國家自然科學基金委和蓋茨基金會聯合資助促進疫苗技術創新

2024年4月28日，中國國家自然科學基金委員會（以下簡稱“自然科學基金委”）和比爾及梅琳達·蓋茨基金會（以下簡稱“蓋茨基金會”）宣布發起聯合資助項目，旨在支援疫苗創新技術的研發，以擴大疫苗的可及性和覆寫率，幫助中低收入國家應對傳染性疾病和感染性疾病造成的嚴重挑戰，挽救更多生命。

此次聯合資助項目是自然科學基金委與蓋茨基金會自2021年以來在全球健康和發展領域合作的延續，旨在通過推動國際合作，促進重點領域的研究和創新。今年的項目将重點資助兩個領域的研究：可提高疫苗在中低收入國家市場可及性的RNA疫苗創新技術和疫苗控釋遞送技術。

RNA疫苗的研發在新冠疫情期間受到廣泛關注，它不僅研發速度快，其安全性和有效性也得到了驗證。目前，研究人員正在繼續挖掘RNA疫苗的潛力，希望将其用于對抗艾滋病、結核病、瘧疾等其他威脅生命的緻命疾病。與傳統疫苗相比，RNA疫苗的開發和制造都更為簡單迅速，将有望幫助中低收入國家獲得高品質且有效的疫苗，解決全球健康領域的重大不平等問題。具體而言，申請該項目的方案應聚焦于如何通過優化RNA為基礎的疫苗技術平台，提高疫苗的保護效力和保護時間，使其更加适用于在中低收入國家市場的應用。

疫苗遞送的創新可以幫助進一步提高疫苗可及性和覆寫率。例如，疫苗微針貼片無需複雜的冷鍊運輸或訓練有素的醫務人員即可通過皮膚完成疫苗接種，這有助于保護正常疫苗接種方式最難觸及的群體，而疫苗控釋技術可進一步賦能疫苗遞送，如通過分步釋放抗原，讓多次免疫接種減少為單次接種；通過緩慢持續釋放抗原成分，增強和優化抗原免疫效果；或将一劑疫苗中的不同抗原組分封裝于其各自适合的微環境，進而制備成可預防多種病原的聯合疫苗，等等。

自然科學基金委副主任蘭玉傑表示：“全球健康需要我們共同行動。我期待看到中國研究人員與國際同行并肩取得更加豐碩的成果，相信雙方都将從合作中受益。”

蓋茨基金會北京代表處首席代表鄭志傑博士表示：“持續創新對加快提供更高品質、更新型的疫苗來挽救更多生命至關重要。蓋茨基金會将一如既往地與更多中國夥伴合作，并為此次聯合項目以及其他類似項目提供支援，幫助減輕中低收入國家的傳染病負擔。”

此次聯合項目将最多資助六個疫苗創新方案。每個入選的研究方案将獲得自然科學基金委不高于150萬人民币和蓋茨基金會不高于20萬美元的資助。本項目特别鼓勵女性科研人員申請。如需了解關于聯合資助項目的更多資訊，請點選此處：https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab1356/info92495.htm

關于中國國家自然科學基金委員會

中國國家自然科學基金委員會是由科學技術部管理，依法管理國家自然科學基金，相對獨立運作的機構。自然科學基金委将國際合作作為優先事項，緻力于通過國際合作推動科研進步，為中國科學家營造有利氛圍，在世界科學界發揮更大作用。

關于比爾及梅琳達∙蓋茨基金會

秉承所有生命價值平等的信念，比爾及梅琳達·蓋茨基金會緻力于幫助人們過上健康而富有成效的生活。在開發中國家，基金會主要緻力于提高人民的健康水準，使他們有機會擺脫饑餓和極端貧困。在美國，基金會緻力于確定所有人——特别是擁有資源最少的人——有機會在學習和生活中取得成功。基金會總部設在美國西雅圖，在聯席主席比爾·蓋茨和梅琳達·弗蘭奇·蓋茨，以及理事會的指導下，由首席執行官馬克·蘇斯曼管理。

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.