origins
Mentorship, credibility and growth
Founded in 2001 through a critical partnership between the Center for Vaccine Development of the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Ministry of Health & Social Development, Mali, CVD-Mali owes its existence to Myron ‘Mike’ Levine, MD, DTPH, Karen Kotloff, MD, and Professor Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA.
CVD-UMB provided vital mentorship that guided CVD-Mali’s early scientific and institutional development. The partnership with UMB also brought international credibility, giving CVD-Mali recognition and trust nationally, regionally and globally.
Shared technical expertise strengthened laboratory capability, research practices, and training programs, laying the foundations for CVD-Mali’s growth into a prominent African-led institution.
Mission
CVD-Mali’s mission is to improve the lives of the Malian population through health research and interventions which enable people to lead healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives.
It is committed to carrying out research and to sharing the results of that research so that its benefits may be felt beyond Malian borders – in the wider West African region and anywhere else in the world which may benefit.
Focus
CVD-Mali focuses on research and interventions which develop primary health care, to pave the way towards Universal Health Coverage.
Based on its long experience in developing and distributing vaccines, the centre’s focus is on ensuring that first-rate scientific research results in concrete, on-the-ground treatment for those who need it most.
Principles
CVD-Mali’s core principles are based around strong technical capacity in epidemiologic surveillance, laboratory capability, field surveys and clinical trials.
Nurturing the next generation of African scientists
Thanks to the success of this partnership and its subsequent growth, CVD-Mali has introduced a number of vaccines nationally, including the Hib pentavalent, MenAfrivac, PCV13, HPV and Rotavirus vaccines.
Now, CVD-Mali conducts large-scale trials across the country, including SANTE, LAKANA, and Solidarity Trial Vaccines (COVID-19).
True to its origins, it has become itself a key center for training and mentoring, as it nurtures and develops the next generations of African scientists.
Shaping health agendas
From modest beginnings, CVD-Mali is now able to shape global maternal and child health agendas.
It is now undertaking REACH Mali, a major national child survival MDA campaign, with regional integration via the REACH Network.
International collaboration, firmly rooted in Mali and Africa
Today, CVD-Mali stands as a continental leader, built in collaboration with CVD-UMB but firmly rooted in Mali and Africa’s future.
REACH Mali is evidence of this: this is a major national implementation of azithromycin MDA, targeting all children aged 1-59 months in Mali (excluding Bamako city region).
It is carried out by CVD-Mali, with support for Monitoring & Evaluation support from CVD-UMB.
Millions of doses delivered
Since July 2025, 3,665,262 doses of azithromycin have been delivered to 1-59 month old children in the 5 southern regions of Mali.
Based on government population estimates, the study’s coverage to date is some 96.4%
An estimated 510,377 children are due to be treated in the remaining northern regions.
Monitoring & surveillance
Rigorous compliance for public confidence
CVD-Mali conducts rigorous, standard- and protocol-compliant analysis as a key component of all its activities.
Mortality and morbidity surveillance are central components of the REACH Mali intervention, for example, as is the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance.
This rigour enables us to safeguard the effectiveness of our interventions into the future, on behalf of populations the length and breadth of Mali – and beyond.
