The I-MOVE+ Consortium includes European Union (EU) Public Health Institutes, SME and Universities. It aims at measuring and comparing the effectiveness (VE) and impact (VI) of influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines and vaccination strategies a in the elderly population in Europe. The goal is to develop a sustainable platform of primary care practices, hospitals and laboratory networks that share validated methods to evaluate post marketing vaccine performances. The objectives are to identify, pilot test, and disseminate in EU the best study designs to measure, on a real time basis, VE (direct effect) and the VI of vaccination programmes (indirect and overall effect) against laboratory confirmed cases of influenza (types/subtypes) and pneumococcal disease (serotypes), and clinical outcomes. Cost effectiveness analysis will be conducted. Results will allow to understand factors affecting specific VE, the duration of protection of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, the interaction between vaccines, the role of repeated vaccinations, the occurrence of serotype replacement (pneumococcus); identify vaccine types and brands with low VE; guide the decision of the WHO committees on vaccine strain selection (influenza); provide robust benefit indicators (VE and VI) and cost benefit and effectiveness results; guide vaccination strategies (schedules, doses, boosters). This EU member state collaboration will respond to questions that require studies based on large sample sizes and sharing of expertise that cannot be achieved by one country alone. It will allow the best methods to be used and results to benefit to all EU countries whatever their current public health achievements. Results will be shared with international partners.

Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Currently, all commercially available blood bags are manufactured using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and a plasticizer called Di (2-ethylyhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is classified as a reproductive toxin and is listed in the Reach candidate list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). DEHP-PVC bags are affecting our environment and our health adversely. 1. Through this 24 months FTI project Ducit Medical, Ireland along with our development partners Global Polymer Consulting, Ireland , Keifel Technologies Germany and Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service Scotland are developing a complete blood pack system ‘ACORN-BP’ which is PVC and DEHP free, thereby, reducing the threat posed by DEHP and which has no detrimental effect on the storage of red blood cells up to 42 days storage stability in-line with European Council guidelines. Once developed and accredited, ACORN-BP will be commercialised as a direct replacement of PVC-DEHP bags. Using the direct sales force model, we will target capturing 10.9% of the global PVC-DEHP blood pack market through a cumulative sales of €216 million in the first five years, with a cumulative net profit of ~€65.60 million across the consortium. The ROI against total project costs of €3.53 million is ~18:1.

I-MOVE-COVID-19 aims to obtain epidemiological, clinical and virological information about COVID-19 and patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, through provision of a flexible surveillance platform (adaptable to the epidemiological situation), research studies, hypothesis-testing and evaluation of public health interventions (e.g. vaccination, antivirals) in order to contribute to the knowledge base, guide patient management, and inform the public health response. This will be achieved through adaptation and expansion of the existing, long-running, Europe-wide influenza surveillance network (I-MOVE) to include COVID-19. The network includes primary care networks, hospitals, national laboratory reference centres in ten countries. I-MOVE-COVID-19 priority activities and research projects will be selected based on ECDC/WHO input and the proposal’s detailed list. These will be conducted by mobilising an existing large European multidisciplinary network, combining the expertise and resources of groups working in surveillance (epidemiological, clinical, virological), respiratory disease research, and evaluation of vaccines/treatments. Through protocol sharing and pooling European results, questions will be answered which could not be efficiently answered by countries acting alone. I-MOVE-COVID-19 will share study results rapidly and widely with national and international partners and with the wider scientific community and contribute to clinical management of patients and public health preparedness and response to COVID-19.