Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has launched a new 'Call for Proposals' to improve the thermostability of vaccines against known epidemic and pandemic diseases like Ebola, Lassa fever, MERS, as well as COVID-19 or a novel Disease X. The aim of the Call is to minimise the need for complex cold-chain requirements in order to improve global access to vaccines and, in turn, reduce potential vaccine wastage.

Technologies must be applicable to current or future vaccines and accessible to low- and middle-income countries, and the innovation should not affect other key vaccine criteria such as costs, capacity, and ease of use.

CEPI is particularly interested in hearing from vaccine developers and tech companies with new or existing innovations that could support the development of one or more infectious disease vaccines that are both heat-stable and freeze-stable.