23 Mar Project to improve flu vaccines celebrates 2 clinical trials, 15 publications at final meeting

Counting two clinical trials, 15 scientific papers, and two PhD degrees (one awarded with honours), the INDIGO project had much to celebrate at its final consortium meeting in February 2026.

Jointly funded by the European Commission and India’s Department of Biotechnology, INDIGO aimed to develop seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines that are more economical and effective. By testing a new adjuvant (the substance that improves someone’s immune response to an antigen), the project showed it reduces the cost of a flu vaccine, while preserving its efficiency.

“With this adjuvant, you only need a fifth of the usual dose,” explained INDIGO’s principal investigator, Dr. Elly van Riet. “That means the vaccine can be manufactured for a quarter of the usual price, on estimate.”

The INDIGO team from 17 partner institutes gathered in Ghent, Belgium, for three days to reflect on the project and plan future activities and collaborations. On the final day, they visited Ghent University’s clinical trial unit and laboratories where the trials were conducted.

“It is a remarkable achievement to complete two clinical trials during a research project,” said Prof. Constance Schultsz, scientific director of the project’s coordinator, AIGHD.

INDIGO’s Indian partners will start a clinical trial in April to test the efficacy of the adjuvant on the subcontinent after experiencing delays due to the global pandemic.

Later this year, PhD student Jantine van Wijlick will defend her dissertation about vaccine hesitancy among healthcare staff and high-risk groups. In November 2025, her counterpart Pramiti Parwani did so, graduating with honours after investigating global vaccines inequity from a legal and regulatory point of view.

“I am proud of what our team has achieved, especially our Indian colleagues who overcame many hurdles,” concluded Van Riet.