茨基金会致力于帮助人们过上健康而富有成效的生活。在发展中国家，基金会主要致力于提高人民的健康水平，使他们有机会摆脱饥饿和极端贫困。在美国，基金会致力于确保所有人——特别是拥有资源最少的人——有机会在学习和生活中取得成功。基金会总部设在美国西雅图，在联席主席比尔·盖茨和梅琳达·弗兰奇·盖茨，以及理事会的指导下，由首席执行官马克·苏斯曼管理。 April 28, 2024, The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a joint program today to support the research and development of innovative vaccine technologies, with the aim to increase access and coverage of lifesaving vaccines across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that continue to be affected disproportionately by infectious and contagious diseases. The joint program is a part of the collaboration between the NSFC and the Gates Foundation in the fields of global health and development since 2021, which encourages more international collaboration on research and innovative solutions for global health and development issues. This year’s program calls for proposals on two areas: innovation of RNA vaccines and vaccine controlled-release delivery technologies, both will improve the accessibility of vaccines in LMICs. The development of RNA vaccine technologies came into focus during the pandemic for the fast speed at which RNA vaccines could be developed and proven safe and effective. Researchers around the world are continuing to explore the potential of RNA vaccines, hoping to use them to combat threats imposed by other deadly diseases, including AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. RNA vaccines, compared with traditional vaccines, are easier and faster to develop and manufacture. They could potentially help expand access to high-quality and effective vaccines across LMICs, hence addressing a crucial equity gap in global health. More specifically, the proposals of the program should focus on improving the durability and efficacy of vaccine responses with optimized RNA based technical platforms for better applications in LMICs. Innovation in vaccine delivery technologies could help further improve vaccine accessibility and coverage. Unlike injection with a syringe, microneedle patches (MAPs) allow the vaccine to be delivered into the skin, removing the need for complicated cold-chain transportation of the vaccines or trained medical personnel for the administration. They could be used to protect the hardest groups to reach via conventional vaccination methods. Vaccine controlled-release technologies can further enable vaccine delivery, such as reducing multiple-dose immunization to a single dose by releasing antigens in a programmable manner, optimizing antigenic immunity by slowly and continuously releasing antigenic components, or encapsulating various antigenic components of a vaccine dose in their respective microenvironments to form a combination vaccine that can protect against a range of pathogens. “Global health needs our joint action,” said Mr. Lan Yujie, Vice President of the NSFC. “I look forward to more fruitful outcomes from Chinese researchers together with their foreign counterparts, both of whom will benefit from more collaboration.” “Continued innovation plays a critical role in accelerating access to better, newer lifesaving vaccines.” said Dr. Zhi-Jie Zheng, Director of the China Country Office at the Gates Foundation. “The foundation is committed to working with Chinese partners and supporting more such efforts as this joint program with the NSFC that will help reduce the infectious disease burden borne by LMICs.” The joint program will fund up to six proposals on vaccine innovation. Each proposal, if selected, will be granted up to RMB1,500,000 by the NSFC and USD200,000 by the Gates Foundation. Female researchers are highly encouraged to apply. More information about the joint program can be found here： https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab1356/info92495.htm About the National Natural Science Foundation of China Tasked with the administration of the National Natural Science Fund from the Central Government, NSFC is an institution managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) but keeping its due independence in operation. International collaboration has become a priority for NSFC. NSFC aims to advance research through international collaborations and cultivate a favorable environment for Chinese scientists to play a greater role in the global scientific community. About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.