On May 7, 2026, the Early Career Researchers (ECR) Network of the Working Group on New TB Vaccines (WGNV) hosted an online discussion on Progress and Opportunities in TB Vaccine Clinical Research. The session brought together early career researchers, students, clinicians, and members of the global tuberculosis research community for an engaging discussion on the current landscape of TB vaccine development, challenges in clinical trial implementation, and future opportunities within the field. Elana Van Brakel (IAVI, South Africa) shared insights from her experience leading and supporting TB vaccine clinical development programs. The session was moderated by ECR Network Co-Chair Paul Ogongo (University of California San Francisco, USA), who introduced participants to the mission of the WGNV and the activities of its growing ECR Network.
Opening the session, Paul Ogongo welcomed participants from different regions and emphasized the importance of creating supportive spaces where early career researchers can engage with leaders in the field, build professional connections, and contribute meaningfully to global TB vaccine research efforts. He highlighted the broader mission of the WGNV, which focuses on facilitating the research and development of new vaccines to prevent TB infection, disease, and recurrence through scientific exchange, collaboration, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Paul also described the ECR Network as an informal but highly active community for students and researchers who are within ten years of completing their latest degree. While the network aims to foster a relaxed and welcoming environment, its activities focus on serious scientific and professional discussions relevant to TB vaccine research and development. The network organizes virtual networking sessions, workshops, online discussions, and resource-sharing opportunities aimed at supporting researchers entering the TB field.
Overview of the TB Vaccine Clinical Pipeline
Dr. Van Brakel began her presentation with a broad overview of the global TB vaccine clinical pipeline. She explained that although many vaccine candidates remain in preclinical development, there are currently only nine vaccine candidates actively being evaluated in clinical trials. She noted that the diversity of vaccine platforms being explored demonstrates both scientific innovation and the urgency of developing more effective vaccines against tuberculosis. Using the current clinical pipeline as a framework, Elana discussed the range of vaccine technologies under investigation, including protein-adjuvanted or subunit vaccines and live attenuated vaccines. Among the leading candidates highlighted was the M72/AS01E vaccine candidate, currently undergoing a Phase 3 efficacy trial and widely regarded as one of the most advanced TB vaccine candidates in recent years.
She also discussed MTBVAC, a live attenuated vaccine candidate currently being evaluated in a Phase 2B proof-of-concept efficacy trial among adolescents and adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Elana described MTBVAC as a very promising candidate in the pipeline and explained that her work at IAVI involves supporting its clinical development.
An interesting point raised during the presentation was that MTBVAC’s infant development pathway is currently more advanced than its adolescent and adult program, with the vaccine already being evaluated in a Phase 3 infant trial as a BCG-replacement vaccine while efficacy studies in adolescents and adults continue in parallel.
Challenges in Clinical Development
The discussion explored several scientific, logistical, and regulatory challenges associated with TB vaccine clinical research. During the question-and-answer session, participants raised questions about why TB vaccine development often takes many years and what factors influence the pace of clinical progress.
Elana explained that vaccine development timelines are shaped by multiple factors, including the vaccine platform itself, safety requirements, regulatory pathways, and funding availability. Live attenuated vaccines, for example, typically require additional safety considerations and extensive monitoring during clinical evaluation. Funding emerged as one of the major themes of the discussion. Elana noted that even early-stage clinical trials require substantial investment, while large efficacy trials involving thousands of participants can become extraordinarily expensive. She explained that many TB vaccine trials depend on support from multiple philanthropic organizations, global health partners, and funding agencies working together to sustain research efforts.
The session also highlighted the growing importance of innovative clinical trial designs and more efficient regulatory approaches. According to Elana, the field increasingly recognizes the need to accelerate vaccine development while maintaining scientific rigor and participant safety. Improving efficiency in trial implementation, reducing unnecessary delays, and optimizing resource use will be critical for advancing future TB vaccines more rapidly.
Looking Beyond a Single Vaccine Candidate
One particularly thought-provoking moment during the discussion came when a participant asked what the future of other TB vaccine candidates and the researchers working on them would be if the MTBVAC/ M72/AS01E vaccine proves successful in current trials.
Elana responded by emphasizing that success for one vaccine candidate would not signal the end of TB vaccine research. Instead, it would likely represent the beginning of a new phase focused on optimization, improvement, and addressing remaining gaps in protection and implementation. She explained that even if a vaccine demonstrates efficacy, important questions will still remain regarding durability of protection, effectiveness across different populations, accessibility, affordability, and integration into existing immunization strategies. The discussion highlighted that multiple vaccine approaches may still be necessary to address the complexity of tuberculosis globally. Different vaccine platforms may offer advantages for different age groups, geographic settings, or stages of infection. In this context, continued research on alternative vaccine candidates remains highly valuable.
The exchange also served as an encouraging reminder for early career researchers that progress in the field creates new opportunities rather than eliminating them. Advancing one successful vaccine candidate could generate additional scientific questions, implementation challenges, and opportunities for innovation across basic science, translational research, clinical trials, epidemiology, and policy.
Opportunities for Early Career Researchers
Another key theme throughout the session was the importance of supporting the next generation of TB researchers. Elana encouraged participants to actively engage with the global TB research community, build collaborations, and seek mentorship opportunities aligned with their interests. She emphasized that networking and relationship-building are essential parts of career development in global health research and encouraged participants to reach out to scientists whose work inspires them, and also offered to connect interested participants with researchers working in relevant areas of TB vaccine development, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that characterized the event.
Toward the conclusion of the session, Paul Ogongo introduced participants to the WGNV Online Community platform, which provides dedicated spaces for networking, literature sharing, online discussions, and engagement with the wider TB vaccine research community. Participants were encouraged to remain active within the network and continue taking advantage of future ECR opportunities. The event concluded with appreciation to Elana for sharing her expertise and experiences, along with encouragement for early career researchers to continue contributing to the future of TB vaccine development. Overall, the session provided valuable scientific insights while also reinforcing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustained investment in the global effort to develop better TB vaccines.
The slides and video are available on the WGNV Community online platform, and we encourage people to continue the discussion through comments and posts there.
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