Flexible Immunity Assessment (FIA)
Building sustainable approaches for monitoring population immunity to measles, vaccine-preventable diseases and emerging infections
Contact UsFlexible Immunity Assessment
The Flexible Immunity Assessment (FIA) study is a collaborative research initiative involving Macha Research Trust, the Tropical Diseases Research Centre (TDRC) and Johns Hopkins University.
The study uses convenience samples as an approach for developing a feasible and sustainable system for monitoring immunity to measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The platform can also support monitoring of immunity and exposure related to emerging infections, providing valuable information for public health surveillance and research.
Monitor Immunity
Develop approaches for monitoring population immunity to measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Support Surveillance
Generate information that can contribute to public health surveillance and understanding of immunity patterns.
Build Sustainable Systems
Explore practical and sustainable approaches that can support ongoing immunity monitoring.
Understanding Population Immunity
FIA provides a research platform for examining immunity to important vaccine-preventable diseases and emerging infections.
Measles Immunity
Monitoring immunity to measles can provide important information for understanding population protection and public health needs.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
The approach can support assessment of immunity to diseases that can be prevented through vaccination.
Emerging Infections
The flexible platform may also support research into immunity associated with emerging infectious diseases.
Convenience Samples
The study explores the use of convenience samples as a practical approach for immunity monitoring.
Population Surveillance
Data generated through the study can contribute to understanding immunity patterns within populations.
Public Health Evidence
Research findings can contribute to evidence used to understand vaccination and infectious disease challenges.
A Flexible Platform for Immunity Monitoring
FIA is designed around a flexible approach that can be adapted to address changing public health questions.
Using convenience samples may provide a practical pathway for developing a sustainable system capable of supporting immunity monitoring beyond a single disease or outbreak.
Potential Applications
- Measles immunity monitoring
- Vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
- Emerging infection research
- Population immunity assessment
- Public health research
Collaborative Research
FIA brings together research expertise from institutions working to strengthen infectious disease and public health research.
Macha Research Trust
Provides field-based research expertise and supports implementation of research activities in Zambia.
TDRC
Provides collaborative scientific and public health research expertise within Zambia.
Johns Hopkins University
Provides academic and research collaboration supporting the development and implementation of the study.
Supporting Better Infectious Disease Surveillance
Understanding population immunity is important for public health planning. Reliable information can help researchers and health programmes better understand susceptibility, protection and changing infectious disease risks.
FIA contributes to research exploring practical ways of generating this information in a sustainable manner.
Ethical and Responsible Research
Research involving biological samples and health information requires appropriate ethical and regulatory oversight. FIA activities are conducted in accordance with applicable research ethics and regulatory requirements.
Research Ethics & GovernanceResearch Publications
Research findings generated through FIA and related infectious disease studies can contribute to scientific knowledge and public health evidence.
Interested in Infectious Disease Research?
We welcome opportunities for scientific collaboration, research partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Contact Macha Research Trust