Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)

This site in Bilthoven focuses on immune system processes and bacterial infections, with clinical trials designed to better understand how vaccines stimulate protective antibody responses in different age groups. The research addresses prevention of serious infections while also supporting improved public health strategies.

• Measuring functional antibody responses to meningococcal serogroups to assess protection against invasive disease
• Evaluating pneumococcal vaccine responsiveness in older adults to strengthen prevention of respiratory and bloodstream infections
• Studying measles immunization in infants during outbreak conditions to support early protection

The overall aim is to improve understanding of vaccine-driven immunity and help guide more effective prevention of invasive meningococcal disease, sepsis, and other serious infections.

Clinical research at this RIVM department also covers respiratory tract diseases and virus diseases, with attention to how vaccination can reduce illness caused by common and potentially severe respiratory viruses. These studies look at immune protection in both older adults and infants.

• Assessing whether the timing of influenza vaccination influences antibody levels in adults aged 60 to 85 years
• Examining RSV immunization in infants to understand its effect on the child’s own antibody response
• Supporting prevention of serious outcomes linked to influenza and RSV infection

The purpose of this research is to improve the effectiveness of vaccination strategies and strengthen protection against seasonal and early-life respiratory infections.

Alongside disease-specific studies, the site contributes to environment and public health research that supports outbreak response and population-level prevention. The clinical trials explore how immunization can be used more effectively in real-world settings to protect vulnerable groups.

• Investigating early measles immunisation during an outbreak to improve infant protection
• Generating evidence to support vaccination policies for healthy infants and healthy adults
• Informing public health approaches to reduce transmission and severe disease in the community

This line of work combines prevention, immunology, and public health practice to help refine how vaccines are deployed during routine care and outbreak situations.