Proceedings of the Conference "CMV Vaccine Development-How Close Are We?" (27-28 September 2023)

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the primary infectious cause of developmental disabilities in children, notably sensorineural hearing loss.
• Developing a pre-conception vaccine is a priority to protect women of childbearing age and reduce the cCMV disease burden.
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccination also holds potential benefits for immunocompromised populations, such as solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients.

Framework:

• A workshop convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) focused on CMV vaccine development.
• Discussions encompassed critical aspects of CMV vaccinology, including correlates of protective immunity, epidemiological patterns of CMV transmission, and emerging vaccine platforms.
• The workshop facilitated collaboration among experts from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and governmental research institutions.

Implementation:

• The workshop reviewed the current landscape of CMV vaccines in clinical development.
• Presentations and discussions aimed to identify challenges and opportunities in advancing CMV vaccine candidates.
• The goal is to accelerate the availability of effective CMV vaccines.

Implications:

• Successful CMV vaccine development could significantly decrease the incidence of cCMV infections and associated disabilities.
• Vaccination strategies may offer protection against CMV disease in vulnerable transplant populations.
• This collaborative effort advances the scientific understanding and strategic development of CMV vaccines.