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Global coalition launched to protect against epidemics
vaccine
CEPI aims to lessen the amount of time it takes to develop new vaccines.
Project aims to reduce time it takes to develop new vaccines

A new global partnership to prevent epidemics with vaccines has launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) seeks to outsmart emerging infectious diseases by developing safe and effective vaccines before they emerge.

The project is funded by the governments of Germany, Norway, Japan, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

“Ebola and Zika showed that the world is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics. Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat,” said Bill Gates, chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new ‘unknown’ diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences. CEPI is a great example of how supporting innovation and R&D can help the world to address some of its most pressing health challenges.”

CEPI also aims to lessen the amount of time it takes to develop new vaccines by capitalising on developments in adaptable vaccine technology and investing in facilities that could respond quickly to previously unknown pathogens.

So far, the partnership has already raised half of the $1bn it needs for its first five years. It is now calling on researchers and companies around the world to support the development of the development of vaccines against its first target diseases.

To start, CEPI will target the MERS-CoV, Lassa and Nipah viruses. It aims to develop two promising vaccine candidates against each of these diseases before they cause serious epidemics.

CEPI will also look for potential support for vaccines against the various strains of Zika, Ebola ad Marburg viruses.

“We know from Ebola, Zika and SARS that epidemics are among the significant threats we face to life, health and prosperity,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust.

“Vaccines can protect us, but we’ve done too little to develop them as an insurance policy. CEPI is our chance to learn the lessons of recent tragedies, and outsmart epidemics with new vaccine defences. If others join us in supporting CEPI, we can realise our goal of creating a safer world.” 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.