Vaccine Technology

**REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS**:
**Vaccine Technology & Product Expert Consultant**

**Location**:_ Geneva, Switzerland or remote_

**Type of assignment**:_Consultancy / Independent Contractor _

**BACKGROUND**:
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a non-profit organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is dedicated to improving global access to essential medicines through voluntary licensing and technology transfer.

Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with WHO, civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders, to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. In addition, MPP is co-leading with WHO the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, which is a global initiative that aims to improve health and health security by establishing sustainable, locally owned mRNA manufacturing capabilities in and for low
- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Programme is based around a multi-lateral technology transfer model where a Consortium, located in South Africa, will provide the technology development, training and technology transfer. Currently, 15 Programme Partners in LMICs across the world are receiving training and technology through the Programme and will then produce and sell products commercially. Its core concept is empowerment. Initially, the Programme is focusing on mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, used as a proof-of-concept pathogen to demonstrate safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the platform. However, the Programme is designed to encourage the development of other mRNA vaccines and therapeutics against important diseases that threaten LMICs, thereby ensuring the capacity built by the project is sustained and available to combat the next pandemic. One of the key principles of the Programme is to support access to innovation and technology; and thereby encouraging mRNA technology/vaccines developers to share knowledge and expertise via streamlined research collaboration(s) and/or technology transfer(s) is of significant importance. Both early stage and approved mRNA technology(ies) to offer the broadest and most appropriate fit for LMICs are considered.

Activities related to monitoring and analysis of intellectual property related documentation (e.g., publications, patents) remain of paramount importance not only to guide the different research streams within the frame of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, but also to identify products and technologies with scientific and commercial value that might be of interest for in-licensing to Programme Partners.

**THE ROLE**:
MPP is seeking an experience consultant who in collaboration with MPP wider team will:

- identify new patents and publications
- assess their scientific and commercial value
- evaluate the selected products and technologies for in-licensing

**REQUIRED PROFILE**:

- Degree in relevant biomedical field required (M.Sc or Ph.D.)
- Hands on experience in vaccines/therapeutics is a must with demonstrated knowledge in developing vaccines against disease targets, across multiple platforms such as mRNA, viral vectors, VLPs, and subunit proteins.
- Ideally experience spanning through the product life cycle from R&D to market authorisation, including regulatory aspects of product authorisation and post authorisation activities.
- Experience in low
- middle
- income countries priority pathogens is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in planning and overseeing projects from start to finish with the capability to report project progress to variety of stakeholders, including third parties, such as investors, regulatory authorities, governmental bodies etc.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary team.
- Excellent communication skills, including professional/ scientific writing and ability to synthetise scientific information for scientific and non
- scientific audiences.
- Excellent command of / highly proficient in spoken and written English.
- High level of personal integrity
- Additional desired attributes encompass prior experience in/with LMICs, the ability to ‘effect change’, a creative and innovative mindset, strategic thinking paired with proficient problem-solving skills, collaborative nature, openness to new ideas, resilience, curiosity, adaptability, and expertise in risk assessment and mitigation.

**ACTIVITIES TO PERFORM**:

- Identification of mRNA-based products and mRNA technologies that might be of interest for in-licensing based on scientific and commercial evaluations (identification to be performed through analysis of literature data, data extracted from the mRNA Beacon database, analysis of patents identified through a patent monitoring exercise performed by the MPP IP department).
- Engagement in 1:1 discussion with African mRNA Technology Transfer Programme Partners and stakeholders with the objective to explore opportuni