QU UNIGE UCAD Launch Advanced Course On Polio Vaccinology

• Qatar University (QU) launched the Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology (PVAC) 2025, in collaboration with the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), uniting 59 delegates from 30 countries.
• Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the five-day course aims to train new vaccinology experts and strengthen regional outbreak and immunisation response capacities.
• The initiative reinforces Qatar’s role as a regional hub for health education and global disease control, advancing the global mission for a polio-free world.

Qatar University (QU), with the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), successfully kicked off the Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology (PVAC) 2025, the first specialized course of its nature in the region. The five-day course unified 59 delegates from 30 African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries representing a new generation of global polio eradication professionals.

The program aims to develop a new generation of immunisation science leaders and specialists and reinforce national and regional competencies in outbreak response, vaccination policy, and disease control. The course is coordinated by QU, UCAD, and UNIGE, which hosts the ADVAC, one of the world's leading courses in vaccinology, and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

During five intense days, the attendees participated in 21 scientific lectures, 8 working group meetings, and 2 high-level expert panels. The curriculum included immunology, virology, outbreak response, crisis communication, vaccine development, and regulatory frameworks, with international experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, as well as top academic and research institutions providing leading discussions.

QU Vice President of Health and Medical Sciences Prof. Asma Al-Thani said, "I am proud that our institution is hosting the region's first Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology (PVAC). It reflects QU's mission to drive global health forward and promote scientific excellence. Through the convergence of top authorities and implementors of immunisation programs, we are all helping propel the ultimate push towards global eradication of polio and supporting our region's ability to confront infectious disease threats. This course is a scientific milestone and, in fact, a reassertion of QU's role as a health education and innovation leader."

On her side, QU dean of the College of Health Sciences and professor of public health Dr. Hanan Abdul Rahim added, "The removal of polio is one of mankind's biggest collective efforts in health. Establishing and maintaining the talent to achieve that takes strong and current scientific information, and a solid international community of trained, networked, and dedicated professionals". This spirit is also seen in the Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology. It provides learners with an in-depth learning experience that moves from initial theory through to practice in the field, with peer-to-peer collaboration to drive an ultimate goal: an end to polio. We at the College of Health Sciences are honored to be spearheading the hosting of the course from QU and collaborating with the UNIGE to join the cause towards a polio-free world. Our mission is to build national capacity and Qatar's increasing leadership in promoting global health.

Dr. Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi, director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Public Health, added, "The global struggle against polio is a Herculean task to rid the world of a devastating disease that has affected hundreds of thousands of lives. After decades of concerted effort, creative approaches, and unshakable commitment, global victory is within our grasp. The Qatar Ministry of Public Health is committed to realizing this vision. Community protection depends on careful watchfulness, long-term partnerships, and effective training and capacity building. Through advanced training and securing the competence of health workers across the globe, we help establish global polio prevention expertise. Through strengthening our health infrastructure and empowering frontline staff, we are actively contributing to efforts across the world towards a polio-free future".

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Prof. Abdulkarim Said Al-Makadma, dean of the College of Medicine, highlighted the cooperative nature of the program, "The Polio Vaccination and Certification (PVAC) program is not just a priority for global health but also a demonstration of what is possible when academic brilliance, medical innovation, and concerted action converge. At the College of Medicine, QU, we are convinced that the strength of science comes through partnership. With scientific leadership provided by CMED, this collaboration speaks volumes of our role in pushing knowledge forward, safeguarding communities, and shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders. Together, united, we are stronger, and together, we can assist in building a healthier, polio-free world".

Dr. Kamel Senouci, leader of the PVAC courses at the UNIGE, emphasized the global collaboration behind the program, "For more than 25 years, the UNIGE has led the way in vaccinology training globally, preparing experts around the world through its world-renowned ADVAC (Advanced Course of Vaccinology) program. With the world nearing the historic milestone of polio eradication, renewed commitment and expertise are needed to reach the last leg". It is in this vein that UNIGE is pleased to collaborate with QU, Doha and UCAD Dakar, Senegal, to increase opportunities for training health professionals in areas that are still plagued by polio.

Dr. Giridhara R. Babu, population medicine professor at QU's College of Medicine and PVAC's Scientific Director, said, "It is a humble privilege to be the Scientific Director of the PVAC, the first in our region, and under the leadership of QU. At a point when the global community is poised to eliminate polio, this program invests in emerging leaders in polio eradication, builds regional capacity, and broadens scientific expertise. We are at the threshold of history in attaining a polio-free world. PVAC represents a significant opportunity to build the capacity of nations and hasten progress towards this objective. The programme will yield lasting ripple effects and long-term impacts for generations to come, both in the Middle East and other polio-endemic and high-risk countries". 

The 2025 PVAC represents a turning point in global health training, which showcases Qatar's increasing position as a regional center for scientific expertise and health capacity development. With this effort, QU continues to drive national and international cooperation toward a world free of polio.