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Qualifications
Purpose of consultancy
Contribute to developing medical countermeasures under the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics.
Background
The R&D Blueprint for epidemics is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics. Its aim is to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crises.
Information on the activities can be found hereย Blueprint (who.int).
At the core of its efforts lies the concept of 'Pathogen Prioritization' to target medical countermeasure research on pathogens that have the greatest risk of causing a future epidemic, pandemic or PHEIC. In November 2022, the WHO launched a new global Pathogen Prioritization effort that involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries who reviewed evidence across 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, totalling 1,652 pathogens. On 9-10 May 2024, a Pathogen Prioritization meeting was organized served as the culmination of the process and provided an opportunity to finalize the prioritization results and develop a strategy for the future. The new strategy was presented at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 in Rio de Janeiro (Report) (Press Release). It advocates a broad-based approach, emphasizing research across all pathogen families, regardless of their current pandemic potential. This comprehensive strategy aims to reduce the risk of overlooking emerging pathogens that may evade existing surveillance systems. By prioritizing research at the family level rather than focusing on individual pathogens, we are better equipped to respond to unforeseen variants, zoonotic transmissions, and unknown threats, ensuring that research efforts are more agile and comprehensive.
To implement this new scientific framework, WHO is partnering with global research institutions to establish CORCs for each pathogen family. Each consortium will be anchored by a WHO Collaborating Centre that will serve as the research hub. CORCs will include researchers, developers, funders, regulators, and trial experts to foster collaboration and promote equitable participationโespecially from regions where these pathogens are known or likely to circulate. This decentralized structure ensures representation from high-, middle-, and low-income countries, enhancing the global response to emerging health threats.
Deliverables
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Preclinical development of vaccines and therapeutics:ย
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Understand virus pathogenesis, host immune responses and transmission
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Design preclinical models for testing of vaccines and therapeutics
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Provide recommendations on preclinical data of vaccine candidates
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Coordinate global preclinical research to avoid duplication of efforts
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Design and standardize immune assays to evaluate vaccine and natural immunity
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Develop research roadmaps for blueprint virus families
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Contribute to vaccine trials:
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Research design
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Data analysis
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential:
- Advanced university degree or higher in health medicine and science.
Desirable:
- Training in public health, research, and laboratory sciences.
Experience
Essential:
- ย At least 10 years of experience in immunology and animal model research and transmission of viruses, research involving animal models, zoonotic diseases.ย
Desirable:
- Good working experience in emergency/crisis setting.
Skills/Knowledge
Essential:
- Ability to design animal models studies for emerging pathogens
Desirable:
- Knowledge of assays to assess immunogenicity
Languages and level required
Essential:
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Expert knowledge of English
Desirable:
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Intermediate knowledge of Spanish or Frenchย
Locationย
Offsite: Home-basedย
Travelย
The consultant is expected to travel. ย
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
Remuneration
Band level C: USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited)
N/A
Expected duration of contract
11 months
Additional Information:
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.ย
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.ย
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int - An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
- WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
- WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to theย Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
- Please note that WHOโs contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
- In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates ย ย .
- Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
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- Knowledge of assays to assess immunogenicity
- Ability to design animal models studies for emerging pathogens
- Good working experience in emergency/crisis setting.
- ย At least 10 years of experience in immunology and animal model research and transmission of viruses, research involving animal models, zoonotic diseases.ย
- Training in public health, research, and laboratory sciences.
- Advanced university degree or higher in health medicine and science.
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