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The Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) is a research programme, consisting of a network of academic fellows across a variety of disciplines, including law, medicine and infectious diseases, economics, and social sciences.  

AIGHD addresses inequities in health worldwide by conducting cross-disciplinary, socially impactful, and innovative research in equitable partnerships. Its activities span four strategic themes: technological innovations in health, pandemic preparedness including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), understanding social determinants of health, and people-centred health systems and policies. AIGHD's capacity to train the next generation of global health experts is a vital aspect of its mission and so far, AIGHD fellows have supervised more than 125 doctoral degrees and over 140 master’s theses, with 50 PhD students progressing towards graduation. As of July 2026, AIGHD integrated its operations within the Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC) as the AIGHD Programme. Amsterdam UMC is one of the biggest institutions for health research in the Netherlands, as well as one of its largest hospitals, employing almost 20,000 people to provide integrated patient care, fundamental and clinical scientific research, and teaching. 

Within Yellow4Flavi, AIGHD supports qualitative research in Germany and Columbia, which will be used to develop approaches to risk communication that is is better adapted to the public’s information needs and concerns regarding vaccines. Together with Yellow4Flavi partners, Dr. Christopher Pell conducts comparative analysis of the underpinnings of vaccine acceptance and uptake in the two countries, with a particular focus on the role of vaccine technologies. 

Project Team

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Dr. Christopher Pell

Dr. Christopher Pell is a qualitative social scientist with a background in medical anthropology. Collaborating with colleagues from varied disciplines across the world, Dr. Pell’s research spans diverse health domains and care settings. Often his work aims to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of users – patients and health staff – are incorporated into the development and implementation of interventions. Much of his current activities focus on the social dimensions of vaccines, antimicrobial resistance, and critical care in low- and middle-income settings.

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Mark Van Knegsel

Mark van Knegsel is the Head of Project Management, he has a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and worked for PNO Consultants for several years. As a consultant, he gained experience in grant writing and project management for all kinds of research projects in Life Sciences and Health. With his move to AIGHD, he shifted his focus to providing access to quality healthcare for all.

Project tasks

Work Package 5 Mixed-methods research on perceptions of novel vaccine technologies and conceptions of (vaccine induced) immunity: lessons for (flavivirus) risk communication

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  • Task 5.1. Lead: Conceptions of (vaccine-induced) immunity and novel vaccine technologies – a qualitative study

  • Task 5.2. Prevalence of knowledge and acceptance of novel vaccine technologies and perceived barriers to vaccination, preparedness uptake and in cross-cultural comparison

  • Task 5.3. Theory-based experimental communication intervention to increase vaccination education and acceptance, in particular in vulnerable subpopulations

  • Task 5.4. Public roll-out of vaccine risk communication materials and strategies

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