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During World Immunisation Week 2025, Vaccine Centre Co-Director Ed Parker caught up with researchers at different stages of their career from across the Vaccine Centre at the °®ÍþÄÌapp of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The conversations ranged from specific vaccine research, to finding the right work-life balance in academia, and recommendations for films, food and life. 
 
In the , Ed spoke to , a Research Fellow at LSHTM. Em shares how the COVID-19 pandemic first triggered their interest in health and medical statistics, and how this led them to pursue first an MSc and then a PhD at LSHTM. They provide some practical advice for anyone thinking of a PhD, as well as insider tips on the best lunch spots in central London.

For the , Ed had the opportunity to speak to Dr Ahmed Cherno Futa, a medical doctor and Clinical Trial Coordinator at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM. Ahmed tells us about his work on vaccine trials and his recent focus on building clinical trial capacity in West Africa. He shares how important it is to foster good relationships with the community in the Gambia, built on open and clear communication around the trials. Ahmed also gives us some insights into his life outside the office, how he loves spending time with his family and perfecting his photography and videography skills.

On , Ed interviewed , a Research Fellow at LSHTM. Catherine tells us about her research in the lab working on novel methods for the development of glyconjugate vaccines, and her work on the VaxHub project, aiming to improve vaccine development and manufacturing for lower-and middle-income countries. She also shares what she enjoys most and least about lab work and how she once envisioned an alternative career designing costumes for West End shows. 

The was a conversation between Ed and Dr Sheila Balinda, a Molecular Virologist at the MRC/ UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. Sheila tells us about her extensive vaccinedevelopment experience. This has ranged from work on HIV vaccines, to foot and mouth disease and her current work on characterising a novel adeno-vector for vaccine development. She some valuable tips for early career researchers interested in working in this field. She also gives us some insight what a typical busy day in the lab and outside work looks like. 

For the , Ed interviewed Shelley Lees, Professor of Anthropology of Public Health at LSHTM. Shelley tells us about her work as an anthropologist on clinical trials for the Ebola vaccine. She shares how her research has contributed to a better understanding of vaccine mistrust and hesitancy and about the importance of multi-disciplinary work in vaccine research. Shelley also has some valuable advice for anyone looking to build their career, as well as some recommended reading for life outside work. 

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