Team Science and Accelerated Vaccine Introduction in Cuba: A View from the Pneumococcal Project.

Abstract

The process of research and evaluation of new products and technologies requires a combination of transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological approaches for managing and achieving objectives. The research, development and evaluation strategy of the new Cuban pneumococcal vaccine combines the approaches of team science and accelerated vaccine introduction. These frameworks are proposed for discussions regarding biotech product evaluation, using their application to the Pneumococcus Project as an example. Emphasis is on the use of team science to eliminate obstacles to obtaining a product of great scientific and technological complexity while establishing robust scientific evidence to support its use and marketing. All of this is in support of opportune and efficient decisions for accelerated introduction of new vaccines in Cuba. Translated from Spanish and reprinted with permission from Revista Cubana de Salud Publica Vol 44 No 2, Apr–Jun 2018. Original available from: http://www.revsaludpublica.sld.cu/index.php/spu/article/view/1065