The DOMI Program was launched at the start of 2000 after receipt of generous funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The DOMI Program
The DOMI Program is five -year effort funded with a grant of $40 million by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A number of other organizations have added support including national governments in developing countries and several vaccine producers. The DOMI program addresses the need for research and development of vaccines against three important diseases - cholera, shigellosis, and typhoid fever - that collectively account for approximately 2 million deaths per year.

The development and deployment of a vaccine requires the execution of a complex multi-disciplinary set of activities. To this end, IVI has brought together internationally recognized experts in laboratory research, production and regulation, clinical evaluation, field evaluation, policy and economic analysis, market research, and behaviour research. It has successfully led the design and implementation of a coordinated program in the seven DOMI target countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The program also includes a focus on refugees and displaced populations, both in Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa. The DOMI Program is now recognized a focal program for the global agenda to accelerate the development and introduction in developing countries of vaccines against cholera, shigellosis, and typhoid fever. A unique aspect of the DOMI Program is the in-house IVI technical expertise, which ensures both effective program direction as well as continous interaction in research activities to promote coordination and scientific excellence.

A major IVI strength is capacity building in vaccine research, development, production and regulation in developing countries.