The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members one of the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.
Background
In 2018 the World Health Assembly adopted resolution 71.5 (2018: Addressing the burden of snakebite envenoming) which calls on WHO to ensure the quality and safety of snake antivenoms.
WHO has developed a risk-benefit assessment procedure for antivenoms that supports decision-making by procurement agencies, public health officials and users of antivenoms based on an evaluation of an essential set of available quality, safety, efficacy, and performance data. Furthermore, it provides manufacturers with independent product analysis, evaluation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and potential product recommendation.
The risk-benefit assessment process is aimed at improving the availability of safe, effective antivenom immunoglobulin products to all who need them.
As part of this procedure, the WHO Secretariat will require advice from an independent advisory group known as the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL) on whether these risk-benefit assessed antivenoms can be recommended for use.
The Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (the “TAG-SAIL”) will act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.Functions of the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL)
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the AG shall have the following functions:
- To undertake a desktop review and risk-benefit assessment of the product dossiers submitted to the WHO Secretariat by respective manufacturers and prepare product dossier reports for WHO indicating specific deficiencies, data gaps and other areas of concern;
- To subsequently consider the results of independent laboratory analysis of antivenom products, and the outcomes of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections and based on these findings, and those of the dossier reviews, make final recommendations to WHO on whether the assessed antivenoms should be listed as recommended product under the SAIL procedure, and under what conditions.
- To advise WHO on formulating conditions for the listing should the decision be positive. Conditions will include detailed post-listing commitments from the manufacturer.
Operations of the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL)
Members of the TAG-SAIL are appointed for a period of two years. Members may be reappointed subject to the Terms of Reference.
The TAG-SAIL will meet virtually (by video- or teleconference) at least twice a year (usually 3-4 days each), however additional meetings may be convened by WHO. Members will evaluate applications submitted by manufacturers under the risk-benefit assessment procedure for snake venom immunoglobins.
In addition to product dossiers Members will review and take into consideration, outcomes of laboratory evaluations of product samples, and WHO GMP inspection service reports in reaching decisions and formulating recommendations. The language for meetings and written communications will be English.
Who can express interest?
The Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL) will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to evaluation of commercial antivenom product regulatory documents, regulatory evaluation, and Good Manufacturing Practice. Approximately 15 members may be selected.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from scientists, healthcare professionals, healthcare regulators and animal healthcare professionals with expertise in the following areas:- Regulation of biological products such as vaccines or antivenoms
- Veterinary medicine related to animal use in production of biological products
- Manufacturing or quality control technologies related to biological products
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for biological products
- Clinical management of snakebite envenoming
- Viral inactivation of equine or other viruses in biological products
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the TAG-SAIL are available here.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL), please submit the following documents by 5:00 pm Central European Time (CET) on 17 October 2025 to antivenoms@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Technical Advisory Group on Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulin Listing (TAG-SAIL)”:
- A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore, do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer).
- Your curriculum vitae.
- A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.
After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.
Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment
Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of any AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).
All TAG-SAIL members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions, or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.
At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.
The selection of members of the TAG-SAIL will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, considering the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations.
The selection of TAG-SAIL members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.
If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of the TAG-SAIL will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.
WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the TAG-SAIL, disband the TAG-SAIL or modify the work of the TAG-SAIL.
WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.
WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.
TAG-SAIL members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the TAG-SAIL or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of TAG-SAIL members to participate in TAG-SAIL meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules, and procedures.
The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.
If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to antivenoms@who.int well before the applicable deadline.