International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN)

A network of over 1,900 veterinary vaccine researchers from 93 countries is working to develop vaccines for livestock and zoonotic diseases that devastate low- and middle-income countries. This matters because diseases like Rift Valley fever, African swine fever, and brucellosis kill millions of animals and sicken people each year, yet the vaccines that could prevent them often remain undeveloped because the researchers who study these diseases are scattered across continents and lack the funding, training, and industry connections needed to move a candidate from lab bench to field trial. The International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN), based at The Roslin Institute, fills that gap by connecting scientists with each other, with industry partners, and with funding opportunities. If the network succeeds, the impact will be felt in rural communities where livestock are both food and income. Better vaccines mean fewer animal deaths, reduced zoonotic disease transmission to humans, and stronger local economies. The network also trains early-career researchers and promotes gender balance in a field where women remain underrepresented. This is not fundamental science—it is an infrastructure project designed to accelerate the translation of existing research into usable vaccines.