Journal Article

Exploring the links between NITAGs and academic institutions: a landscape analysis protocol

Noll, Susanne, Kagina, Benjamin, Oduwole, Elizabeth O, Sheridan, Sarah L, Hawkridge, Anthony, Burton, Ann, Hussey, Gregory D

2025

Overview

IntroductionNational Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are multidisciplinary groups of national experts who provide independent advice to policy makers on issues related to immunisation and vaccines, based on evidence and the national context. On the other hand, academic institutions can be described as organisations dedicated to education and research. These include schools, colleges, universities and research centres that offer formal education, conduct scholarly research and contribute to knowledge in various fields. NITAGs can enhance their capacity by linking with academic institutions and leveraging scientific expertise in research, data analysis, modelling, resource procurement and management, and policy formulation. The proposed landscape analysis will explore the links between NITAGs and academic institutions, especially in the sub-Saharan African context, and, where such exist, document their characteristics and identify benefits, challenges and best practices for fostering such linkages.Methods and analysisThis landscape analysis will use an adaptation of the WHO’s quick guide manual on ‘Performing a landscape analysis: Understanding health product research and development’. The planned landscape analysis will be conducted in two parts. The first part will entail a review of published literature to identify relevant documents on linkages between NITAGs and academic institutions. The second part will entail conducting key informant interviews with NITAG members, partners and other identified key stakeholders in two study countries: Ethiopia and Zambia. The transcribed scripts will be thematically analysed. The findings from both parts will be synthesised and presented as a descriptive landscape analysis report.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol of the parent study has been reviewed and approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Cape Town (Reference 417/2025). It has also been approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of Zambia (REF. NO. 6760-2025) and the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA/06/392/25). The landscape analysis report will be submitted to the commissioning funder (Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance) and will also be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Registration detailshttps://osf.io/vprka

• Publisher: British Medical Journal Publishing Group,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Advisory Committees - organization & administration / Africa South of the Sahara / Decision making / Disease / Epidemiology / Ethiopia / Health Policy / Humans / Immunization / Immunization Programs - organization & administration / Measles / MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING / Protocol / PUBLIC HEALTH / Qualitative research / R&D / Research & development / Research Design / Rotavirus / Universities / Vaccination / Vaccines / Viruses