PATH and the International Enteric Vaccine Consortium (EntVac) announced a new partnership for early-stage research into a vaccine concept against enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), described as one of the leading bacterial causes of diarrheal disease. PATH will fund EntVac, a consortium of universities anchored by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, to pursue preclinical proof of concept of a stable toxin (ST) toxoid vaccine. PATH said such a vaccine “offers the prospect of broad protection against ETEC, but requires additional research and evaluation.” PATH will provide funding of US$1.1 million over 2.5 years for the research effort. ETEC is responsible for up to 840 million infections and approximately 400,000 deaths worldwide each year, mostly in children in developing countries. The research will be conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development, the University of Bergen, the University of South Dakota, and Tulane University. The Research Council of Norway is also funding the EntVac consortium for this research project.

http://www.path.org/news/pr100326-entvac.php