Studies on mucosal application of vaccine candidates are not the subject of this application, but may be carried out in collaboration with another integrated project, designated MUVAPRED, that is funded within the FP6 poverty related disease programme. Connection with the European network of clinical trials platforms (EDCTP) is established, to facilitate the progress of successful vaccine candidates from this project into Phase II and III trials in TB-endemic countries.

In addition to these European initiatives, the difficulties attendant on testing TB-Vaccines in TB-endemic countries are sufficiently great that a truly international effort is needed.

To that end, several of the partners have already established or discussed collaborations with both American (AERAS, Gates Foundation and NIH) and international organisations (WHO, GAVI, IUATLD, IVF) with interest and expertise in TB-Vaccine development. Some of these groups have acknowledged expertise in relevant areas (for example, WHO with regard to ethical questions regarding clinical work in a developing country setting), while others have significant resources (financial resources, infrastructure or expertise). It is proposed that the management group establishes formal links with those groups most relevant to the TB-Vaccine initiative and initiate regular discussions. In some cases, this will involve scientific exchange (for example, it is anticipated that WHO and IUATLD will participate in the scientific meetings organised by the TBETHICS accompanying action), while discussions on resource allocation might be more appropriate to a management forum.