November 21, 2025
Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB), in collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), organized a symposium titled “Accelerating Global Research Response: Partnerships, Innovation, and Preparedness” on 21 November 2025 at the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health (FNPH). The event was chaired by Dr. Kuenzang, Registrar, KGUMSB, and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, faculty members from KGUMSB, Doctors, nurses, technicians and international experts both in person and online.
The symposium began with a presentation by Mr. Tashi Dawa, Program Analyst, Communicable Disease Division, Ministry of Health, who shared Bhutan’s four decades of progress in immunization services and outlined future priorities for sustaining high coverage and introducing new vaccines.
Professor Florian Marks, Deputy Director General of IVI, highlighted the importance of vaccine research and global pandemic preparedness. He emphasized the introduction of a hub-and-spoke model to strengthen national and regional research ecosystems through innovative tools and technologies, enhanced institutional and laboratory capacities, and rapid evidence generation during health emergencies.
Professor George Hollander, Medical Director of the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE), presented a proposal for collaborative research titled “Infant Immune Profiling and Tracking in Bhutan.” The study aims to characterize the immune system composition of Bhutanese infants, compare immune profiles with global cohorts, and assess immune responses to Bhutan’s vaccination schedule. The findings are expected to strengthen Bhutan’s research and health system capacity through infrastructure development, human resource training, and digital systems implementation. The evidence generated will help optimize immunization strategies, inform child health policies, and position Bhutan as a contributor to global pediatric immunology research.
Mr. Sonam Wangda, Research Scientist at IVI, provided insights on the historical overview of pandemics, their economic and social costs, and the rationale for preparedness. He emphasized the need to integrate research into routine health systems to enable emergency evidence generation and ensure effective responses to outbreaks.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks by Mr. Rixin Jamtsho, Director, MECRIT, KGUMSB, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of all participants.
The symposium successfully convened national and international experts to accelerate global research readiness by bringing together expertise, resources, and innovation to enhance research responsiveness. It is expected to benefit health policymakers, professionals, and academic institutions by fostering collaboration, innovation and capacity building in vaccine research and immunology.
High-Level Meeting Outcomes
Earlier in the day, a high-level meeting chaired by the Hon’ble Minister endorsed the IMPRINT-B research proposal for joint implementation, the research proposal was well received and unanimously endorsed for joint implementation. The meeting reaffirmed Bhutan’s commitment to advancing research partnerships and strengthening preparedness for future health challenges. Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan | Facebook
