Alan DT Barrett, PhD
Director
John Sealy Distinguished University Chair in Vaccinology
Vaccination has proven to be the most effective global strategy for prevention of infectious diseases. Vaccinology, the rapidly evolving science of vaccines, holds great promise in making major contributions to the further improvement of human health.
UTMB established the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development (SCVD) to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations in the areas of research, development, policy, and education, and has become one of the most comprehensive vaccine centers in the United
States. Based on the success of the SCVD, UTMB promoted the Center to Institute status with the approval of the University of Texas system.
The Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences (SIVS) was inaugurated in January 2018. The institute will continue to provide academic leadership at UTMB for the research, development and use of vaccines by further enhancing the international reputation of
vaccine sciences at UTMB and creating an environment where scientists can take their ideas from discovery into the development phase as part of our efforts to promote health and well-being.
Highlights of our vaccine activities include the following:
- Our Clinical Trials Program was established
in 2002 and has undertaken over 63 clinical trials from phase I through phase 4 involving studies in neonates, children, adults, and senior citizens.
- Our preclinical studies have resulted in the establishment in 2010 of the Institutional Office of Regulated Nonclinical Studies.
- In 2014, we were designated the World
Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHO CC) for Vaccine Research,
Evaluation, and Training on Emerging Infectious Diseases, one of seven WHO CC for vaccines in the world.
- In 2016, we collaborated with Nature Research Journals, launched a new vaccines journal entitled npj Vaccines, which is rapidly establishing a reputation for publishing high quality vaccine papers.
- In 2018, we partnered with Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine (HPTM) graduate program to establish a Vaccinology Track for graduate students who want to become experts in the translational pathway for vaccine research, development
and implementation.