The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has joined a £3.7 million international consortium that will develop and validate advanced technologies capable of detecting degraded, substandard and falsified vaccines before they reach patients.
The three-year research initiative is funded by the United Kingdom's Medical Research Council (MRC) Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme and is expected to significantly enhance vaccine quality surveillance, particularly in countries where maintaining the integrity of vaccine supply chains remains a major public health priority.
The project is being led by the University of Oxford through its Medicine Quality Research Group and brings together a network of globally recognised institutions. They include NAFDAC, Obafemi Awolowo University, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the University of East London and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Thailand.
For Nigeria, the collaboration is expected to strengthen post-marketing vaccine surveillance by assessing innovative screening devices, expanding routine laboratory testing of vaccine batches before distribution and conducting health economics studies to determine the most effective and affordable approaches to vaccine quality monitoring.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described the partnership as another step in the agency's drive to protect public health through scientific innovation and international cooperation.
According to her, the initiative will not only strengthen Nigeria's regulatory systems but also provide scientific evidence to support the deployment of rapid screening technologies capable of verifying vaccine quality across every stage of the supply chain.
"This initiative aligns with NAFDAC's commitment to protecting public health through science-driven regulation, innovation and international collaboration, while reinforcing public confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of vaccines," she said.
The latest project builds on the achievements of the Vaccine Identity Evaluation (VIE) Consortium, which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to address the growing global challenge of falsified, degraded and substandard vaccines.
Earlier studies conducted by the University of Oxford's Medicine Quality Research Group successfully adapted advanced scientific techniques capable of identifying compromised vaccines within supply chains. The new phase of the research will further improve those technologies before testing them under conditions that closely reflect routine vaccine distribution systems in Nigeria.
As one of the key partners, NAFDAC will play a central role in implementing vaccine quality surveillance activities across the country. The agency will also generate scientific evidence to support regulatory decisions while strengthening Nigeria's immunisation programme through improved oversight of vaccine quality.
The partnership comes at a time when global health authorities are placing greater emphasis on securing vaccine supply chains amid increasing concerns over counterfeit medical products. Experts believe stronger quality assurance systems are essential to sustaining public confidence in vaccination programmes and ensuring that only safe and effective vaccines reach healthcare facilities.
In addition to laboratory-based testing, the research will evaluate the economic value of different vaccine screening technologies. The findings are expected to help regulators identify the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective methods for nationwide implementation.
Beyond Nigeria, the outcome of the project could influence vaccine quality assurance strategies across other low- and middle-income countries facing similar regulatory and public health challenges. Researchers believe the evidence generated will support the adoption of innovative technologies capable of verifying vaccine quality at different points within the supply chain, strengthening immunisation programmes, improving regulatory oversight and boosting public trust in vaccines.