The workshop on vaccine adjuvants was held in July of 2009 at the European Commission in Brussels, with the goal of identifying key scientific priorities as they pertain to the development of effective vaccines against life-threatening diseases especially those associated with poverty, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis as well as neglected infectious diseases. On the basis of new advances in adjuvant research and related technology as well as potential challenges and roadblocks, six priorities were identified to accelerate development of improved or novel vaccine adjuvants for human use.