VALID8?

The VALIDATE Network is a growing global community of vaccine researchers developing vaccines against three pathogen groups: Mycobacteria (which cause diseases including TB, leprosy, and buruli ulcer), Leishmania species (leishmaniasis), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis). In VALID8? we will, through 8 short questions, delve into the research interests of our members and find out what they do and why their research is so important.

1,000th VALIDATE Member Special VALID8 Interviews

To mark the milestone of reaching 1,000 members worldwide, we invited members from across the VALIDATE Network to take part in a special edition of our VALID8 interview series. These short reflections highlight the breadth of our global community, the science our members are working on, and the value of collaboration in advancing vaccine research for neglected and complex pathogens.

The Special Questions are:

  1. What do you do / what do you research?
  2. What drew you to studying vaccines?
  3. How has VALIDATE shaped your work or career and research so far?
  4. What's your favourite memory or moment from your time with VALIDATE?
  5. What do you value most about being connected to 1,000 researchers across 80+ countries?
  6. What advice would you give to the 1,000th VALIDATE member joining today?
  7. What excites you most about the future of VALIDATE?
  8. Describe VALIDATE in one word.
Cristian at the VALIDATE Early Career Researcher Workshop in 2024

Behind the scenes with Dr Cristian Segura-Cerda

Millicent presenting her poster at the at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Millicent Lamptey

Nastassja (left), winning the best poster award at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Nastassja Kriel

Paula presenting her VALIDATE funded research at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Paula Niewold

Pia at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Pia Steigler

Rachel in Bangkok at the Annual Meeting 2024

Behind the scenes with Dr Rachel Okojie

Tuhina's professional headshot taken by the official photographer at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Tuhina-Gupta

Zimvo at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Zimvo-Obasa

Sam taking part in the popular networking exercise at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Prof Sam Sampson

The Original Interviews

The Questions

  1. What do you do/what do you research?
  2. ​​​​What do you tell non-scientists you do?
  3. What drew you to studying vaccines?
  4. Why is your work important and what could your work lead to?
  5. What is the most interesting thing you have learned in your job?
  6. What is the best part of your job?
  7. What is the most challenging part of your job or research?
  8. Why are vaccines important?
Assoc Prof Burtnick - BSL 3 Lab
Wynand Goosen

Some of our members also submitted photographs of their day-to-day life as a researcher!

You can find all our VALID8 interviews below. This is an ongoing series so check back regularly and follow us on X/Twitter. If you are a member and wish to participate in VALID8, you can email your answers to the above question to VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk with the subject 'VALID8'.

Assoc Prof Burtnick - BSL 3 Lab

Behind the scenes with Associate Professor Mary Burtnick

Camila Freitas

Behind the scenes with Dr Camila Freitas

Chyntia Carolina Diaz Acosta

Behind the scenes with Dr Chyntia Carolina Díaz Acosta

Cristian at the VALIDATE Early Career Researcher Workshop in 2024

Behind the scenes with Dr Cristian Segura-Cerda

Fabiana Bigi

Behind the scenes with Dr Fabiana Bigi

Hua Wang

Behind the scenes with Dr Hua Wang

Lydia Mosi

Behind the scenes with Dr Lydia Mosi

Millicent presenting her poster at the at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Millicent Lamptey

Monde Muyoyeta

Behind the scenes with Dr Monde Muyoyeta

Nastassja (left), winning the best poster award at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Nastassja Kriel

Olayinka Osuolale

Behind the scenes with Dr Olayinka Osuolale

Paul Brett

Behind the scenes with Dr Paul Brett

Paula presenting her VALIDATE funded research at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Paula Niewold

Pia at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Pia Steigler

Rachel in Bangkok at the Annual Meeting 2024

Behind the scenes with Dr Rachel Okojie

Thao-Thy Pham

Behind the scenes with Dr Thao-Thy Pham

Tuhina's professional headshot taken by the official photographer at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Tuhina-Gupta

Wynand Goosen

Behind the scenes with Dr Wynand Goosen

Zimvo at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Dr Zimvo-Obasa

Moagi Shaku

Behind the scenes with Moagi Shaku

Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos

Behind the scenes with Prof Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos

Helen McShane

Behind the scenes with Prof Helen McShane

Manabu Ato

Behind the scenes with Prof Manabu Ato

Samantha Sampson

Behind the scenes with Prof Sam Sampson

Sam taking part in the popular networking exercise at the VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2025

Behind the scenes with Prof Sam Sampson

Walderez Dutra

Behind the scenes with Prof Walderez Dutra

Eduardo Coelho

Behind the Scenes with Professor Eduardo Coelho