Speakers
Click on photographs for information on our speakers
Click on photographs for information on our speakers
Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network
Rajinder Suri is CEO-DCVMN responsible for leadership, governance, strategic orientation and operational excellence. Rajinder is member of COVAX Manufacturing & Supply Task Force Leadership Team, MI4A (Market Information for Access to Vaccines) Advisory Group to WHO on Malaria, Global TB Vaccines R&D Roadmap by EDCTP, Expert Group on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Market Design and Demand Intelligence pillar of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM). With 43 years of experience and deep insights of the industry including Pharmaceuticals and Biological products in India and International markets, has invested over 24 years at the top management level including four years on the Board of Directors of the Indian subsidiary of Sanofi Pasteur. Rajinder has been Member-Gavi-Policy & Planning Committee (PPC) as well as Vice-President, DCVMN Executive Committee (2014-16).
Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network
Rajinder Suri is CEO-DCVMN responsible for leadership, governance, strategic orientation and operational excellence. Rajinder is member of COVAX Manufacturing & Supply Task Force Leadership Team, MI4A (Market Information for Access to Vaccines) Advisory Group to WHO on Malaria, Global TB Vaccines R&D Roadmap by EDCTP, Expert Group on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Market Design and Demand Intelligence pillar of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM). With 43 years of experience and deep insights of the industry including Pharmaceuticals and Biological products in India and International markets, has invested over 24 years at the top management level including four years on the Board of Directors of the Indian subsidiary of Sanofi Pasteur. Rajinder has been Member-Gavi-Policy & Planning Committee (PPC) as well as Vice-President, DCVMN Executive Committee (2014-16).
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India; Chairman Stop TB Partnership Board
A medical doctor who branched out into public life, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has an impeccable electoral record of 25 years, having been elected five successive times to the Delhi Legislative Assembly and serving two consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha (House of Commons). His public life has been stellar and marked by outstanding achievements in health, education, law, science, technology, and the environment.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan’s engagement in the eradication of the dreaded disease Poliomyelitis from India has found overwhelming global appreciation. Subsequently, he has been at the forefront of the battle against tobacco and drug abuse and was instrumental in the enactment of several laws in India to tackle these problems. For his long-standing commitment to humanity, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been the proud recipient of various national and international awards of repute.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan became Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare for the second time in 2019, and has been at the forefront of India’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. He is also known worldwide for reiterating India’s commitment to end TB by 2025, stating that it is high time for the international community to implement faster and more innovative global TB control measures in the fight against the disease.
Since March 2021, Minister Harsh Vardhan is the Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Board.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India; Chairman Stop TB Partnership Board
A medical doctor who branched out into public life, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has an impeccable electoral record of 25 years, having been elected five successive times to the Delhi Legislative Assembly and serving two consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha (House of Commons). His public life has been stellar and marked by outstanding achievements in health, education, law, science, technology, and the environment.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan’s engagement in the eradication of the dreaded disease Poliomyelitis from India has found overwhelming global appreciation. Subsequently, he has been at the forefront of the battle against tobacco and drug abuse and was instrumental in the enactment of several laws in India to tackle these problems. For his long-standing commitment to humanity, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been the proud recipient of various national and international awards of repute.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan became Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare for the second time in 2019, and has been at the forefront of India’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. He is also known worldwide for reiterating India’s commitment to end TB by 2025, stating that it is high time for the international community to implement faster and more innovative global TB control measures in the fight against the disease.
Since March 2021, Minister Harsh Vardhan is the Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Board.
WHO South-East Asia Regional Office
Mukta Sharma is the WHO Regional Advisor for TB/HEP/HIV/STIs at the Southeast Asia Regional Office. Mukta is leads the WHO South East Asia Region’s response to HIV/STIs/TB and Hepatitis in eleven countries. She has over fifteen years with UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, with a strong understanding of UN agencies and donors, and is skilled in working in partnership with Ministries of Health, law enforcement, community partners, and sub-national stakeholders. She is a subject expert in communicable diseases with master’s level trainings in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD from the London School of Economics.
WHO South-East Asia Regional Office
Mukta Sharma is the WHO Regional Advisor for TB/HEP/HIV/STIs at the Southeast Asia Regional Office. Mukta is leads the WHO South East Asia Region’s response to HIV/STIs/TB and Hepatitis in eleven countries. She has over fifteen years with UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, with a strong understanding of UN agencies and donors, and is skilled in working in partnership with Ministries of Health, law enforcement, community partners, and sub-national stakeholders. She is a subject expert in communicable diseases with master’s level trainings in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD from the London School of Economics.
Minister of Health and Solidarity
Olivier Veran was born on April 22nd , 1980 in Saint-Martin d’Heres, in the lsere region, where he spent his all of his childhood and attended school. Son of an engineer and an English teacher, his calling for the field of medicine began at an early age. This was strengthened during his night job as an attendant in an elderly home, serving the most fragile, to finance his studies in Grenoble.
Sensitive to the working conditions of caregivers, assistants and interns in the hospitals of Grenoble, he became involved in union life. After completing his thesis on “Epileptic confusion in the elderly”, Olivier Veran became neurologist at the Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital.
As assistant Head of Clinic of the Intensive Care Unit for Vascular Neurology, he was responsible for patients suffering from cerebrovascular accidents. Subsequently, he managed the day clinic of the Neurological department, receiving over 3.000 patients each year.
His political commitment led him to the French National Assembly in 2012, as Member of Parliament for the 1st district of the Isere. Profoundly committed to equal access to healthcare, he devoted the majority of his parliamentary work to health policies and to the fight against poverty, resulting in him becoming General Rapporteur of the Social Affairs Committee.
To uphold his beliefs in the territory that he is so close to, and which is important to him, Olivier Veran was elected Regional Councilor of the Auvergne-Rh6ne-Alpes region in December 2015. Since December 2019 he chairs the group “La Republique En Marche” (the party of the presidential majority) in this assembly.
On February 16th, 2020, Olivier Veran was nominated Minister of Solidarity and Health. Olivier Veran is the father of two children and is passionate about music.
Minister of Health and Solidarity
Olivier Veran was born on April 22nd , 1980 in Saint-Martin d’Heres, in the lsere region, where he spent his all of his childhood and attended school. Son of an engineer and an English teacher, his calling for the field of medicine began at an early age. This was strengthened during his night job as an attendant in an elderly home, serving the most fragile, to finance his studies in Grenoble.
Sensitive to the working conditions of caregivers, assistants and interns in the hospitals of Grenoble, he became involved in union life. After completing his thesis on “Epileptic confusion in the elderly”, Olivier Veran became neurologist at the Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital.
As assistant Head of Clinic of the Intensive Care Unit for Vascular Neurology, he was responsible for patients suffering from cerebrovascular accidents. Subsequently, he managed the day clinic of the Neurological department, receiving over 3.000 patients each year.
His political commitment led him to the French National Assembly in 2012, as Member of Parliament for the 1st district of the Isere. Profoundly committed to equal access to healthcare, he devoted the majority of his parliamentary work to health policies and to the fight against poverty, resulting in him becoming General Rapporteur of the Social Affairs Committee.
To uphold his beliefs in the territory that he is so close to, and which is important to him, Olivier Veran was elected Regional Councilor of the Auvergne-Rh6ne-Alpes region in December 2015. Since December 2019 he chairs the group “La Republique En Marche” (the party of the presidential majority) in this assembly.
On February 16th, 2020, Olivier Veran was nominated Minister of Solidarity and Health. Olivier Veran is the father of two children and is passionate about music.
University College London
Lele is Clinical Associate Professor at the Institute of Global Health and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London (UCL). She is also an honorary Associate Professor at her alma mater, University of Cape Town in South Africa.
She is an ID Clinician Scientist with 20 years of experience. Her research areas span the epidemiology of poverty-related diseases, randomized assessments of public health technology, digital health innovation and implementation science. Her team conducts clinical trials of TB prevention across multimorbidities, people at risk, and world regions. She holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator and EDCTP awards to conduct multi-country research on TB, NCD and TB prevention.
Lele sits on a number of international working groups including TB-LEAP, Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery (CTVD), the Cross-Network TB Vaccine Working Group (TB Vaccine WG), Maternal and Child Working Group of the Union, the LTBI Task Force of the StopTB New Diagnostic Working Group, and is a member of the Lancet Digital Health International Advisory Board and UCL-TB Leadership.
University College London
Lele is Clinical Associate Professor at the Institute of Global Health and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London (UCL). She is also an honorary Associate Professor at her alma mater, University of Cape Town in South Africa.
She is an ID Clinician Scientist with 20 years of experience. Her research areas span the epidemiology of poverty-related diseases, randomized assessments of public health technology, digital health innovation and implementation science. Her team conducts clinical trials of TB prevention across multimorbidities, people at risk, and world regions. She holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator and EDCTP awards to conduct multi-country research on TB, NCD and TB prevention.
Lele sits on a number of international working groups including TB-LEAP, Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery (CTVD), the Cross-Network TB Vaccine Working Group (TB Vaccine WG), Maternal and Child Working Group of the Union, the LTBI Task Force of the StopTB New Diagnostic Working Group, and is a member of the Lancet Digital Health International Advisory Board and UCL-TB Leadership.
National Health Portfolio Committee, National Assembly; National TB Caucus
Chairperson
Honorable Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is a medical doctor by profession and the Chairperson of the National Health Portfolio Committee in the National Assembly in Parliament. He is also the Chairperson of the national TB Caucus in South Africa. He is a seasoned politician and public health practitioner who has served as the MEC for Health in Kwa-Zulu Natal from 2009 – 2019.
He is a former member of Umkhonto Wesizwe and was incarcerated on Robben Island in the 1980’s.
He has also served in the South Africa National Defence and worked as an academic at the University of KwaZulu-Natal lecturing in Public Health.
National Health Portfolio Committee, National Assembly; National TB Caucus
Chairperson
Honorable Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is a medical doctor by profession and the Chairperson of the National Health Portfolio Committee in the National Assembly in Parliament. He is also the Chairperson of the national TB Caucus in South Africa. He is a seasoned politician and public health practitioner who has served as the MEC for Health in Kwa-Zulu Natal from 2009 – 2019.
He is a former member of Umkhonto Wesizwe and was incarcerated on Robben Island in the 1980’s.
He has also served in the South Africa National Defence and worked as an academic at the University of KwaZulu-Natal lecturing in Public Health.
TB Modelling Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Matthew is Assistant Professor in Health Economics in the TB Modelling Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Matthew works at the interface of health economics and infectious disease modelling, working on projects assessing the impact and cost-effectiveness of a range of infectious diseases in various settings worldwide. Alongside colleagues in the TB modelling group, Matthew‘s current focus is estimating health and economic benefits of new TB vaccines and delivery mechanisms.
TB Modelling Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Matthew is Assistant Professor in Health Economics in the TB Modelling Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Matthew works at the interface of health economics and infectious disease modelling, working on projects assessing the impact and cost-effectiveness of a range of infectious diseases in various settings worldwide. Alongside colleagues in the TB modelling group, Matthew‘s current focus is estimating health and economic benefits of new TB vaccines and delivery mechanisms.
Oregon Health & Science University
Dr. Louis J. Picker is the Associate Director of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, a Senior Scientist in the Pathobiology and Immunology Division of the Oregon National Primate Research Center, and a Professor of Pathology at the Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Picker’s lab is focused on the elucidation of memory T cell physiology in non-human primates, including mechanisms of T cell-mediated protection against persistent pathogens, immunopathogenesis of AIDS-causing lentiviruses and M. tuberculosis, development interventions for HIV cure, and development of effective HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis vaccines.
Oregon Health & Science University
Dr. Louis J. Picker is the Associate Director of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, a Senior Scientist in the Pathobiology and Immunology Division of the Oregon National Primate Research Center, and a Professor of Pathology at the Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Picker’s lab is focused on the elucidation of memory T cell physiology in non-human primates, including mechanisms of T cell-mediated protection against persistent pathogens, immunopathogenesis of AIDS-causing lentiviruses and M. tuberculosis, development interventions for HIV cure, and development of effective HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis vaccines.
Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory
Laboratory Director
Dr. Andersen-Nissen directs cellular immunology studies of specimens from HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) studies in Southern Africa. She holds a Senior Staff Scientist position at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and is an Honourary Research Associate at the University of Cape Town in the Division of Medical Virology. Dr. Andersen-Nissen completed her PhD in immunology at the University of Washington in Seattle in June 2006 under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Aderem. She then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Julie McElrath’s laboratory at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she profiled innate immune responses induced by candidate HIV vaccines, providing new information about human immune responses to experimental adjuvants and viral vaccine vectors. Erica relocated to Cape Town in January 2013 to start CHIL and is studying innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by HIV and TB vaccines in Southern African populations to identify immune correlates of risk and protection.
Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory
Laboratory Director
Dr. Andersen-Nissen directs cellular immunology studies of specimens from HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) studies in Southern Africa. She holds a Senior Staff Scientist position at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and is an Honourary Research Associate at the University of Cape Town in the Division of Medical Virology. Dr. Andersen-Nissen completed her PhD in immunology at the University of Washington in Seattle in June 2006 under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Aderem. She then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Julie McElrath’s laboratory at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she profiled innate immune responses induced by candidate HIV vaccines, providing new information about human immune responses to experimental adjuvants and viral vaccine vectors. Erica relocated to Cape Town in January 2013 to start CHIL and is studying innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by HIV and TB vaccines in Southern African populations to identify immune correlates of risk and protection.
CNRS
Antoine Petit obtained a Master Degree in Mathematics from University Paris Sud (1981) and then “Agrégation de Mathématiques” (1982). He received his PhD in Computer Science from Paris Diderot University (1985).
He joined University of Orléans as « Assistant » in 1984, then he worked in University Paris Sud (now, part of University Paris-Saclay) as « Maître de Conférences » in 1989.
In 1994, he joined ENS Paris – Saclay (formerly ENS de Cachan) as full Professor and became head of the Computer science department from 1995 to 2001.
In 2002, he was appointed as Deputy Director of the French ministry of research, in charge of mathematics, information and communication science. In 2004, he joined CNRS as Director of the Information & Communication Sciences and Technologies Department and then as Regional Director for South West of France.
In 2006, he was recruited by INRIA where he has been successively: center of Paris Research Director – Rocquencourt, deputy CEO in 2010 and then President and CEO in 2014.
Since January 2018, he is President and CEO of CNRS.
Antoine Petit is Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Chile, « Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur » and « Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite ».
CNRS
Antoine Petit obtained a Master Degree in Mathematics from University Paris Sud (1981) and then “Agrégation de Mathématiques” (1982). He received his PhD in Computer Science from Paris Diderot University (1985).
He joined University of Orléans as « Assistant » in 1984, then he worked in University Paris Sud (now, part of University Paris-Saclay) as « Maître de Conférences » in 1989.
In 1994, he joined ENS Paris – Saclay (formerly ENS de Cachan) as full Professor and became head of the Computer science department from 1995 to 2001.
In 2002, he was appointed as Deputy Director of the French ministry of research, in charge of mathematics, information and communication science. In 2004, he joined CNRS as Director of the Information & Communication Sciences and Technologies Department and then as Regional Director for South West of France.
In 2006, he was recruited by INRIA where he has been successively: center of Paris Research Director – Rocquencourt, deputy CEO in 2010 and then President and CEO in 2014.
Since January 2018, he is President and CEO of CNRS.
Antoine Petit is Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Chile, « Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur » and « Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite ».
Center for Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut
Chief Medical Officer
Álvaro Borges is a physician-scientist educated in Brazil, the United Kingdom and Denmark. He has an MSc in Tropical and Infectious Diseases (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 2011) and a PhD in Immunology and Infectious Diseases (University of Copenhagen 2015). He joined the Center for Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut as chief medical officer to work on clinical trials testing new candidate vaccines in humans. He has been actively involved in 1) design and coordination of clinical trials and research projects primarily within vaccines, 2) studies of pathogen mechanisms and natural immunity / vaccine immunity in human cohorts, 3) clinical data interpretation, preparation of scientific manuscripts and presentations at international meetings and 4) fundraising for clinical trials.
Center for Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut
Chief Medical Officer
Álvaro Borges is a physician-scientist educated in Brazil, the United Kingdom and Denmark. He has an MSc in Tropical and Infectious Diseases (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 2011) and a PhD in Immunology and Infectious Diseases (University of Copenhagen 2015). He joined the Center for Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut as chief medical officer to work on clinical trials testing new candidate vaccines in humans. He has been actively involved in 1) design and coordination of clinical trials and research projects primarily within vaccines, 2) studies of pathogen mechanisms and natural immunity / vaccine immunity in human cohorts, 3) clinical data interpretation, preparation of scientific manuscripts and presentations at international meetings and 4) fundraising for clinical trials.
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
Puck Pelzer is an Epidemiologist at KNCV tuberculosis foundation. As of early 2018 she provides technical support at KNCV on several international projects and is the lead on TB vaccine projects. In addition Puck is in the final stages of obtaining an PhD. Puck started her career in global health at the Department of Health Sciences at VU University working on the effects of vaccines in LMIC. Puck has a professional membership in the board of the Dutch Society for Tropical Medicine & International Health and as Early Career Researcher in the Stop TB partnership’s working group on New TB vaccines
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
Puck Pelzer is an Epidemiologist at KNCV tuberculosis foundation. As of early 2018 she provides technical support at KNCV on several international projects and is the lead on TB vaccine projects. In addition Puck is in the final stages of obtaining an PhD. Puck started her career in global health at the Department of Health Sciences at VU University working on the effects of vaccines in LMIC. Puck has a professional membership in the board of the Dutch Society for Tropical Medicine & International Health and as Early Career Researcher in the Stop TB partnership’s working group on New TB vaccines
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Respiratory Society of Kenya
Professor, Global Respiratory Health
Muhwa Jeremiah Chakaya, is a Professor, Global Respiratory Health, at the department of clinical sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Prof. Chakaya hails from Kenya where he was born and educated and where he practices and teaches respiratory medicine. He graduated from the University of Nairobi with a basic degree in medicine and surgery (MBChB) in 1985 and a master’s degree in internal medicine (M.Med) in 1992. He then went on to study lung medicine at the National Lung and Heart Institute, University of London at the Royal Brompton Hospital and at the Kyorin University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Prof. Chakaya worked as a TB and Lung disease researcher at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and later served as the TB Program Manager at the Ministry of Health between 2003 and 2006. At the international level, Prof. Chakaya has held several positions including, Vice Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board, Chair of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB (STAG-TB ) of the World Health Organization (WHO), Chair of the Global Fund’s Technical Review Panel (TRP) and President of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease ( the Union). Prof. Chakaya is a founder member of the Respiratory Society of Kenya (ReSoK) and has remained closely engaged with this organization. He is a member of the Pan African Thoracic Society and serves in the executive committee of this organization. He has a honorary teaching position at the school of medicine, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Respiratory Society of Kenya
Professor, Global Respiratory Health
Muhwa Jeremiah Chakaya, is a Professor, Global Respiratory Health, at the department of clinical sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Prof. Chakaya hails from Kenya where he was born and educated and where he practices and teaches respiratory medicine. He graduated from the University of Nairobi with a basic degree in medicine and surgery (MBChB) in 1985 and a master’s degree in internal medicine (M.Med) in 1992. He then went on to study lung medicine at the National Lung and Heart Institute, University of London at the Royal Brompton Hospital and at the Kyorin University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Prof. Chakaya worked as a TB and Lung disease researcher at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and later served as the TB Program Manager at the Ministry of Health between 2003 and 2006. At the international level, Prof. Chakaya has held several positions including, Vice Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board, Chair of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB (STAG-TB ) of the World Health Organization (WHO), Chair of the Global Fund’s Technical Review Panel (TRP) and President of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease ( the Union). Prof. Chakaya is a founder member of the Respiratory Society of Kenya (ReSoK) and has remained closely engaged with this organization. He is a member of the Pan African Thoracic Society and serves in the executive committee of this organization. He has a honorary teaching position at the school of medicine, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
National Institute for Medical Research - Mbeya Medical Research Centre
Doreen Pamba is a Social Scientist employed at the National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Centre (NIMR-MMRC) in Tanzania. She has a degree in Medical Sociology, Masters of Philosophy in International Health and is currently a PhD student at University of Munich, Germany. Ms. Pamba has coordinated community engagement activities since 2010 in TB drug and vaccine trials as well as HIV vaccine trials. She also has experience in implementing qualitative research nested in these clinical trials and in mixed methods TB and HIV operational research.
National Institute for Medical Research - Mbeya Medical Research Centre
Doreen Pamba is a Social Scientist employed at the National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Centre (NIMR-MMRC) in Tanzania. She has a degree in Medical Sociology, Masters of Philosophy in International Health and is currently a PhD student at University of Munich, Germany. Ms. Pamba has coordinated community engagement activities since 2010 in TB drug and vaccine trials as well as HIV vaccine trials. She also has experience in implementing qualitative research nested in these clinical trials and in mixed methods TB and HIV operational research.
Statens Serum Institut
Dr. Mortensen received his doctorate in immunology and vaccinology at University of Copenhagen and is Head of TB Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. His responsibilities cover development activities from early discovery and vaccine design to testing and transitioning into clinical trials. His group is studying protective immunological mechanisms of vaccine mediated immunity with a specific focus on Th1/Th17 cells and utilize the knowledge gathered in clinical trails and animal experiments to generate better next-generation TB vaccines.
Statens Serum Institut
Dr. Mortensen received his doctorate in immunology and vaccinology at University of Copenhagen and is Head of TB Vaccine Research at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. His responsibilities cover development activities from early discovery and vaccine design to testing and transitioning into clinical trials. His group is studying protective immunological mechanisms of vaccine mediated immunity with a specific focus on Th1/Th17 cells and utilize the knowledge gathered in clinical trails and animal experiments to generate better next-generation TB vaccines.
University of Leicester
Professor of Cellular Immunology
Professor Cooper received her undergraduate degree from University College, London and her Doctoral degree from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine UK, where she investigated the interaction between macrophages and protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Moving to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, US she expanded her investigation of leishmaniasis to include the T cell response of patients suffering from cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral forms of this disease. She then moved to the Mycobacterial Research Labs at Colorado State University and began studying the protective immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prior to her move to the University of Leicester she was at the Trudeau Institute, Inc. for 12 years where she held the E.L. Trudeau Chair. The underlying theme of Professor Cooper’s work is the definition of the mechanisms which mediate initiation, expression and regulation of immunity within the lung.
University of Leicester
Professor of Cellular Immunology
Professor Cooper received her undergraduate degree from University College, London and her Doctoral degree from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine UK, where she investigated the interaction between macrophages and protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Moving to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, US she expanded her investigation of leishmaniasis to include the T cell response of patients suffering from cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral forms of this disease. She then moved to the Mycobacterial Research Labs at Colorado State University and began studying the protective immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prior to her move to the University of Leicester she was at the Trudeau Institute, Inc. for 12 years where she held the E.L. Trudeau Chair. The underlying theme of Professor Cooper’s work is the definition of the mechanisms which mediate initiation, expression and regulation of immunity within the lung.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Mayer-Barber received her diploma from the University of Würzburg, Germany, in 2002 and doctoral degree in 2006 from the University of Würzburg for work carried out at the Trudeau Institute. She joined NIAID in 2007 as a postdoc in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases. Dr. Mayer-Barber was awarded the Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator position in the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology in 2015. Her work is focused on innate immune cells, inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators as targets for potential host-directed therapies and improved vaccine adjuvant design in murine and nonhuman primate models of TB disease.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Mayer-Barber received her diploma from the University of Würzburg, Germany, in 2002 and doctoral degree in 2006 from the University of Würzburg for work carried out at the Trudeau Institute. She joined NIAID in 2007 as a postdoc in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases. Dr. Mayer-Barber was awarded the Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator position in the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology in 2015. Her work is focused on innate immune cells, inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators as targets for potential host-directed therapies and improved vaccine adjuvant design in murine and nonhuman primate models of TB disease.
The University of Melbourne & Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Professor Nigel Curtis is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist. He is Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Melbourne, Leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Head of Infectious Diseases at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
He is the Chief Principal Investigator of The BRACE Trial, a randomised controlled trial of BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers that has recruited in 34 sites in three continents worldwide.
The University of Melbourne & Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Professor Nigel Curtis is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist. He is Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Melbourne, Leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Head of Infectious Diseases at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
He is the Chief Principal Investigator of The BRACE Trial, a randomised controlled trial of BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers that has recruited in 34 sites in three continents worldwide.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr Shekhar C. Mande is an Indian Structural and Computational Biologist. He did his M.Sc. in Physics from University of Nagpur and earned Ph.D degree in Molecular Biophysics from Indian Institute of Science. Following his PhD in 1991, he joined Prof. Wim G. J. Hol as Post-Doctoral Fellow at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in the Netherlands and in 1992 he joined University of Washington, Seattle as Senior fellow. He returned to India in 1995 to serve as Scientist in Institute of Microbial Technology. In 2001 he joined the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics as senior Staff Scientist. Dr Mande led the National Centre for Cell Science as its Director from 2011 to 2018. Since 2018 he is serving as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt of India. He has been serving many advisory committees including task forces of many S&T related departments of Govt of India. Dr Mande is a fellow of several professional bodies and has been conferred many awards and honors which includes Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, the highest science award in India.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr Shekhar C. Mande is an Indian Structural and Computational Biologist. He did his M.Sc. in Physics from University of Nagpur and earned Ph.D degree in Molecular Biophysics from Indian Institute of Science. Following his PhD in 1991, he joined Prof. Wim G. J. Hol as Post-Doctoral Fellow at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in the Netherlands and in 1992 he joined University of Washington, Seattle as Senior fellow. He returned to India in 1995 to serve as Scientist in Institute of Microbial Technology. In 2001 he joined the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics as senior Staff Scientist. Dr Mande led the National Centre for Cell Science as its Director from 2011 to 2018. Since 2018 he is serving as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt of India. He has been serving many advisory committees including task forces of many S&T related departments of Govt of India. Dr Mande is a fellow of several professional bodies and has been conferred many awards and honors which includes Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, the highest science award in India.
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
Deputy Medical Director
Dr. Sajjad A Desai, is a graduate (MBBS) and post‐graduate (MD) of Dr V. M. Medical College, Solapur with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology. He joined Serum Institute of India Ltd. (SIIL), Pune in 2006 and is working as Deputy Medical Director. After post‐graduation in 2001, he has worked in several pharmaceutical companies in R & D ‐ Clinical Research. Since 2006, he is working with Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd and is involved in clinical development of new vaccines and biologicals as well pharmacovigilance activities. He has publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and is a life member of the Indian Society for Clinical Research.
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
Deputy Medical Director
Dr. Sajjad A Desai, is a graduate (MBBS) and post‐graduate (MD) of Dr V. M. Medical College, Solapur with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology. He joined Serum Institute of India Ltd. (SIIL), Pune in 2006 and is working as Deputy Medical Director. After post‐graduation in 2001, he has worked in several pharmaceutical companies in R & D ‐ Clinical Research. Since 2006, he is working with Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd and is involved in clinical development of new vaccines and biologicals as well pharmacovigilance activities. He has publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and is a life member of the Indian Society for Clinical Research.
Institut Pasteur
Laleh Majlessi, PhD, Associate Professor at Institut Pasteur, France, is interested in the host-mycobacteria interaction and notably the immunogenicity of the substrates of mycobacterial type VII secretion systems, which has applications in the development of new TB vaccine candidates. She was awarded the Jean-Marie Dubert Prize for her Ph.D thesis in cellular immunology and the Georges, Jacques and Elias Canetti Prize for her research on anti-mycobacterial immunity. She is member of the Collaboration for TB Vaccine Development (CTVD) and is presently the deputy scientific director of Pasteur-Theravectys Joint Lab at Institut Pasteur, which develops subunit vaccinal vectors against infectious diseases.
Institut Pasteur
Laleh Majlessi, PhD, Associate Professor at Institut Pasteur, France, is interested in the host-mycobacteria interaction and notably the immunogenicity of the substrates of mycobacterial type VII secretion systems, which has applications in the development of new TB vaccine candidates. She was awarded the Jean-Marie Dubert Prize for her Ph.D thesis in cellular immunology and the Georges, Jacques and Elias Canetti Prize for her research on anti-mycobacterial immunity. She is member of the Collaboration for TB Vaccine Development (CTVD) and is presently the deputy scientific director of Pasteur-Theravectys Joint Lab at Institut Pasteur, which develops subunit vaccinal vectors against infectious diseases.
BioNTech
Vice President Vaccines and Immunology
Dr. Mustafa Diken received his Ph.D. in tumor immunology from Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz and is currently serving as Vice President Vaccines & Immunology at BioNTech SE. His research focuses on the development of novel cancer and infectious disease vaccines based on antigen-encoding messenger RNA (mRNA). His research led to novel mRNA vaccines which are currently being tested in several clinical trials.
BioNTech
Vice President Vaccines and Immunology
Dr. Mustafa Diken received his Ph.D. in tumor immunology from Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz and is currently serving as Vice President Vaccines & Immunology at BioNTech SE. His research focuses on the development of novel cancer and infectious disease vaccines based on antigen-encoding messenger RNA (mRNA). His research led to novel mRNA vaccines which are currently being tested in several clinical trials.
Board Member (Alt) - Stop TB Partnership
Rhea Lobo is an international award-winning filmmaker with a background in health journalism and is also an extra-pulmonary TB survivor. She is a strong TB advocate and co-founder of Bolo Didi (Translation: Say Sister), an informal network of women TB survivors in India that help people affected by TB navigate health systems, promote treatment adherence and counselling. She has extensive experience in working for both Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in organizations such as Dalberg Media, The Union and TBpeople. She is of Indian origin and currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rhea has made a number of films on health and women empowerment, with a special interest in TB. Her film on Human Rights and TB, Rights and Wrongs… A Tribute to Dean Lewis, received critical acclaim from Dr Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization. Rhea is also a member of the Stop TB Working Group on New Vaccines and is part of the taskforce that is developing Stop TB Partnership’s Global Plan to End TB by 2030.
Board Member (Alt) - Stop TB Partnership
Rhea Lobo is an international award-winning filmmaker with a background in health journalism and is also an extra-pulmonary TB survivor. She is a strong TB advocate and co-founder of Bolo Didi (Translation: Say Sister), an informal network of women TB survivors in India that help people affected by TB navigate health systems, promote treatment adherence and counselling. She has extensive experience in working for both Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in organizations such as Dalberg Media, The Union and TBpeople. She is of Indian origin and currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rhea has made a number of films on health and women empowerment, with a special interest in TB. Her film on Human Rights and TB, Rights and Wrongs… A Tribute to Dean Lewis, received critical acclaim from Dr Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization. Rhea is also a member of the Stop TB Working Group on New Vaccines and is part of the taskforce that is developing Stop TB Partnership’s Global Plan to End TB by 2030.
Stop TB Partnership
Executive Director
Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership is a Romanian physician, accomplished professional and leader in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) and other communicable diseases. Dr. Ditiu is driven by the firm belief that we should “leave no one behind” and is one of the strongest advocates within the international community in the fight against tuberculosis. A firm believer in innovation, flexibility, change, breaking the rules and thinking out of the box, Dr. Ditiu is dedicated to driving political commitment and engagement to accelerate the efforts to End TB.
Stop TB Partnership
Executive Director
Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership is a Romanian physician, accomplished professional and leader in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) and other communicable diseases. Dr. Ditiu is driven by the firm belief that we should “leave no one behind” and is one of the strongest advocates within the international community in the fight against tuberculosis. A firm believer in innovation, flexibility, change, breaking the rules and thinking out of the box, Dr. Ditiu is dedicated to driving political commitment and engagement to accelerate the efforts to End TB.
Africa Health Research Institute
PI and Faculty Member
My group investigates innate and adaptive immune response to TB and HIV infection. We are particularly interested in the responses occurring within tissue, which are studied using locally available excess material from surgical procedures. This allows us to investigate the host-pathogen interaction at the site of disease and to try and understand the relationship between the immune responses occurring in infected human tissue, and those that are detectable with in the blood. We make use of advanced flow cytometry and mass cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescent histology and 3D tissue culture to investigate the phenotype and function of tissue resident immune populations. The aim, is to uncover new biology that will aid the development of novel therapeutic interventions and improve the health of individuals afflicted with these deadly infections.
Africa Health Research Institute
PI and Faculty Member
My group investigates innate and adaptive immune response to TB and HIV infection. We are particularly interested in the responses occurring within tissue, which are studied using locally available excess material from surgical procedures. This allows us to investigate the host-pathogen interaction at the site of disease and to try and understand the relationship between the immune responses occurring in infected human tissue, and those that are detectable with in the blood. We make use of advanced flow cytometry and mass cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescent histology and 3D tissue culture to investigate the phenotype and function of tissue resident immune populations. The aim, is to uncover new biology that will aid the development of novel therapeutic interventions and improve the health of individuals afflicted with these deadly infections.
Wellcome Trust
Head of Infection Challenge Area
Professor Gordon Dougan F Med Sci FRS, who is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Cambridge University, is an internationally recognised expert in vaccinology, global health and infections. He was Head of Pathogens at The Wellcome Sanger Institute (WTSI) and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. He studies the molecular basis of infection with a strong emphasis on pathogenic mechanisms/immunity, genomics, disease tracking and antibiotic resistance. He has a particular interest in using genomics to study the evolution of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the cause of typhoid.
Before moving to the WTSI he was the founding Director of the Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection at Imperial College London and a Professor of Biochemistry. He is a member of EMBO, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has received awards nationally and internationally for his work, including the Albert B Sabin Gold Medal for his work on Affordable Vaccines. He received his B Sc and Ph.D. from the University of Sussex and conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington (Seattle) in the laboratory of the Lasker Prize winner Stanley Falkow. During his work in industry developing novel vaccines at an internationally renowned multi-national company now part of GSK and is a founder of VHSquared and Microbiotica. He is currently a Head of the Infection Health Challenge area at Wellcome.
Wellcome Trust
Head of Infection Challenge Area
Professor Gordon Dougan F Med Sci FRS, who is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Cambridge University, is an internationally recognised expert in vaccinology, global health and infections. He was Head of Pathogens at The Wellcome Sanger Institute (WTSI) and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. He studies the molecular basis of infection with a strong emphasis on pathogenic mechanisms/immunity, genomics, disease tracking and antibiotic resistance. He has a particular interest in using genomics to study the evolution of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the cause of typhoid.
Before moving to the WTSI he was the founding Director of the Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection at Imperial College London and a Professor of Biochemistry. He is a member of EMBO, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has received awards nationally and internationally for his work, including the Albert B Sabin Gold Medal for his work on Affordable Vaccines. He received his B Sc and Ph.D. from the University of Sussex and conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington (Seattle) in the laboratory of the Lasker Prize winner Stanley Falkow. During his work in industry developing novel vaccines at an internationally renowned multi-national company now part of GSK and is a founder of VHSquared and Microbiotica. He is currently a Head of the Infection Health Challenge area at Wellcome.
Socios en Salud
Dr. Leonid Lecca is a Peruvian physician and researcher serving as the Executive Director of international NGO Socios En Salud (SES, Spanish for “Partners In Health”) and as a Lecturer at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also Vice-Chair of the Regional Green Light Committee for DR-TB for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and is a member of the America TB Coalition. During the last two years, his organization launched the formation of TB Social Observatories in 8 LAC countries, as spaces of social vigilance, political incidence and experiences exchanges for TB civil society in the Americas.
Socios en Salud
Dr. Leonid Lecca is a Peruvian physician and researcher serving as the Executive Director of international NGO Socios En Salud (SES, Spanish for “Partners In Health”) and as a Lecturer at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also Vice-Chair of the Regional Green Light Committee for DR-TB for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and is a member of the America TB Coalition. During the last two years, his organization launched the formation of TB Social Observatories in 8 LAC countries, as spaces of social vigilance, political incidence and experiences exchanges for TB civil society in the Americas.
European Investment Bank
Head of Division Innovation Finance Advisory
Shiva Dustdar has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry working for large private and public institutions in New York, London and Luxembourg. Since joining EIB in 2003, she has worked in risk management, lending and investing in innovative companies and currently heads the Innovation Finance Advisory (IFA) Division in the EIB which she was tasked to set up in 2013. IFA has 2 units covering project advisory and thematic finance providing access to finance advice to public and private entities, performing market studies and developing new financial products to meet the financing needs across the innovation spectrum to support smart, green and healthy growth.
Shiva started her career in 1993 at J.P. Morgan Investment Banking in New York working in M&A, Project Finance and Emerging Markets before joining Fitch Rating Agency in 1999 to set up its European High Yield rating business.
Shiva holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University and an Executive MBA from London Business School (LBS). Shiva co-founded the European High Yield Association (EHYA), which is now part of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) and was nominated to Top 50 Women in Credit by Credit Magazine in 2006. She is a regular speaker on innovation and impact financing, gender smart investing, digital and green financing and actively engaged in networks that promote sustainable and mission oriented financing.
European Investment Bank
Head of Division Innovation Finance Advisory
Shiva Dustdar has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry working for large private and public institutions in New York, London and Luxembourg. Since joining EIB in 2003, she has worked in risk management, lending and investing in innovative companies and currently heads the Innovation Finance Advisory (IFA) Division in the EIB which she was tasked to set up in 2013. IFA has 2 units covering project advisory and thematic finance providing access to finance advice to public and private entities, performing market studies and developing new financial products to meet the financing needs across the innovation spectrum to support smart, green and healthy growth.
Shiva started her career in 1993 at J.P. Morgan Investment Banking in New York working in M&A, Project Finance and Emerging Markets before joining Fitch Rating Agency in 1999 to set up its European High Yield rating business.
Shiva holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University and an Executive MBA from London Business School (LBS). Shiva co-founded the European High Yield Association (EHYA), which is now part of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) and was nominated to Top 50 Women in Credit by Credit Magazine in 2006. She is a regular speaker on innovation and impact financing, gender smart investing, digital and green financing and actively engaged in networks that promote sustainable and mission oriented financing.
Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health
Maureen Kamene Kimenye Mariita is a Kenyan physician and medical administrator, who currently serves as a Technical Assistant in the Directorate of Public Health at Ministry of Health Kenya, where she works on the nation’s COVID response. She previously served as the Head of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy & Lung Disease Control Programme, in the Kenyan Ministry of Health. She is a leading authority in the treatment and control of TB in Sub-Saharan Africa and has spent about 15 years working in the public policy, primarily with TB, HIV, and Malaria. Maureen received her medical degree from Moi University, her Master’s in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University and her diploma in TB control and Epidemiology from the Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT) in Japan. She spent a year in a fellowship program, studying MDR TB and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.
Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health
Maureen Kamene Kimenye Mariita is a Kenyan physician and medical administrator, who currently serves as a Technical Assistant in the Directorate of Public Health at Ministry of Health Kenya, where she works on the nation’s COVID response. She previously served as the Head of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy & Lung Disease Control Programme, in the Kenyan Ministry of Health. She is a leading authority in the treatment and control of TB in Sub-Saharan Africa and has spent about 15 years working in the public policy, primarily with TB, HIV, and Malaria. Maureen received her medical degree from Moi University, her Master’s in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University and her diploma in TB control and Epidemiology from the Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT) in Japan. She spent a year in a fellowship program, studying MDR TB and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Director, TB and HIV Program
Emilio A. Emini, Ph.D. is the Director of the Tuberculosis and HIV Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is also a Board member of the Gates Medical Research Institute. Emilio joined the foundation in 2015 following a greater than 30-year career in the biopharmaceutical industry during which he held multiple senior positions in anti-infectives and vaccines R&D. At the Merck Research Laboratories, from 1983 to 2004, Emilio led the biological research that developed the first of the highly active antiretroviral therapies for HIV, and he led multiple teams involved in vaccine development programs including the recombinant hepatitis B, inactivated hepatitis A, the human papillomavirus, varicella, and rotavirus vaccine programs. Following a two-year leave from the industry at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Emilio joined Wyeth/Pfizer Inc. as the Senior Vice President of Vaccine R&D where he led the development of the Prevenar 13 vaccine for prevention of pneumococcal disease. In addition to his present role at the foundation, Emilio serves as an advisor to the COVID vaccine programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Director, TB and HIV Program
Emilio A. Emini, Ph.D. is the Director of the Tuberculosis and HIV Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is also a Board member of the Gates Medical Research Institute. Emilio joined the foundation in 2015 following a greater than 30-year career in the biopharmaceutical industry during which he held multiple senior positions in anti-infectives and vaccines R&D. At the Merck Research Laboratories, from 1983 to 2004, Emilio led the biological research that developed the first of the highly active antiretroviral therapies for HIV, and he led multiple teams involved in vaccine development programs including the recombinant hepatitis B, inactivated hepatitis A, the human papillomavirus, varicella, and rotavirus vaccine programs. Following a two-year leave from the industry at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Emilio joined Wyeth/Pfizer Inc. as the Senior Vice President of Vaccine R&D where he led the development of the Prevenar 13 vaccine for prevention of pneumococcal disease. In addition to his present role at the foundation, Emilio serves as an advisor to the COVID vaccine programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
DRAF TB
Bertrand is a Public health expert with special focus on health and Community Systems Strengthening, gender and human rights and a dozen years of experience in planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of health projects. Over the last five years he has carried out more than 15 technical assistance missions in West and Central Africa to scale up TB preventive treatment, capacity building of health care providers, sustained community involvement including TB survivors, reduction of gender and human rights barriers as well as ethical considerations. He also supporting National TB Programs in the region to strengthen community-based active TB case finding and human rights approaches to close the notification gap. In 2018, he joined the World Health Organization TB Civil Society Task Force to help translate WHO’s TB policies, including the End TB Strategy, into practice by integrating the views of TB affected communities and their networks at global, regional and national levels. Bertrand has a Master in Public Health (Health Promotion) from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lorraine, Nancy School of Public Health in France.
DRAF TB
Bertrand is a Public health expert with special focus on health and Community Systems Strengthening, gender and human rights and a dozen years of experience in planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of health projects. Over the last five years he has carried out more than 15 technical assistance missions in West and Central Africa to scale up TB preventive treatment, capacity building of health care providers, sustained community involvement including TB survivors, reduction of gender and human rights barriers as well as ethical considerations. He also supporting National TB Programs in the region to strengthen community-based active TB case finding and human rights approaches to close the notification gap. In 2018, he joined the World Health Organization TB Civil Society Task Force to help translate WHO’s TB policies, including the End TB Strategy, into practice by integrating the views of TB affected communities and their networks at global, regional and national levels. Bertrand has a Master in Public Health (Health Promotion) from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lorraine, Nancy School of Public Health in France.
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Director, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Emily Erbelding is an infectious disease physician who directs the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. As DMID director, she oversees a research portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research in infectious diseases that exceeds $2B annually. NIAID continues to lead the research response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Prior to her role as DMID director, she served as Deputy Director in the Division of AIDS at NIAID.
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Director, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Emily Erbelding is an infectious disease physician who directs the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. As DMID director, she oversees a research portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research in infectious diseases that exceeds $2B annually. NIAID continues to lead the research response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Prior to her role as DMID director, she served as Deputy Director in the Division of AIDS at NIAID.
Member of Parliament and Global TB Caucus
Honourable Dr Christopher Kalila trained as a Medical Doctor and served mostly as a General Practitioner and a Family Practitioner for over seventeen (17) years before entering the world of politics through being nominated to Parliament and appointed Deputy Minister of Youth Sports in 2008. He served in the same capacity in the Ministry of Works and Supply in 2009 before being reassigned as Deputy Minister of Health in 2010 until September 2011 when Zambia again went for general elections. He contested the elections and won the Lukulu East Parliamentary seat which he held for 5 years and also served as Chairman of the Parliamentary of Education. In 2016 he contested the same seat and won. During this period he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, and Chairman of the Zambian TB Caucus. In the recently held national elections (2021), Hon Kalila managed to retain his seat and continues to advance the interest of the TB Caucus.
Member of Parliament and Global TB Caucus
Honourable Dr Christopher Kalila trained as a Medical Doctor and served mostly as a General Practitioner and a Family Practitioner for over seventeen (17) years before entering the world of politics through being nominated to Parliament and appointed Deputy Minister of Youth Sports in 2008. He served in the same capacity in the Ministry of Works and Supply in 2009 before being reassigned as Deputy Minister of Health in 2010 until September 2011 when Zambia again went for general elections. He contested the elections and won the Lukulu East Parliamentary seat which he held for 5 years and also served as Chairman of the Parliamentary of Education. In 2016 he contested the same seat and won. During this period he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, and Chairman of the Zambian TB Caucus. In the recently held national elections (2021), Hon Kalila managed to retain his seat and continues to advance the interest of the TB Caucus.
University of Washington
ASsociate Professor
Dr. Michael Gerner obtained his Ph.D. in Immunology in 2009 at the University of Minnesota, studying anti-tumor immune responses. He next completed his postdoc at the NIH, where he developed and employed cutting-edge quantitative imaging tools to study the organization of immune cells in lymphoid tissues. In 2015, Dr. Gerner joined the University of Washington, Department of Immunology as Assistant Professor. His lab investigates how local tissue microenvironments shape the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses during vaccination, infection and cancer. The laboratory also continues to develop advanced image analysis platforms. Current efforts utilize these microscopy tools to better understand correlates of vaccine-mediated protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice and across species.
University of Washington
ASsociate Professor
Dr. Michael Gerner obtained his Ph.D. in Immunology in 2009 at the University of Minnesota, studying anti-tumor immune responses. He next completed his postdoc at the NIH, where he developed and employed cutting-edge quantitative imaging tools to study the organization of immune cells in lymphoid tissues. In 2015, Dr. Gerner joined the University of Washington, Department of Immunology as Assistant Professor. His lab investigates how local tissue microenvironments shape the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses during vaccination, infection and cancer. The laboratory also continues to develop advanced image analysis platforms. Current efforts utilize these microscopy tools to better understand correlates of vaccine-mediated protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice and across species.
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
Professor Mark Hatherill is Director and leader of the clinical research team of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), a University of Cape Town research group focused on understanding risk for and protection against TB, to develop better vaccines and preventive therapies to impact the global epidemic.
A University of Cape Town medical graduate, he trained as a pediatrician and critical care sub-specialist. He has led several clinical trials of novel TB vaccine candidates in infant, adolescent and adult populations. He is Co-PI of the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) South Africa consortium. His work focuses on the design and implementation of clinical trials of novel TB vaccines and studies of biomarkers of TB risk.
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
Professor Mark Hatherill is Director and leader of the clinical research team of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), a University of Cape Town research group focused on understanding risk for and protection against TB, to develop better vaccines and preventive therapies to impact the global epidemic.
A University of Cape Town medical graduate, he trained as a pediatrician and critical care sub-specialist. He has led several clinical trials of novel TB vaccine candidates in infant, adolescent and adult populations. He is Co-PI of the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) South Africa consortium. His work focuses on the design and implementation of clinical trials of novel TB vaccines and studies of biomarkers of TB risk.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Hannah P. Gideon received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Medical Microbiology in India and her PhD from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. For her post-doctoral research, she joined Prof. JoAnne Flynn’s group at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA, to investigate T cell responses at the local (i.e., granuloma) and systemic level and whole blood transcriptional signatures of Mtb infection in NHP model. Dr. Gideon is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and she leads studies interrogating immune repertories at the granulomas level using single-cell RNA sequencing in NHPs.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Hannah P. Gideon received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Medical Microbiology in India and her PhD from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. For her post-doctoral research, she joined Prof. JoAnne Flynn’s group at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA, to investigate T cell responses at the local (i.e., granuloma) and systemic level and whole blood transcriptional signatures of Mtb infection in NHP model. Dr. Gideon is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and she leads studies interrogating immune repertories at the granulomas level using single-cell RNA sequencing in NHPs.
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale is the Secretary at Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. He is presently on deputation from Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) Pune. Dr. Gokhale is trained as a chemical biologist and his significant scientific contributions are in elucidating complex interplay between metabolic reprogramming and inflammation in the context of infectious disease Tuberculosis and autoimmune skin disorder Vitiligo.
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale is the Secretary at Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. He is presently on deputation from Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) Pune. Dr. Gokhale is trained as a chemical biologist and his significant scientific contributions are in elucidating complex interplay between metabolic reprogramming and inflammation in the context of infectious disease Tuberculosis and autoimmune skin disorder Vitiligo.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Deputy Director, TB Vaccines
Ann M. Ginsberg, M.D., Ph.D., is Deputy Director, TB Vaccines in the Global Health Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Ginsberg has conducted and led TB research and product development programs for 25 years, including 15 years leading and designing clinical strategy for development of TB vaccines and drug regimens for the developing world. She previously served as the Chief, Respiratory Diseases Branch, NIAID, NIH; as Director, Project Management at Merck Research Laboratories; as Chief Medical Officer at the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development; as Chief Medical Officer at Aeras and as Senior Technical Advisor at IAVI. In these roles, she oversaw the early clinical development program of Pretomanid® and two recent, positive TB vaccine efficacy trials – of BCG revaccination and M72/AS01E. Dr. Ginsberg has served on numerous national and international advisory committees on vaccines and global health, including the U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Her undergraduate degree is from Harvard University, her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Washington University and her M.D. from Columbia University.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Deputy Director, TB Vaccines
Ann M. Ginsberg, M.D., Ph.D., is Deputy Director, TB Vaccines in the Global Health Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Ginsberg has conducted and led TB research and product development programs for 25 years, including 15 years leading and designing clinical strategy for development of TB vaccines and drug regimens for the developing world. She previously served as the Chief, Respiratory Diseases Branch, NIAID, NIH; as Director, Project Management at Merck Research Laboratories; as Chief Medical Officer at the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development; as Chief Medical Officer at Aeras and as Senior Technical Advisor at IAVI. In these roles, she oversaw the early clinical development program of Pretomanid® and two recent, positive TB vaccine efficacy trials – of BCG revaccination and M72/AS01E. Dr. Ginsberg has served on numerous national and international advisory committees on vaccines and global health, including the U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Her undergraduate degree is from Harvard University, her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Washington University and her M.D. from Columbia University.
World Health Organization
Team Lead, Vaccine Platforms & Prioritization, and new TB Vaccines
Dr Birgitte Giersing is a team lead in the Product and Delivery Research Unit, in the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) department, WHO. She leads IVB’s work on new TB vaccines, and the TB Vaccine Accelerator secretariat within the Science Division. As the secretariat for IVB’s Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee (PDVAC), her role includes establishing new tools and mechanisms to identify vaccine R&D priorities, and to effectively partner with country, regional and global immunization stakeholders to accelerate regulatory approval and uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Birgitte has been at WHO for almost 10 years, and previously held vaccine product development roles in industry and the non-profit sector.
World Health Organization
Team Lead, Vaccine Platforms & Prioritization, and new TB Vaccines
Dr Birgitte Giersing is a team lead in the Product and Delivery Research Unit, in the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) department, WHO. She leads IVB’s work on new TB vaccines, and the TB Vaccine Accelerator secretariat within the Science Division. As the secretariat for IVB’s Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee (PDVAC), her role includes establishing new tools and mechanisms to identify vaccine R&D priorities, and to effectively partner with country, regional and global immunization stakeholders to accelerate regulatory approval and uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Birgitte has been at WHO for almost 10 years, and previously held vaccine product development roles in industry and the non-profit sector.
Biofrabri, Zendal Group
Clinical Research Director
Ingrid Murillo Jelsbak is since January 2016 the Clinical Research Director at Biofabri, which belongs to Zendal Group at Porriño, a Spanish biopharmaceutical Business Group, focussed on the development manufacturing and marketing of vaccines as well as biological and pharmaceutical products for both human and animal health.
After finishing studies in Biology, with specialization in zoology at Universidad Complutense, Madrid, she started her carrier at Pharma Industry where she has been for the last 20 years exercising several responsibilities mainly in the Clinical Research area at Pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) covering several responsibilities at national and international level, reaching the Managing Direction level for the Iberian region at Chiltern International, a UK-based international CRO, during six years.
Biofrabri, Zendal Group
Clinical Research Director
Ingrid Murillo Jelsbak is since January 2016 the Clinical Research Director at Biofabri, which belongs to Zendal Group at Porriño, a Spanish biopharmaceutical Business Group, focussed on the development manufacturing and marketing of vaccines as well as biological and pharmaceutical products for both human and animal health.
After finishing studies in Biology, with specialization in zoology at Universidad Complutense, Madrid, she started her carrier at Pharma Industry where she has been for the last 20 years exercising several responsibilities mainly in the Clinical Research area at Pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) covering several responsibilities at national and international level, reaching the Managing Direction level for the Iberian region at Chiltern International, a UK-based international CRO, during six years.
Tongji University
Professor
Baoxue Ge is a professor Tongji University. Director of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis (lung). He has long been engaged in the functional mechanism and clinical translational application of innate immune molecules. He has published more than 90 research papers in Nature, Science, Nature Immunology, Cell Research, Cell Host & microbe, Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications and other academic journals. 23 invention patents were applied for and 6 were authorized. He has been invited to serve as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Journal of Cell Biology. Editorial board of Cellular & Molecular Immunology, Pathogens, Tuberculosis, Microbes & Infection.
Tongji University
Professor
Baoxue Ge is a professor Tongji University. Director of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis (lung). He has long been engaged in the functional mechanism and clinical translational application of innate immune molecules. He has published more than 90 research papers in Nature, Science, Nature Immunology, Cell Research, Cell Host & microbe, Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications and other academic journals. 23 invention patents were applied for and 6 were authorized. He has been invited to serve as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Journal of Cell Biology. Editorial board of Cellular & Molecular Immunology, Pathogens, Tuberculosis, Microbes & Infection.
Leiden University Medical Center
Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases
Having a biomedical background with a specialization in immunology, my main interest is to understand the human immune system in health and disease. Over the last decade my group has been working on host immunity towards tuberculosis (TB). TB biomarkers are one of the key subjects we have been working on, including bioprofiling of clinical samples. In addition, we have been interested in cellular immunity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). My group aims to unravel the pathophysiological role of cellular immune responses in the combat against Mtb. We focus in particular on HLA-E restricted CD8+T-cells, B-cells and more recently also monocyte subsets. We aim to combine clinical data and samples with functional immunological characterization of the responses.
Leiden University Medical Center
Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases
Having a biomedical background with a specialization in immunology, my main interest is to understand the human immune system in health and disease. Over the last decade my group has been working on host immunity towards tuberculosis (TB). TB biomarkers are one of the key subjects we have been working on, including bioprofiling of clinical samples. In addition, we have been interested in cellular immunity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). My group aims to unravel the pathophysiological role of cellular immune responses in the combat against Mtb. We focus in particular on HLA-E restricted CD8+T-cells, B-cells and more recently also monocyte subsets. We aim to combine clinical data and samples with functional immunological characterization of the responses.
Independent Consultant
Bernard Fritzell, MD has been an independent consultant in vaccinology and vaccine development at BFL conseils SAS since 2012 after 30 years in the vaccine industry. Dr Fritzell was Vice President, International Scientific & Clinical Affairs for Wyeth/Pfizer Vaccines (1999-2011). Dr Fritzell has gained experience in vaccine clinical trial programmes set-up across Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA and directed all phases of vaccine development.They have included research into paediatric and adult vaccines and new adjuvants. From 1996 to 2010, Dr Fritzell has been Chairman of the clinical working group of the European Vaccines Manufacturers (EVM).
Independent Consultant
Bernard Fritzell, MD has been an independent consultant in vaccinology and vaccine development at BFL conseils SAS since 2012 after 30 years in the vaccine industry. Dr Fritzell was Vice President, International Scientific & Clinical Affairs for Wyeth/Pfizer Vaccines (1999-2011). Dr Fritzell has gained experience in vaccine clinical trial programmes set-up across Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA and directed all phases of vaccine development.They have included research into paediatric and adult vaccines and new adjuvants. From 1996 to 2010, Dr Fritzell has been Chairman of the clinical working group of the European Vaccines Manufacturers (EVM).
Christian Medical College
Professor of Microbiology, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences
Professor Kang conducts inter-disciplinary research on enteric infections and child health. Her team has evaluated vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical phase 1-3 studies for enteric infections. She is a member of many WHO advisory committees, is the vice-Chair of the Board of Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and chairs the Immunization Technical Advisory Group for the WHO’s South East Asian Region.
Christian Medical College
Professor of Microbiology, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences
Professor Kang conducts inter-disciplinary research on enteric infections and child health. Her team has evaluated vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical phase 1-3 studies for enteric infections. She is a member of many WHO advisory committees, is the vice-Chair of the Board of Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and chairs the Immunization Technical Advisory Group for the WHO’s South East Asian Region.
Institut Pasteur
Dr Darragh Duffy leads the Translational Immunology Lab at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, where he is also co-coordinator of the LabEx Milieu Interieur Consortium. The overall goal of his research is to better understand the fundamental mechanisms behind inter-individual differences in immune responses, and apply these discoveries to relevant clinical questions. To do this his team uses cellular mechanistic models, population immunology cohorts, and experimental clinical studies in infection and autoimmunity. He has specific interest in cytokine biology, with a focus on the role of type I interferons in response to viral infection and as a common trigger in autoimmune disease.
Institut Pasteur
Dr Darragh Duffy leads the Translational Immunology Lab at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, where he is also co-coordinator of the LabEx Milieu Interieur Consortium. The overall goal of his research is to better understand the fundamental mechanisms behind inter-individual differences in immune responses, and apply these discoveries to relevant clinical questions. To do this his team uses cellular mechanistic models, population immunology cohorts, and experimental clinical studies in infection and autoimmunity. He has specific interest in cytokine biology, with a focus on the role of type I interferons in response to viral infection and as a common trigger in autoimmune disease.
Stop TB Partnership - Kenya
Chief National Coordinator
Evaline Kibuchi is a global health advocate with a key focus on Tuberculosis (TB) with over ten years in TB advocacy. Since 2015, she has served as the Chief National Coordinator, Stop TB Partnership-Kenya. She previously worked with International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in Community preparedness for the HIV vaccines trials. She is also the African Director of African Parliamentary TB caucus and a member of the Civil Society Task force the WHO TB team and a member of Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) an advocacy group that pushes for covid tools and other services.
She is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nairobi and completing her Masters of Public Health in Moi University. She holds Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication and journalism from the University of Nairobi, a Graduate Certificate, Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation, Center for finance and Project Management and Certificate in Resource mobilization and a certificate in policy development and advocacy for global health from the University of Washington.
She is the Chair, board of Directors, WACI Health a South African based Global Health advocacy organization. She is also the Vice Chair, Aids Healthcare Foundation, which is also a global advocacy organization based in the US.
Stop TB Partnership - Kenya
Chief National Coordinator
Evaline Kibuchi is a global health advocate with a key focus on Tuberculosis (TB) with over ten years in TB advocacy. Since 2015, she has served as the Chief National Coordinator, Stop TB Partnership-Kenya. She previously worked with International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in Community preparedness for the HIV vaccines trials. She is also the African Director of African Parliamentary TB caucus and a member of the Civil Society Task force the WHO TB team and a member of Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) an advocacy group that pushes for covid tools and other services.
She is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nairobi and completing her Masters of Public Health in Moi University. She holds Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication and journalism from the University of Nairobi, a Graduate Certificate, Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation, Center for finance and Project Management and Certificate in Resource mobilization and a certificate in policy development and advocacy for global health from the University of Washington.
She is the Chair, board of Directors, WACI Health a South African based Global Health advocacy organization. She is also the Vice Chair, Aids Healthcare Foundation, which is also a global advocacy organization based in the US.
Institut Pasteur
Stewart Cole is an internationally renowned scientist and Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis. Since January 2nd, 2018, he is President of the Institut Pasteur.
From 2007 to 2017, he has served as Professor and Director of the Global Health Institute at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) – a world-leading education and research center.
For 24 years Cole worked as a researcher and also held various research management positions at the Institut Pasteur. He was Director of Strategic Technologies and then Executive Scientific Director, contributing to several patent applications relating to HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. He participated in the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Institut Pasteur in Iran, the Institut Pasteur in Montevideo and the Institut Pasteur in Lille. Professor Cole was also acting President of the Institut Pasteur in Paris in 2005.
He has been the recipient of many national and international prizes and distinctions. In 2009, he was awarded the World Health Organization’s prestigious Stop-TB Partnership Kochon Prize for his leadership and groundbreaking accomplishments in genetic research on M. tuberculosis and his contribution to novel therapeutic strategies for tackling TB.
During his career, he has been involved in the work of several foundations and scientific committees, and was notably Chair of the board of the Innovative Medicine for Tuberculosis Foundation and President of the commission médicale for the Fondation Raoul Follereau.
Stewart Cole has also published more than 350 scientific papers on infectious diseases, most notably tuberculosis and leprosy.
Professor Cole was awarded with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2004 and was appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for service to science, on January 1st, 2022.
Institut Pasteur
Stewart Cole is an internationally renowned scientist and Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis. Since January 2nd, 2018, he is President of the Institut Pasteur.
From 2007 to 2017, he has served as Professor and Director of the Global Health Institute at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) – a world-leading education and research center.
For 24 years Cole worked as a researcher and also held various research management positions at the Institut Pasteur. He was Director of Strategic Technologies and then Executive Scientific Director, contributing to several patent applications relating to HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. He participated in the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Institut Pasteur in Iran, the Institut Pasteur in Montevideo and the Institut Pasteur in Lille. Professor Cole was also acting President of the Institut Pasteur in Paris in 2005.
He has been the recipient of many national and international prizes and distinctions. In 2009, he was awarded the World Health Organization’s prestigious Stop-TB Partnership Kochon Prize for his leadership and groundbreaking accomplishments in genetic research on M. tuberculosis and his contribution to novel therapeutic strategies for tackling TB.
During his career, he has been involved in the work of several foundations and scientific committees, and was notably Chair of the board of the Innovative Medicine for Tuberculosis Foundation and President of the commission médicale for the Fondation Raoul Follereau.
Stewart Cole has also published more than 350 scientific papers on infectious diseases, most notably tuberculosis and leprosy.
Professor Cole was awarded with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2004 and was appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for service to science, on January 1st, 2022.
Aurum Institute
Group Chief Executive Officer
Prof Churchyard (MBBCh, MMED (Int Med), FCP (SA), FRCP (Edin), PhD) is a physician scientist who is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Aurum Institute, an independent, not for profit, proudly South African, public benefit organization that focuses on TB, HIV & COVID19 technical assistance, service delivery, and research. Prof Churchyard is an Honorary Professor at the University of Witwatersrand and adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University. Prof Churchyard is a Chair of the NIH/DAIDS Cross-Network TB vaccine Working Group. He has extensive clinical trials experience and has conducted numerous TB and HIV trials.
Aurum Institute
Group Chief Executive Officer
Prof Churchyard (MBBCh, MMED (Int Med), FCP (SA), FRCP (Edin), PhD) is a physician scientist who is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Aurum Institute, an independent, not for profit, proudly South African, public benefit organization that focuses on TB, HIV & COVID19 technical assistance, service delivery, and research. Prof Churchyard is an Honorary Professor at the University of Witwatersrand and adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University. Prof Churchyard is a Chair of the NIH/DAIDS Cross-Network TB vaccine Working Group. He has extensive clinical trials experience and has conducted numerous TB and HIV trials.
Eh!woza
Co-director
Dr Anastasia Koch is the co-founder and co-director of Eh!woza. The organisation was established in 2013 as an informal collaboration between researchers at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), conceptual artist Ed Young, social scientists, and young people from Khayelitsha, a peri-urban township in Cape Town. In 2020, Eh!woza was awarded a Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award in Public Engagement, which facilitated the organisation’s transition into an independent NPO. Eh!woza enlists beneficiaries as active partners and facilitate access to accurate information while igniting frank conversations, storytelling and representation of health and disease. Long-term goals are to encourage positive health-seeking behaviour, engender trust, and decrease stigma. Before working fulltime on Eh!woza, Anastasia was a junior research fellow at the Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit (IDM, UCT), which she maintains in a parttime position. Anastasia’s biomedical research interests involve using genomics to understand the transmission and pathobiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Eh!woza
Co-director
Dr Anastasia Koch is the co-founder and co-director of Eh!woza. The organisation was established in 2013 as an informal collaboration between researchers at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), conceptual artist Ed Young, social scientists, and young people from Khayelitsha, a peri-urban township in Cape Town. In 2020, Eh!woza was awarded a Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award in Public Engagement, which facilitated the organisation’s transition into an independent NPO. Eh!woza enlists beneficiaries as active partners and facilitate access to accurate information while igniting frank conversations, storytelling and representation of health and disease. Long-term goals are to encourage positive health-seeking behaviour, engender trust, and decrease stigma. Before working fulltime on Eh!woza, Anastasia was a junior research fellow at the Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit (IDM, UCT), which she maintains in a parttime position. Anastasia’s biomedical research interests involve using genomics to understand the transmission and pathobiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
HVTN &CoVPN Leadership Operations Center / Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Dr. Jim Kublin is currently Executive Director of the COVID-19 Prevention Network and HIV Vaccine Trials Network based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is also the Medical Director of the Seattle Malaria Clinical Trials Center, a translational research center established by Fred Hutch and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute to test experimental malaria vaccines and drugs in human clinical trials. Jim is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington and runs a lab focused on the impact of the microbiome on vaccine responses. Jim has conducted extensive research on HIV, TB and malaria in South America, SE Asia, and Africa, including clinical trials of novel therapies and vaccines. The Gates Foundation awarded Jim a Grand Challenges Exploration award to apply high-throughput system analyses to malaria vaccine development. Before moving to Seattle, Jim was Director, HIV Vaccines – Infectious Diseases, for Merck & Co., Inc where he played a key role in the development and implementation of HIV vaccine studies, overseeing the coordination of clinical assays, site identification and development, government and ethical approvals and providing guidance on vaccine policy issues. Jim completed his B.S. and M.D. at Georgetown University and received his M.P.H. and completed a residency in Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Jim continued work in vaccine development and molecular epidemiology while attending the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine for his fellowship in Vaccinology at the Center for Vaccine Development.
HVTN &CoVPN Leadership Operations Center / Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Dr. Jim Kublin is currently Executive Director of the COVID-19 Prevention Network and HIV Vaccine Trials Network based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is also the Medical Director of the Seattle Malaria Clinical Trials Center, a translational research center established by Fred Hutch and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute to test experimental malaria vaccines and drugs in human clinical trials. Jim is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington and runs a lab focused on the impact of the microbiome on vaccine responses. Jim has conducted extensive research on HIV, TB and malaria in South America, SE Asia, and Africa, including clinical trials of novel therapies and vaccines. The Gates Foundation awarded Jim a Grand Challenges Exploration award to apply high-throughput system analyses to malaria vaccine development. Before moving to Seattle, Jim was Director, HIV Vaccines – Infectious Diseases, for Merck & Co., Inc where he played a key role in the development and implementation of HIV vaccine studies, overseeing the coordination of clinical assays, site identification and development, government and ethical approvals and providing guidance on vaccine policy issues. Jim completed his B.S. and M.D. at Georgetown University and received his M.P.H. and completed a residency in Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Jim continued work in vaccine development and molecular epidemiology while attending the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine for his fellowship in Vaccinology at the Center for Vaccine Development.
European Medicines Agency
Marco Cavaleri is Head of Office, Biological Health Threats and vaccines strategy. He is the Chair of EMA COVID Task force and responsible for EMA activities for emergent pathogens, vaccines and AMR.
Marco Cavaleri is a Pharmacologist who spent several years in industry in R&D mainly in the area of anti-infectives covering different positions in preclinical and clinical development.
In 2005 he joined the EMEA as Scientific Administrator in the Scientific Advice and Orphan Drugs Sector, specifically being in charge of anti-infectives and vaccines scientific advice procedures.
In 2009 he was appointed as Head of Section for Anti-infectives and vaccines in the Safety & Efficacy Sector, Human Medicines Development and Evaluation Unit.
European Medicines Agency
Marco Cavaleri is Head of Office, Biological Health Threats and vaccines strategy. He is the Chair of EMA COVID Task force and responsible for EMA activities for emergent pathogens, vaccines and AMR.
Marco Cavaleri is a Pharmacologist who spent several years in industry in R&D mainly in the area of anti-infectives covering different positions in preclinical and clinical development.
In 2005 he joined the EMEA as Scientific Administrator in the Scientific Advice and Orphan Drugs Sector, specifically being in charge of anti-infectives and vaccines scientific advice procedures.
In 2009 he was appointed as Head of Section for Anti-infectives and vaccines in the Safety & Efficacy Sector, Human Medicines Development and Evaluation Unit.
Laboratorio de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan
Senior Researcher, Molecular Biotechnology Laboraty
Luciana C.C. Leite, has PhD in Biochemistry from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). She was hired in 1987 at Instituto Butantan, at the Centro de Biotecnologia, changing to vaccine development following a Pos-Doc at Institut Pasteur. She has worked on the molecular biotechnology for development of vaccines, especially vaccines based on recombinant BCG. She has been Director of the Centro de Biotecnologia and Vice-President of Fundação Butantan. She is currently Senior Researcher at the Molecular Biotechnology laboratory of the Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, having over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals and several patents. She is member of the Academic Management Board of the master program of the Leading International Vaccinology Education of Erasmus/European Union and of the Ethics Committee for Research in Humans of USP.
Laboratorio de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan
Senior Researcher, Molecular Biotechnology Laboraty
Luciana C.C. Leite, has PhD in Biochemistry from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). She was hired in 1987 at Instituto Butantan, at the Centro de Biotecnologia, changing to vaccine development following a Pos-Doc at Institut Pasteur. She has worked on the molecular biotechnology for development of vaccines, especially vaccines based on recombinant BCG. She has been Director of the Centro de Biotecnologia and Vice-President of Fundação Butantan. She is currently Senior Researcher at the Molecular Biotechnology laboratory of the Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, having over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals and several patents. She is member of the Academic Management Board of the master program of the Leading International Vaccinology Education of Erasmus/European Union and of the Ethics Committee for Research in Humans of USP.
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
After graduating from UC Berkeley and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he trained at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. There, he practiced Rheumatology and established his lab, which focuses on immunity to tuberculosis. After 23 years, he joined the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he is currently Professor of Microbiology and Physiological Systems. Dr. Behar’s lab has made important contributions to our understanding of T cell immunity to tuberculosis. The lab’s ultimate goal is to determine the immunological basis for protective immunity so it can be leveraged in vaccine design and the development of novel vaccine strategies.
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
After graduating from UC Berkeley and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he trained at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. There, he practiced Rheumatology and established his lab, which focuses on immunity to tuberculosis. After 23 years, he joined the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he is currently Professor of Microbiology and Physiological Systems. Dr. Behar’s lab has made important contributions to our understanding of T cell immunity to tuberculosis. The lab’s ultimate goal is to determine the immunological basis for protective immunity so it can be leveraged in vaccine design and the development of novel vaccine strategies.
Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Lenette graduated with a BA in the Honors Program with a major in Biology and minor in Asian Studies from Swarthmore College where she worked in the laboratory of Elizabeth Vallen on yeast cell cycle regulation. As part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University, she obtained an MD and PhD in the Molecular Virology Program. Her graduate work in the laboratory of Ganes Sen focused on dsRNA mediated signaling and innate immunity in the context of paramyxovirus infections. She completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases in the Partners program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Sarah Fortune at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Galit Alter at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard focused on delineating the humoral landscape of immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lenette’s initial work characterized divergent humoral profiles in patients with clinically characterized distinct tuberculosis (TB) disease states that support an immunomodulatory role for antibodies. Using this approach, she went on to examine a population of individuals highly exposed to Mtb yet clinically not recognized as part of the spectrum of human disease. She showed robust humoral profiles in the context of non-canonical T cell responses, providing immunological parameters to help define an additional state of human TB and an alternative model towards understanding host responses to Mtb exposure. Lenette joined the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at UT Southwestern in 2019 with a clinical practice primarily at Parkland Health and Hospitals System and a research lab aimed at identifying the mechanisms by which antibodies modulate the host immune response in TB. Beyond TB, dissecting antibody functions is fundamentally relevant to all infectious disease where antibodies interface host and microbe, informing diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine design.
Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Lenette graduated with a BA in the Honors Program with a major in Biology and minor in Asian Studies from Swarthmore College where she worked in the laboratory of Elizabeth Vallen on yeast cell cycle regulation. As part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University, she obtained an MD and PhD in the Molecular Virology Program. Her graduate work in the laboratory of Ganes Sen focused on dsRNA mediated signaling and innate immunity in the context of paramyxovirus infections. She completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases in the Partners program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Sarah Fortune at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Galit Alter at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard focused on delineating the humoral landscape of immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lenette’s initial work characterized divergent humoral profiles in patients with clinically characterized distinct tuberculosis (TB) disease states that support an immunomodulatory role for antibodies. Using this approach, she went on to examine a population of individuals highly exposed to Mtb yet clinically not recognized as part of the spectrum of human disease. She showed robust humoral profiles in the context of non-canonical T cell responses, providing immunological parameters to help define an additional state of human TB and an alternative model towards understanding host responses to Mtb exposure. Lenette joined the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at UT Southwestern in 2019 with a clinical practice primarily at Parkland Health and Hospitals System and a research lab aimed at identifying the mechanisms by which antibodies modulate the host immune response in TB. Beyond TB, dissecting antibody functions is fundamentally relevant to all infectious disease where antibodies interface host and microbe, informing diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine design.
Survivors Against TB
Ms. Ashna Ashesh is a lawyer, public health professional and MDR TB Survivor associated with Survivors Against TB (SATB), a community group that works with TB survivors and diverse stakeholders to advocate on creating patient and community focussed paradigms of care in TB in India. Ashna’s work focuses on TB and mental health, gender and TB, and diversity, equity and inclusivity in patient support and care. She is a widely published writer and a strong voice in TB advocacy.
Survivors Against TB
Ms. Ashna Ashesh is a lawyer, public health professional and MDR TB Survivor associated with Survivors Against TB (SATB), a community group that works with TB survivors and diverse stakeholders to advocate on creating patient and community focussed paradigms of care in TB in India. Ashna’s work focuses on TB and mental health, gender and TB, and diversity, equity and inclusivity in patient support and care. She is a widely published writer and a strong voice in TB advocacy.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Strategic Advisor to the CEO and response lead
Nicole Lurie, M.D., M.S.P.H. is currently the Strategic Advisor to the CEO and response lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). She is also a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Medical School, a member of the research faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine. She served an 8-year term as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services. In that role she led the HHS response to numerous public health emergencies, ranging from infectious disease to natural and man-made disasters and is responsible for many innovations in emergency preparedness and response. She also chaired the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise, a government wide organization ultimately responsible for the development of medical countermeasures, including vaccines against pandemics and emerging threats. Dr. Lurie has a long history in health services research. Prior to federal service, she was the Paul O’Neill Professor of Policy Analysis at RAND, where she started and led the public health preparedness program and RAND’s Center for Population Health and Health Disparities. She has had leadership roles in academia, as Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Minnesota, as Medical Advisor to the Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health, and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Lurie received her BA and MD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her residency and public health training at UCLA. Her research has focused on access to and quality of care, health system redesign, equity, mental health, public health and preparedness. She is recipient of numerous awards and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She continues to practice clinical medicine in a community clinic in Washington DC.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Strategic Advisor to the CEO and response lead
Nicole Lurie, M.D., M.S.P.H. is currently the Strategic Advisor to the CEO and response lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). She is also a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Medical School, a member of the research faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine. She served an 8-year term as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services. In that role she led the HHS response to numerous public health emergencies, ranging from infectious disease to natural and man-made disasters and is responsible for many innovations in emergency preparedness and response. She also chaired the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise, a government wide organization ultimately responsible for the development of medical countermeasures, including vaccines against pandemics and emerging threats. Dr. Lurie has a long history in health services research. Prior to federal service, she was the Paul O’Neill Professor of Policy Analysis at RAND, where she started and led the public health preparedness program and RAND’s Center for Population Health and Health Disparities. She has had leadership roles in academia, as Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Minnesota, as Medical Advisor to the Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health, and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Lurie received her BA and MD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her residency and public health training at UCLA. Her research has focused on access to and quality of care, health system redesign, equity, mental health, public health and preparedness. She is recipient of numerous awards and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She continues to practice clinical medicine in a community clinic in Washington DC.
Global TB Community Advisory Board
Patrick is a Global Health specialist with experience working on diverse health topics including TB for management consulting and NGOs in Africa. He acts in a chair capacity for the Global Tuberculosis Community Advisory Board and is a member of the COVID-19 task force for Cote d’Ivoire. Patrick received a PharmD from Cheikh Anta Diop University (Dakar), a Master in Health Economics from the African Center for Advanced Management Studies and a Master in Development Practice from Sciences Po Paris.
Global TB Community Advisory Board
Patrick is a Global Health specialist with experience working on diverse health topics including TB for management consulting and NGOs in Africa. He acts in a chair capacity for the Global Tuberculosis Community Advisory Board and is a member of the COVID-19 task force for Cote d’Ivoire. Patrick received a PharmD from Cheikh Anta Diop University (Dakar), a Master in Health Economics from the African Center for Advanced Management Studies and a Master in Development Practice from Sciences Po Paris.
Western Cape Department of Health; Stellenbosch University
Public Health Medicine Specialist
Prof Hassan Mahomed, MBChB, MMed, PhD, works currently as a Public Health Medicine specialist at the Western Cape Government Dept of Health and Division of Health Systems and Public Health in the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University. In the Department of Health, he provides technical support for planning, monitoring and evaluation, health systems reform, health information systems development and outbreak response. He has played a key role in co-ordinating the province’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic including the vaccine rollout. At Stellenbosch University, he teaches public health and runs a clinical trials module. He supervises both masters and PhD students.
Western Cape Department of Health; Stellenbosch University
Public Health Medicine Specialist
Prof Hassan Mahomed, MBChB, MMed, PhD, works currently as a Public Health Medicine specialist at the Western Cape Government Dept of Health and Division of Health Systems and Public Health in the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University. In the Department of Health, he provides technical support for planning, monitoring and evaluation, health systems reform, health information systems development and outbreak response. He has played a key role in co-ordinating the province’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic including the vaccine rollout. At Stellenbosch University, he teaches public health and runs a clinical trials module. He supervises both masters and PhD students.
CITAMPlus
Carol is a renowned international TB/HIV activist, a passionate community representative who uses her personal experience with TB/HIV. She is Executive Director of CITAMplus, an NGO based in Zambia which works closely with NTP and a member of MoH TB TWG. She is board member representing affected communities on the boards of Stop TB Partnership and TBPeople and in the past Unitaid, Global Fund and The Union. At national levels she is FPP of the Parliamentary TB Caucus, national Stop TB Partnership and chairperson of CSOs TB network. Also past president of Africa Coalition on TB and a diagnostic champion.
CITAMPlus
Carol is a renowned international TB/HIV activist, a passionate community representative who uses her personal experience with TB/HIV. She is Executive Director of CITAMplus, an NGO based in Zambia which works closely with NTP and a member of MoH TB TWG. She is board member representing affected communities on the boards of Stop TB Partnership and TBPeople and in the past Unitaid, Global Fund and The Union. At national levels she is FPP of the Parliamentary TB Caucus, national Stop TB Partnership and chairperson of CSOs TB network. Also past president of Africa Coalition on TB and a diagnostic champion.
EDCTP
Executive Director
Dr. Makanga, MD, PhD, FRCP, is a clinician-scientist with 28 years of professional experience of working on health and poverty-related infectious diseases involving Africa. This includes 24 years of work experience on medical product development and clinical regulatory activities. He holds a Medical Degree from Makerere University, Uganda, a master’s degree at the University of Liverpool, and a PhD in Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Dr Makanga is EDCTP Executive Director. Before joining EDCTP, Dr Makanga was first in clinical practice and academia, and later clinical research and research management. Moreover, he has served in various scientific and policy advisory boards for international product development, philanthropic organisations, World Bank, European Union initiatives and pharmaceutical companies involved in developing medicinal products for poverty related and neglected diseases.
EDCTP
Executive Director
Dr. Makanga, MD, PhD, FRCP, is a clinician-scientist with 28 years of professional experience of working on health and poverty-related infectious diseases involving Africa. This includes 24 years of work experience on medical product development and clinical regulatory activities. He holds a Medical Degree from Makerere University, Uganda, a master’s degree at the University of Liverpool, and a PhD in Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Dr Makanga is EDCTP Executive Director. Before joining EDCTP, Dr Makanga was first in clinical practice and academia, and later clinical research and research management. Moreover, he has served in various scientific and policy advisory boards for international product development, philanthropic organisations, World Bank, European Union initiatives and pharmaceutical companies involved in developing medicinal products for poverty related and neglected diseases.
Undersecretary of Health, Department of Health
Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire is the current Undersecretary for the Public Health Services Team and the official spokesperson of the Philippine Department of Health. She was previously the OIC-Undersecretary for Health Regulation Team and Assistant Secretary in charge of the Public Health Services Team. She also acted as OIC- Deputy Director-General Field Regulatory Operation – Food and Drug Administration, Office Director of the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau, and Chief of the Health Research Division of the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau. Undersecretary Vergeire has committed decades to public service, having worked in Marikina City’s health office before joining the Department of Health in 2007. Aside from public service, she is also committed to nurturing our soon-to-be public health leaders serving as faculty at the Development Academy of the Philippines and part-time faculty in Ateneo School of Government. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Santo Tomas, her MD from De La Salle University College of Medicine, and her MPH from the University of the Philippines, Manila.
Undersecretary of Health, Department of Health
Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire is the current Undersecretary for the Public Health Services Team and the official spokesperson of the Philippine Department of Health. She was previously the OIC-Undersecretary for Health Regulation Team and Assistant Secretary in charge of the Public Health Services Team. She also acted as OIC- Deputy Director-General Field Regulatory Operation – Food and Drug Administration, Office Director of the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau, and Chief of the Health Research Division of the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau. Undersecretary Vergeire has committed decades to public service, having worked in Marikina City’s health office before joining the Department of Health in 2007. Aside from public service, she is also committed to nurturing our soon-to-be public health leaders serving as faculty at the Development Academy of the Philippines and part-time faculty in Ateneo School of Government. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Santo Tomas, her MD from De La Salle University College of Medicine, and her MPH from the University of the Philippines, Manila.
Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW)
Advocacy Officer, EU
Agustin Martin is an advocacy officer at DSW, following health, research and budgetary affairs. He is responsible for building relations with EU and African authorities and stakeholders, conducting legislative analysis and developing advocacy campaigns. Agustin has eight years of professional experience in EU affairs and holds Master degrees in political science and law.
Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW)
Advocacy Officer, EU
Agustin Martin is an advocacy officer at DSW, following health, research and budgetary affairs. He is responsible for building relations with EU and African authorities and stakeholders, conducting legislative analysis and developing advocacy campaigns. Agustin has eight years of professional experience in EU affairs and holds Master degrees in political science and law.
DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Dr. Barbara Kerstiëns, MD, MPH is the Head of Unit in the unit responsible for ‘Combatting Diseases’ in the PEOPLE Directorate of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission. She has a long experience in international public health, working for Médecins Sans Frontières, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health and DG Development and Cooperation of the European Commission prior to joining DG Research and Innovation in 2012 where she has consistently worked in medical research and funding. Barbara Kerstiëns received her M.D. from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a Postgraduate Certificate in Tropical Medicine from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp and a Master of Public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Dr. Barbara Kerstiëns, MD, MPH is the Head of Unit in the unit responsible for ‘Combatting Diseases’ in the PEOPLE Directorate of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission. She has a long experience in international public health, working for Médecins Sans Frontières, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health and DG Development and Cooperation of the European Commission prior to joining DG Research and Innovation in 2012 where she has consistently worked in medical research and funding. Barbara Kerstiëns received her M.D. from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a Postgraduate Certificate in Tropical Medicine from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp and a Master of Public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Helen McShane is currently Director of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre; Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University; Deputy Head (Translation and Personnel), Medical Sciences Division; and an Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases. Helen obtained an intercalated BSc in 1988, followed by a degree in medicine in 1991 (both University of London). In 1997 She was awarded an MRC Clinical Training Fellowship to undertake a PhD with Adrian Hill in Oxford, and was later awarded a PhD in 2001 (University of London). In 2001 she was awarded a Wellcome Clinician Scientist Fellowship, allowing her to complete her clinical training and subsequently awarded a CCST in HIV and GU Medicine in 2003. In 2005 and 2010, she was awarded a Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellowship. She currently holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award. Helen was elected to be a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2019. Since 2001, Helen has lead a TB vaccine research group at the University of Oxford. She led the development of MVA85A, the first new TB vaccine candidate to enter efficacy testing. Current areas of focus include the development of controlled human mycobacterial challenge models, aerosol delivery of vaccines and immunomonitoring in clinical trials. She collaborates with several research groups across Africa in TB vaccine clinical trials. Most recently, Helen has been leading the coordination of COVID-19 drug trials within Oxford and nationally and is now leading a programme to establish a controlled human infection model with SARS CoV2 which will allow the evaluation of protective immunity.
The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Helen McShane is currently Director of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre; Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University; Deputy Head (Translation and Personnel), Medical Sciences Division; and an Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases. Helen obtained an intercalated BSc in 1988, followed by a degree in medicine in 1991 (both University of London). In 1997 She was awarded an MRC Clinical Training Fellowship to undertake a PhD with Adrian Hill in Oxford, and was later awarded a PhD in 2001 (University of London). In 2001 she was awarded a Wellcome Clinician Scientist Fellowship, allowing her to complete her clinical training and subsequently awarded a CCST in HIV and GU Medicine in 2003. In 2005 and 2010, she was awarded a Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellowship. She currently holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award. Helen was elected to be a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2019. Since 2001, Helen has lead a TB vaccine research group at the University of Oxford. She led the development of MVA85A, the first new TB vaccine candidate to enter efficacy testing. Current areas of focus include the development of controlled human mycobacterial challenge models, aerosol delivery of vaccines and immunomonitoring in clinical trials. She collaborates with several research groups across Africa in TB vaccine clinical trials. Most recently, Helen has been leading the coordination of COVID-19 drug trials within Oxford and nationally and is now leading a programme to establish a controlled human infection model with SARS CoV2 which will allow the evaluation of protective immunity.
French Ambassador for Global Health
Stéphanie Seydoux has been appointed French Ambassador for Global health in 2018, representing France in various international organizations (Global Fund, Unitaid…). She was involved in the 6th Global Fund replenishment conference in Lyon, in October 2019 and is currently active in the French multilateral response to the Covid crisis (in particular through ACT-A), which was developed alongside strengthening major health and development priorities such as health system strengthening, gender equality, the fight against pandemics for instance.
After starting her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stéphanie Seydoux joined the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) in 2004. From 2007 to 2010, she was Head of Equality Promotion at the French Independent Equality Commission. From 2010 to 2013, she was Deputy Ambassador at the French Embassy in Kenya. She was head of the French Women’s rights department from 2014 to 2017.
Stéphanie Seydoux holds a master’s degree in literature from the University of Oxford, a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and is a former student of the National School of Administration (ENA) – promotion “Léopold Sédar Senghor”
French Ambassador for Global Health
Stéphanie Seydoux has been appointed French Ambassador for Global health in 2018, representing France in various international organizations (Global Fund, Unitaid…). She was involved in the 6th Global Fund replenishment conference in Lyon, in October 2019 and is currently active in the French multilateral response to the Covid crisis (in particular through ACT-A), which was developed alongside strengthening major health and development priorities such as health system strengthening, gender equality, the fight against pandemics for instance.
After starting her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stéphanie Seydoux joined the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) in 2004. From 2007 to 2010, she was Head of Equality Promotion at the French Independent Equality Commission. From 2010 to 2013, she was Deputy Ambassador at the French Embassy in Kenya. She was head of the French Women’s rights department from 2014 to 2017.
Stéphanie Seydoux holds a master’s degree in literature from the University of Oxford, a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and is a former student of the National School of Administration (ENA) – promotion “Léopold Sédar Senghor”
Eh!woza
Impact Assessment Researcher
Cheleka Anne-Marie Mpande is an immunologist by training with a passion for public engagement and science communication. Cheleka recently submitted her doctoral thesis in the field of immunology undertaken via the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town. During her graduate studies, Cheleka became involved in Eh!woza, first as a “Labbie” facilitator then as the main facilitator of the Tuberculosis Vaccinology workshops (2016-2019). In late 2020, Cheleka officially joined the Eh!woza team as the Impact Assessment Researcher, and coordinator of the scientific communications arm of Eh!woza. Her role primarily focuses on the development and implementation of innovative methods to assess the impact of Eh!woza’s public engagement projects.
Eh!woza
Impact Assessment Researcher
Cheleka Anne-Marie Mpande is an immunologist by training with a passion for public engagement and science communication. Cheleka recently submitted her doctoral thesis in the field of immunology undertaken via the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town. During her graduate studies, Cheleka became involved in Eh!woza, first as a “Labbie” facilitator then as the main facilitator of the Tuberculosis Vaccinology workshops (2016-2019). In late 2020, Cheleka officially joined the Eh!woza team as the Impact Assessment Researcher, and coordinator of the scientific communications arm of Eh!woza. Her role primarily focuses on the development and implementation of innovative methods to assess the impact of Eh!woza’s public engagement projects.
Director, Global TB Programme, World Health Organization
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, MD, PhD is the Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Programme. Since 2018, she has been leading WHO’s work on norms, policies and standards on TB prevention and care; technical support to countries, including through the three-level WHO TB technical expert network; monitoring the global TB epidemic; promoting TB research & innovations and strengthening political and multisectoral engagement, accountability and advocacy to End TB. Dr Kasaeva has more than 28 years of experience in public health and in leading innovative efforts for socially significant diseases, including TB, with over a decade with the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
Director, Global TB Programme, World Health Organization
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, MD, PhD is the Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Programme. Since 2018, she has been leading WHO’s work on norms, policies and standards on TB prevention and care; technical support to countries, including through the three-level WHO TB technical expert network; monitoring the global TB epidemic; promoting TB research & innovations and strengthening political and multisectoral engagement, accountability and advocacy to End TB. Dr Kasaeva has more than 28 years of experience in public health and in leading innovative efforts for socially significant diseases, including TB, with over a decade with the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
Janssen Vaccines & Prevention
Global Medical Affairs Leader, Vaccines
Valerie Oriol Mathieu is Global Medical Affairs Leader, Vaccines. In her role, Valerie is the Medical Affairs Lead for the licensed Janssen vaccines and the vaccine portfolio in R&D. Valerie is a Medical Doctor, holds a Masters in strategic management, and Vaccinology degrees. After a few years of clinical practice, she worked for contract research organizations, focusing on late clinical development and post-marketing studies. In 2006, Valerie joined the vaccine industry within Medical Affairs where she worked in the field of enteric diseases, influenza and travel vaccines. She later moved to Scientific Affairs, and finally she evolved to Policy responsibilities.
For more than 5 years, Valerie has worked with Janssen Vaccines as Director Global Vaccines Policy and Partnership where she was responsible for policy strategy for candidate vaccines in development at Janssen in the field of respiratory diseases, HIV, Ebola and Extra-intestinal E.coli. In her role she has been analyzing global societal and political perspectives on public health, related to the prevention of infectious diseases through vaccination. She has developed Janssen positions on vaccine policies in order to serve Janssen reputational and business objectives. She led Janssen representation in several vaccine working groups with trade associations, public health authorities, international coalitions and expert groups. She is a founding member of VaccinesToday.eu, with expertise in knowledge sharing from high level vaccinology education to social media conversation with lay public.
In 2016, she became Global Medical Affairs Leader for Vaccines, responsible for optimizing development and use of our vaccines through qualitative and compliant engagement with medical community. She leads disseminating science, understanding medical needs, contributing to clinical development plans for late phases and post-licensure evaluation (health outcomes, real world data), preparing for vaccine program implementation in countries with a focus on platform technologies, emerging diseases and HIV. She is part of the Good Participatory Practices team, and involved in public-private interactions for development and access projects (e.g. IMI projects).
Janssen Vaccines & Prevention
Global Medical Affairs Leader, Vaccines
Valerie Oriol Mathieu is Global Medical Affairs Leader, Vaccines. In her role, Valerie is the Medical Affairs Lead for the licensed Janssen vaccines and the vaccine portfolio in R&D. Valerie is a Medical Doctor, holds a Masters in strategic management, and Vaccinology degrees. After a few years of clinical practice, she worked for contract research organizations, focusing on late clinical development and post-marketing studies. In 2006, Valerie joined the vaccine industry within Medical Affairs where she worked in the field of enteric diseases, influenza and travel vaccines. She later moved to Scientific Affairs, and finally she evolved to Policy responsibilities.
For more than 5 years, Valerie has worked with Janssen Vaccines as Director Global Vaccines Policy and Partnership where she was responsible for policy strategy for candidate vaccines in development at Janssen in the field of respiratory diseases, HIV, Ebola and Extra-intestinal E.coli. In her role she has been analyzing global societal and political perspectives on public health, related to the prevention of infectious diseases through vaccination. She has developed Janssen positions on vaccine policies in order to serve Janssen reputational and business objectives. She led Janssen representation in several vaccine working groups with trade associations, public health authorities, international coalitions and expert groups. She is a founding member of VaccinesToday.eu, with expertise in knowledge sharing from high level vaccinology education to social media conversation with lay public.
In 2016, she became Global Medical Affairs Leader for Vaccines, responsible for optimizing development and use of our vaccines through qualitative and compliant engagement with medical community. She leads disseminating science, understanding medical needs, contributing to clinical development plans for late phases and post-licensure evaluation (health outcomes, real world data), preparing for vaccine program implementation in countries with a focus on platform technologies, emerging diseases and HIV. She is part of the Good Participatory Practices team, and involved in public-private interactions for development and access projects (e.g. IMI projects).
President, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Trevor Mundel leads the foundation’s efforts to develop high-impact interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries. He manages the foundation’s disease-specific R&D investments in HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, enteric and diarrheal diseases and neglected tropical diseases. He also manages cross-cutting product development programs, including Discovery & Translational Sciences, Innovative Technology Solutions, Integrated Development, and Vaccine Development & Surveillance. This work relies on close collaboration with an international network of grantees and partners.
Trevor spearheaded the creation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, and leads the foundation’s efforts to support the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for the global response to COVID-19.
Prior to joining the foundation in 2011, Trevor was global head of development with Novartis and previously was involved in clinical research at Pfizer and Parke-Davis.
Born and raised in South Africa, Trevor earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He also studied mathematics, logic, and philosophy as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and he earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Chicago.
President, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Trevor Mundel leads the foundation’s efforts to develop high-impact interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries. He manages the foundation’s disease-specific R&D investments in HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, enteric and diarrheal diseases and neglected tropical diseases. He also manages cross-cutting product development programs, including Discovery & Translational Sciences, Innovative Technology Solutions, Integrated Development, and Vaccine Development & Surveillance. This work relies on close collaboration with an international network of grantees and partners.
Trevor spearheaded the creation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, and leads the foundation’s efforts to support the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for the global response to COVID-19.
Prior to joining the foundation in 2011, Trevor was global head of development with Novartis and previously was involved in clinical research at Pfizer and Parke-Davis.
Born and raised in South Africa, Trevor earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He also studied mathematics, logic, and philosophy as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and he earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Chicago.
Pediatrician
Uvi Naidoo is a specialist paediatrician in Cape Town, South Africa with academic interest in childhood TB immunology. His passion as a clinician, scientist and TB advocate stems from him requiring 3years of treatment to be cured from MDR-TB. He is presently oxygen-dependent at the moment, recovering from COVID-19 complications but remains hopeful that momentum for TB eradication will not be blunted.
Pediatrician
Uvi Naidoo is a specialist paediatrician in Cape Town, South Africa with academic interest in childhood TB immunology. His passion as a clinician, scientist and TB advocate stems from him requiring 3years of treatment to be cured from MDR-TB. He is presently oxygen-dependent at the moment, recovering from COVID-19 complications but remains hopeful that momentum for TB eradication will not be blunted.
CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
A pioneer in global public health for more than 35 years, Dr Seth Berkley has been a champion of equitable access to vaccines and of innovation, and a driving force to improve the way the world prevents and responds to infectious disease. A medical doctor and infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr Berkley joined Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as its CEO in August 2011. During his tenure, Gavi has increased coverage of routine immunisation in lower-income countries: even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Gavi was helping protect nearly half the world’s children, vaccinating more than 820 million people in its first 20 years, reducing vaccine-preventable child deaths by 70% and preventing more than 14 million deaths. In 2020, Dr Berkley co-created COVAX, the only multilateral global solution aimed at ending the acute phase of the pandemic by providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for people in all countries, regardless of their ability to pay. Prior to Gavi, in 1996, Dr Berkley founded the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), where he served as President and CEO for 15 years. Previously, Dr Berkley worked for The Rockefeller Foundation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and the Carter Center, where he was assigned as an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health in Uganda. Dr Berkley sits on a number of international steering committees and corporate and not-for-profit boards; has held academic appointments at Brown, Columbia and New York Universities; and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Geneva. Dr Berkley received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Brown University and trained in internal medicine at Harvard University. In 2013, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In 2021, Dr Berkley received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda.
CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
A pioneer in global public health for more than 35 years, Dr Seth Berkley has been a champion of equitable access to vaccines and of innovation, and a driving force to improve the way the world prevents and responds to infectious disease. A medical doctor and infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr Berkley joined Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as its CEO in August 2011. During his tenure, Gavi has increased coverage of routine immunisation in lower-income countries: even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Gavi was helping protect nearly half the world’s children, vaccinating more than 820 million people in its first 20 years, reducing vaccine-preventable child deaths by 70% and preventing more than 14 million deaths. In 2020, Dr Berkley co-created COVAX, the only multilateral global solution aimed at ending the acute phase of the pandemic by providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for people in all countries, regardless of their ability to pay. Prior to Gavi, in 1996, Dr Berkley founded the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), where he served as President and CEO for 15 years. Previously, Dr Berkley worked for The Rockefeller Foundation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and the Carter Center, where he was assigned as an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health in Uganda. Dr Berkley sits on a number of international steering committees and corporate and not-for-profit boards; has held academic appointments at Brown, Columbia and New York Universities; and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Geneva. Dr Berkley received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Brown University and trained in internal medicine at Harvard University. In 2013, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In 2021, Dr Berkley received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Senior Mangaer, Policy
Deepali is Senior Manager, Policy at Gavi. Her work includes the design of Gavi’s funding model and the identification of of high value vaccine investments. In her 6 years at Gavi, Deepali developed Gavi’s market-shaping strategy for 2016-2020 and co-led the Vaccine Investment Strategy in 2018. She currently oversees a portfolio of work that includes monitoring the future pipeline of vaccines of high public health priority to Gavi implementing countries. Prior to Gavi, she worked at the National Academies of Medicine in the US and was a Fulbright Scholar in Mongolia. She has an MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a BS from Georgetown University.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Senior Mangaer, Policy
Deepali is Senior Manager, Policy at Gavi. Her work includes the design of Gavi’s funding model and the identification of of high value vaccine investments. In her 6 years at Gavi, Deepali developed Gavi’s market-shaping strategy for 2016-2020 and co-led the Vaccine Investment Strategy in 2018. She currently oversees a portfolio of work that includes monitoring the future pipeline of vaccines of high public health priority to Gavi implementing countries. Prior to Gavi, she worked at the National Academies of Medicine in the US and was a Fulbright Scholar in Mongolia. She has an MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a BS from Georgetown University.
Chair of the Executive Board, Unitaid; Former French Minister of Health
After studying at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, where she specialized in economics and social issues, Marisol Touraine studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris as well as at the prestigious Harvard University in the United States. She served as an Adviser to the Prime Minister from 1988 to 1991 in charge of geostrategic issues, and she became a member of the Council of State in 1991. She then held the positions of Member of Parliament and General Councilor of Indre et Loire for several years before being appointed Minister of Social Affairs, Health and Women’s Rights (2012-2017). She distinguished herself in this position in particular by her measures in favor of the authorization and financial coverage of innovative HIV prevention methods as well as by her fight in favor of neutral cigarette packs, which earned her the WHO award in 2016. She has been Chair of the Unitaid Board since June 2019.
Chair of the Executive Board, Unitaid; Former French Minister of Health
After studying at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, where she specialized in economics and social issues, Marisol Touraine studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris as well as at the prestigious Harvard University in the United States. She served as an Adviser to the Prime Minister from 1988 to 1991 in charge of geostrategic issues, and she became a member of the Council of State in 1991. She then held the positions of Member of Parliament and General Councilor of Indre et Loire for several years before being appointed Minister of Social Affairs, Health and Women’s Rights (2012-2017). She distinguished herself in this position in particular by her measures in favor of the authorization and financial coverage of innovative HIV prevention methods as well as by her fight in favor of neutral cigarette packs, which earned her the WHO award in 2016. She has been Chair of the Unitaid Board since June 2019.
Wits RHI, Wits University
Professor
Professor Helen Rees is Founder and Executive Director of Wits RHI at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a Personal Professor in the University of Witwatersrand’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Co-Director of ALIVE (African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise) which is Wits University’s flagship vaccinology programme. She is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Clinical Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Prof Rees has extensive experience in the field of medicines regulation and Chairs the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). She has been very involved in national, regional and global response efforts to COVID-19 including the development of COVID-19 vaccines, their potential rollout and utilization. In South Africa, Prof Rees is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 vaccines and Chairs the VACC-MAC COVID-19 Variant Technical Working Group. Internationally, she is a member of the COVAX committee on COVID-19 maternal immunization, a member of WHO’s expert committee on COVID-19 vaccines and a member of WHO’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards. GAVI, CEPI and WHO are jointly driving the global COVID vaccine effort including the COVAX facility, and Prof Rees is involved with the oversight of the COVAX facility. She is a member of the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on COVID-19. Prof Rees has worked extensively with WHO and other institutions in the African region and Chairs the WHO’s African Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (RITAG). Prof Rees is widely recognised for her work as a global health practitioner and has been appointed as chair and member of many international scientific committees and Boards. She is currently the chair of WHO’s International Health Regulation (IHR) Polio Emergency Committee and Co-Chair of the WHO SAGE Working Group on Ebola Vaccines. Prof Rees is a member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) Board and chairs the Gavi Programme and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI) Board and chairs the CEPI Scientific Advisory Committee.
Wits RHI, Wits University
Professor
Professor Helen Rees is Founder and Executive Director of Wits RHI at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a Personal Professor in the University of Witwatersrand’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Co-Director of ALIVE (African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise) which is Wits University’s flagship vaccinology programme. She is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Clinical Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Prof Rees has extensive experience in the field of medicines regulation and Chairs the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). She has been very involved in national, regional and global response efforts to COVID-19 including the development of COVID-19 vaccines, their potential rollout and utilization. In South Africa, Prof Rees is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 vaccines and Chairs the VACC-MAC COVID-19 Variant Technical Working Group. Internationally, she is a member of the COVAX committee on COVID-19 maternal immunization, a member of WHO’s expert committee on COVID-19 vaccines and a member of WHO’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards. GAVI, CEPI and WHO are jointly driving the global COVID vaccine effort including the COVAX facility, and Prof Rees is involved with the oversight of the COVAX facility. She is a member of the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on COVID-19. Prof Rees has worked extensively with WHO and other institutions in the African region and Chairs the WHO’s African Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (RITAG). Prof Rees is widely recognised for her work as a global health practitioner and has been appointed as chair and member of many international scientific committees and Boards. She is currently the chair of WHO’s International Health Regulation (IHR) Polio Emergency Committee and Co-Chair of the WHO SAGE Working Group on Ebola Vaccines. Prof Rees is a member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) Board and chairs the Gavi Programme and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI) Board and chairs the CEPI Scientific Advisory Committee.
Emeritus Professor, Institut Pasteur and College de France
Prof. Philippe Sansonetti is MD, he trained in infectious diseases in Paris hospitals and in bacterial genetics at Institut Pasteur, Paris, then at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as a post-doctoral scientist. He is currently Emeritus Professor at Institut Pasteur and at the Collège de France, and Chief Scientist at Institut Pasteur Shanghai.
He pioneered the field of Cellular Microbiology by deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Shigella pathogenesis. He more recently applied similar approaches to decipher the symbiotic mechanisms established between the host and his gut microbiota. His work on Shigella vaccine development got him close to global health issues in low-income countries, particularly in Africa. Philippe Sansonetti is a member of the French “Académie des sciences”, and a foreign member of the US National Academy of Sciences and of the Royal Society.
Emeritus Professor, Institut Pasteur and College de France
Prof. Philippe Sansonetti is MD, he trained in infectious diseases in Paris hospitals and in bacterial genetics at Institut Pasteur, Paris, then at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as a post-doctoral scientist. He is currently Emeritus Professor at Institut Pasteur and at the Collège de France, and Chief Scientist at Institut Pasteur Shanghai.
He pioneered the field of Cellular Microbiology by deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Shigella pathogenesis. He more recently applied similar approaches to decipher the symbiotic mechanisms established between the host and his gut microbiota. His work on Shigella vaccine development got him close to global health issues in low-income countries, particularly in Africa. Philippe Sansonetti is a member of the French “Académie des sciences”, and a foreign member of the US National Academy of Sciences and of the Royal Society.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
Head of Vaccine Development
Alex Schmidt is Head of Vaccine Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Alex received his M.D./Ph.D. from Freie Universität Berlin and trained in pediatrics at Charité and The German Heart Center. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) at NIAID, NIH, and then returned to Berlin for group leader & faculty positions in pediatrics. He re-joined LID from 2005 to 2011 for translational and clinical R&D, and then joined GSK Vaccines, where he led clinical vaccine development programs for dengue, RSV and influenza viruses. Alex joined Gates MRI in 2018 as the clinical lead for TB vaccine development.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
Head of Vaccine Development
Alex Schmidt is Head of Vaccine Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Alex received his M.D./Ph.D. from Freie Universität Berlin and trained in pediatrics at Charité and The German Heart Center. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) at NIAID, NIH, and then returned to Berlin for group leader & faculty positions in pediatrics. He re-joined LID from 2005 to 2011 for translational and clinical R&D, and then joined GSK Vaccines, where he led clinical vaccine development programs for dengue, RSV and influenza viruses. Alex joined Gates MRI in 2018 as the clinical lead for TB vaccine development.
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Director
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, where he oversees an extensive research portfolio focused on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. As the long-time chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Dr. Fauci has made many seminal contributions in basic and clinical research and is one of the world’s most-cited biomedical scientists. He was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world.
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Director
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, where he oversees an extensive research portfolio focused on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. As the long-time chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Dr. Fauci has made many seminal contributions in basic and clinical research and is one of the world’s most-cited biomedical scientists. He was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world.
Unitaid
Technical Manager, Strategy Team
Dr. Cherise P. Scott is a global health specialist with over a decade of experience in developing and advancing innovations and products for neglected diseases. Dr. Scott’s experience spans preclinical to market work, and she has collaborated with stakeholders and partners in resource-limited settings across 30 countries. She received her PhD in international health with a focus on tuberculosis and vaccine development from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has a Master of Public Health and a BS in biology from Florida A & M University.
Unitaid
Technical Manager, Strategy Team
Dr. Cherise P. Scott is a global health specialist with over a decade of experience in developing and advancing innovations and products for neglected diseases. Dr. Scott’s experience spans preclinical to market work, and she has collaborated with stakeholders and partners in resource-limited settings across 30 countries. She received her PhD in international health with a focus on tuberculosis and vaccine development from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has a Master of Public Health and a BS in biology from Florida A & M University.
Director-General, World Health Organization
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected WHO Director-General for a five-year term by WHO Member States at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017. In doing so, he was the first WHO Director-General elected from among multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and was the first person from the WHO African Region to head the world’s leading public health agency. Born in the Eritrean city of Asmara, Dr Tedros graduated from the University of Asmara with a Bachelor of Biology, before earning a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the University of London, a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Health from the University of Nottingham and an Honorary Fellowship from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Following his studies, Dr Tedros returned to Ethiopia to support the delivery of health services, first working as a field-level malariologist, before heading a regional health service and later serving in Ethiopia’s federal government for over a decade as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012, he led a comprehensive reform of the country’s health system, built on the foundation of universal health coverage and provision of services to all people, even in the most remote areas.
Under his leadership, Ethiopia expanded its health infrastructure, developed innovative health financing mechanisms, and expanded its health workforce. A major component of reforms he drove was the creation of a primary health care extension programme that deployed 40 000 female health workers throughout the country. A significant result was an approximate 60% reduction in child and maternal mortality compared to 2000 levels.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016, he elevated health as a political issue nationally, regionally and globally. In this role, he led efforts to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Director-General, World Health Organization
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected WHO Director-General for a five-year term by WHO Member States at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017. In doing so, he was the first WHO Director-General elected from among multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and was the first person from the WHO African Region to head the world’s leading public health agency. Born in the Eritrean city of Asmara, Dr Tedros graduated from the University of Asmara with a Bachelor of Biology, before earning a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the University of London, a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Health from the University of Nottingham and an Honorary Fellowship from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Following his studies, Dr Tedros returned to Ethiopia to support the delivery of health services, first working as a field-level malariologist, before heading a regional health service and later serving in Ethiopia’s federal government for over a decade as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012, he led a comprehensive reform of the country’s health system, built on the foundation of universal health coverage and provision of services to all people, even in the most remote areas.
Under his leadership, Ethiopia expanded its health infrastructure, developed innovative health financing mechanisms, and expanded its health workforce. A major component of reforms he drove was the creation of a primary health care extension programme that deployed 40 000 female health workers throughout the country. A significant result was an approximate 60% reduction in child and maternal mortality compared to 2000 levels.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016, he elevated health as a political issue nationally, regionally and globally. In this role, he led efforts to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Indian Council of Medical Research
Scientist E, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases
Dr. Manjula Singh, is Scientist E (Deputy Director General), Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India. She is a Medical Doctor with Ph.D in ‘Immunology’ and training in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology.
She has a vast experience of more than 18 years in the area of Tuberculosis, leprosy & HIV research and has been involved in many clinical trials in these areas. Currently she is the Programme Officer for tuberculosis research at ICMR including Indo-US collaboration on tuberculosis research and is the co-ordinator of several clinical and implementation research studies on TB.
She is a member of National Technical Resource Group of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), Central TB Division under Ministry of Health & family Welfare, Government of India and has also served as member of WHO’s Global Task Force on TB Research. She is the coordinator of TB research activities of the ‘BRICS TB research network’ from ICMR and is involved in planning and executing multicountry research activities among BRICS countries.
She is the key person involved in the establishment and co-ordination of activities under ‘India TB Research consortium’ (ITRC), a flagship programme of ICMR focussed on development of new tools and strategies in four thematic areas (diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and implementation research) of TB research to tackle TB in a mission mode which has won the prestigious International ‘KOCHON Prize’ 2017 for accelerating TB R&D in the country. She is co-ordinating several studies on newer drug regimen, newer diagnostics and implementation strategies under ITRC. She is currently leading the Phase III TB vaccine trial with two vaccines for prevention of TB in healthy household contacts of TB cases.
She has won the ‘BMJ infectious disease initiative of the year in 2018’ and National e-Governance award, 2019 by Ministry of Public Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India for ‘Outstanding research on citizen centric services’ by research Institutions for undertaking the multicentric research of mobile TB diagnostics van intervention in tribal areas in 5 states of India through ICMR Institutes.
Indian Council of Medical Research
Scientist E, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases
Dr. Manjula Singh, is Scientist E (Deputy Director General), Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India. She is a Medical Doctor with Ph.D in ‘Immunology’ and training in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology.
She has a vast experience of more than 18 years in the area of Tuberculosis, leprosy & HIV research and has been involved in many clinical trials in these areas. Currently she is the Programme Officer for tuberculosis research at ICMR including Indo-US collaboration on tuberculosis research and is the co-ordinator of several clinical and implementation research studies on TB.
She is a member of National Technical Resource Group of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), Central TB Division under Ministry of Health & family Welfare, Government of India and has also served as member of WHO’s Global Task Force on TB Research. She is the coordinator of TB research activities of the ‘BRICS TB research network’ from ICMR and is involved in planning and executing multicountry research activities among BRICS countries.
She is the key person involved in the establishment and co-ordination of activities under ‘India TB Research consortium’ (ITRC), a flagship programme of ICMR focussed on development of new tools and strategies in four thematic areas (diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and implementation research) of TB research to tackle TB in a mission mode which has won the prestigious International ‘KOCHON Prize’ 2017 for accelerating TB R&D in the country. She is co-ordinating several studies on newer drug regimen, newer diagnostics and implementation strategies under ITRC. She is currently leading the Phase III TB vaccine trial with two vaccines for prevention of TB in healthy household contacts of TB cases.
She has won the ‘BMJ infectious disease initiative of the year in 2018’ and National e-Governance award, 2019 by Ministry of Public Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India for ‘Outstanding research on citizen centric services’ by research Institutions for undertaking the multicentric research of mobile TB diagnostics van intervention in tribal areas in 5 states of India through ICMR Institutes.
Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Jean-Eric Paquet became Director-General of DG Research and Innovation on 1st April 2018; his involvement in EU research policy dates back from 2002, as Deputy Head of Cabinet of Philippe Busquin, then Commissioner in charge of Research and Development. He also worked in DG Transport, where he led the development of the Trans-European Transport Network Policy. He was also EU Ambassador in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 2004 to 2007. Between 2015 and 2018, he was the Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission in charge of Better Regulation and Policy Coordination. In all his endeavours, he puts co-creation and systemic change at the heart of the decision-making process, and strongly believes that citizens should be more involved in shaping public policy agendas.
Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Jean-Eric Paquet became Director-General of DG Research and Innovation on 1st April 2018; his involvement in EU research policy dates back from 2002, as Deputy Head of Cabinet of Philippe Busquin, then Commissioner in charge of Research and Development. He also worked in DG Transport, where he led the development of the Trans-European Transport Network Policy. He was also EU Ambassador in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 2004 to 2007. Between 2015 and 2018, he was the Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission in charge of Better Regulation and Policy Coordination. In all his endeavours, he puts co-creation and systemic change at the heart of the decision-making process, and strongly believes that citizens should be more involved in shaping public policy agendas.
World Health Organization
Chief Scientist
Dr Soumya Swaminathan was appointed WHO’s first Chief Scientist in March 2019. A paediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she brings with her 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017. In that position, she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools and forging south-south partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva.
She received her academic training in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and has published more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is an elected Foreign Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of all three science academies in India. The Science division’s role is to ensure that WHO stays ahead of the curve and leverages advances in science and technology for public health and clinical care, as well as ensuring that the norms, standards and guidelines produced by WHO are scientifically excellent, relevant and timely. Her vision is to ensure that WHO is at the cutting edge of science and is able to translate new knowledge into meaningful impact on population health worldwide.
World Health Organization
Chief Scientist
Dr Soumya Swaminathan was appointed WHO’s first Chief Scientist in March 2019. A paediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she brings with her 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017. In that position, she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools and forging south-south partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva.
She received her academic training in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and has published more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is an elected Foreign Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of all three science academies in India. The Science division’s role is to ensure that WHO stays ahead of the curve and leverages advances in science and technology for public health and clinical care, as well as ensuring that the norms, standards and guidelines produced by WHO are scientifically excellent, relevant and timely. Her vision is to ensure that WHO is at the cutting edge of science and is able to translate new knowledge into meaningful impact on population health worldwide.
Minister of Health
Budi Gunadi Sadikin is the Minister of health of the Republic of Indonesia, a post he has held since Dec 23 2020. His assignments including leading the COVID-19 vaccination programme and improve health services in the nation. Mr. Sadikin has a distinguished career in the financial industry. He holds a degree in nuclear physics from the Bandung Institute of Technology and completed his business and executive education in Singapore, USA and France.
Minister of Health
Budi Gunadi Sadikin is the Minister of health of the Republic of Indonesia, a post he has held since Dec 23 2020. His assignments including leading the COVID-19 vaccination programme and improve health services in the nation. Mr. Sadikin has a distinguished career in the financial industry. He holds a degree in nuclear physics from the Bandung Institute of Technology and completed his business and executive education in Singapore, USA and France.
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease and International Health; Director, DarDar International Programs
C. Fordham von Reyn (“Ford”) MD, DSc (Hon) is Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease and International Health, and Director, DarDar International Programs at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Medical School where he also completed a Fellowship in Infectious Disease. He served with the Centers for Disease Control and subsequently as a founding staff member for the Special Program on AIDS of the World Health Organization. His research has focused on the international epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in HIV and development of an inactivated whole cell TB vaccine. He was PI for the 7-year NIH-sponsored Phase 3 trial of SRL172 which remains the only vaccine shown effective in preventing TB disease. He is currently focused on the development of DAR-901 which represents a scalable manufacturing process for SRL172. A Phase 1 trial of DAR-901 was completed in the US and a Phase 2b trial recently completed in Dar-es-Salaam. He continues his long term Fogarty training grant collaboration with colleagues in Tanzania.
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease and International Health; Director, DarDar International Programs
C. Fordham von Reyn (“Ford”) MD, DSc (Hon) is Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease and International Health, and Director, DarDar International Programs at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Medical School where he also completed a Fellowship in Infectious Disease. He served with the Centers for Disease Control and subsequently as a founding staff member for the Special Program on AIDS of the World Health Organization. His research has focused on the international epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in HIV and development of an inactivated whole cell TB vaccine. He was PI for the 7-year NIH-sponsored Phase 3 trial of SRL172 which remains the only vaccine shown effective in preventing TB disease. He is currently focused on the development of DAR-901 which represents a scalable manufacturing process for SRL172. A Phase 1 trial of DAR-901 was completed in the US and a Phase 2b trial recently completed in Dar-es-Salaam. He continues his long term Fogarty training grant collaboration with colleagues in Tanzania.
Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Before being appointed as the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frédérique Vidal had been the President of the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (UNS) since 2012.
She holds a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, a post-graduate degree from the Institut Pasteur and a doctorate from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis where she became a lecturer in 1995.
Since 2004, Frédérique Vidal has been a professor of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology at the UNS.
In addition, she was Associate Dean of the Department of Life Sciences from 2007 to 2009 and was appointed Research Assessor to the Dean of the Faculty and then Dean of the Department in 2009.
Previously, she was responsible for internships before becoming the Deputy Director of the post-graduate diploma in Pharmacology.
An outside member of the INSERM Regional Scientific Council from 1999 to 2003, Frédérique Vidal has been on the assessment panel for the master’s degree in virology at the UPMC-Paris Diderot-Institut Pasteur since 2004. She was also co-responsible for the European Tempus project in relation to the implementation of the LMD system in the Balkans, from 2006 to 2009.
Frédérique Vidal has been a “Chevalier” of the French Legion of Honour since 2013.
Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Before being appointed as the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frédérique Vidal had been the President of the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (UNS) since 2012.
She holds a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, a post-graduate degree from the Institut Pasteur and a doctorate from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis where she became a lecturer in 1995.
Since 2004, Frédérique Vidal has been a professor of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology at the UNS.
In addition, she was Associate Dean of the Department of Life Sciences from 2007 to 2009 and was appointed Research Assessor to the Dean of the Faculty and then Dean of the Department in 2009.
Previously, she was responsible for internships before becoming the Deputy Director of the post-graduate diploma in Pharmacology.
An outside member of the INSERM Regional Scientific Council from 1999 to 2003, Frédérique Vidal has been on the assessment panel for the master’s degree in virology at the UPMC-Paris Diderot-Institut Pasteur since 2004. She was also co-responsible for the European Tempus project in relation to the implementation of the LMD system in the Balkans, from 2006 to 2009.
Frédérique Vidal has been a “Chevalier” of the French Legion of Honour since 2013.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Professor of Infectious Disease Modeling
Richard G White (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling in the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases and the TB Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is Director of the TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium and leads the LSHTM TB Modelling Group. Richard’s research focus is the mathematical and statistical modelling of the transmission and control of infectious diseases, particularly TB and HIV. He has a strong focus on the use of modelling to accelerate the development and deployment of TB vaccines.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Professor of Infectious Disease Modeling
Richard G White (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling in the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases and the TB Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is Director of the TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium and leads the LSHTM TB Modelling Group. Richard’s research focus is the mathematical and statistical modelling of the transmission and control of infectious diseases, particularly TB and HIV. He has a strong focus on the use of modelling to accelerate the development and deployment of TB vaccines.
Minister for Solidarity and Health
Olivier Veran was born in Saint-Martin d’Heres, in the lsere region, where he spent his all of his childhood and attended school. Son of an engineer and an English teacher, his calling for the field of medicine began at an early age. This was strengthened during his night job as an attendant in an elderly home, serving the most fragile, to finance his studies in Grenoble.
Sensitive to the working conditions of caregivers, assistants and interns in the hospitals of Grenoble, he became involved in union life. After completing his thesis on “Epileptic confusion in the elderly”, Olivier Veran became neurologist at the Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital.
As assistant Head of Clinic of the Intensive Care Unit for Vascular Neurology, he was responsible for patients suffering from cerebrovascular accidents. Subsequently, he managed the day clinic of the Neurological department, receiving over 3.000 patients each year.
His political commitment led him to the French National Assembly in 2012, as Member of Parliament for the 1st district of the Isere. Profoundly committed to equal access to healthcare, he devoted the majority of his parliamentary work to health policies and to the fight against poverty, resulting in him becoming General Rapporteur of the Social Affairs Committee.
To uphold his beliefs in the territory that he is so close to, and which is important to him, Olivier Veran was elected Regional Councilor of the Auvergne-Rh6ne-Alpes region in December 2015. Since December 2019 he chairs the group “La Republique En Marche” (the party of the presidential majority) in this assembly.
On February 16th, 2020, Olivier Veran was nominated Minister of Solidarity and Health. Olivier Veran is the father of two children and is passionate about music.
Minister for Solidarity and Health
Olivier Veran was born in Saint-Martin d’Heres, in the lsere region, where he spent his all of his childhood and attended school. Son of an engineer and an English teacher, his calling for the field of medicine began at an early age. This was strengthened during his night job as an attendant in an elderly home, serving the most fragile, to finance his studies in Grenoble.
Sensitive to the working conditions of caregivers, assistants and interns in the hospitals of Grenoble, he became involved in union life. After completing his thesis on “Epileptic confusion in the elderly”, Olivier Veran became neurologist at the Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital.
As assistant Head of Clinic of the Intensive Care Unit for Vascular Neurology, he was responsible for patients suffering from cerebrovascular accidents. Subsequently, he managed the day clinic of the Neurological department, receiving over 3.000 patients each year.
His political commitment led him to the French National Assembly in 2012, as Member of Parliament for the 1st district of the Isere. Profoundly committed to equal access to healthcare, he devoted the majority of his parliamentary work to health policies and to the fight against poverty, resulting in him becoming General Rapporteur of the Social Affairs Committee.
To uphold his beliefs in the territory that he is so close to, and which is important to him, Olivier Veran was elected Regional Councilor of the Auvergne-Rh6ne-Alpes region in December 2015. Since December 2019 he chairs the group “La Republique En Marche” (the party of the presidential majority) in this assembly.
On February 16th, 2020, Olivier Veran was nominated Minister of Solidarity and Health. Olivier Veran is the father of two children and is passionate about music.
TBVI
Scientific Director
Dr. Gerald Voss is the acting Director of R&D Programs at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Gerald previously served as the Interim Director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the Scientific Director of the TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI). In the past, he was with GSK vaccines, overseeing the R&D portfolio for Diseases of the Developing World.
TBVI
Scientific Director
Dr. Gerald Voss is the acting Director of R&D Programs at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Gerald previously served as the Interim Director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the Scientific Director of the TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI). In the past, he was with GSK vaccines, overseeing the R&D portfolio for Diseases of the Developing World.
TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI)
Senior Scientist
Elly works at the TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), using over 15 years of experience in several aspects of vaccine research, to move the development of safe, effective and affordable TB vaccines forward. She earned her Ph.D. in immunology at Leiden University Medical Centre. In 2013 she joined Intravacc, a Dutch organization developing vaccines from discovery to phaseI/II clinical trials, where she worked as head of the department Clinical Development, Program Manager of Innovation, Program Manager of Bacterial Vaccines as well as Vice President R&D. In 2022 she shifted focus to global health by continuing her work on vaccine development both at TBVI and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD).
TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI)
Senior Scientist
Elly works at the TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), using over 15 years of experience in several aspects of vaccine research, to move the development of safe, effective and affordable TB vaccines forward. She earned her Ph.D. in immunology at Leiden University Medical Centre. In 2013 she joined Intravacc, a Dutch organization developing vaccines from discovery to phaseI/II clinical trials, where she worked as head of the department Clinical Development, Program Manager of Innovation, Program Manager of Bacterial Vaccines as well as Vice President R&D. In 2022 she shifted focus to global health by continuing her work on vaccine development both at TBVI and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD).
IAVI
Medical Director
IAVI
Medical Director
Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC)
Head Section of TB Research & Immunology
Frank Verreck earned his PhD in immunology from Leiden University and started working on tuberculosis and macrophage polarisation in the lab of Tom Ottenhoff at the Leiden UMC. For 20 years now, he is heading the TB Research & Immunology section of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands. He has been involved in vaccine research in EC-funded framework programmes under TBVI governance and in collaborations with former Aeras Foundation. He is member of the NHP research community of the Gates’ CTVD. His team focuses on translational modelling of TB in NHP towards defining improved vaccination strategies and investigating fundamental aspects of protective immunity.
Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC)
Head Section of TB Research & Immunology
Frank Verreck earned his PhD in immunology from Leiden University and started working on tuberculosis and macrophage polarisation in the lab of Tom Ottenhoff at the Leiden UMC. For 20 years now, he is heading the TB Research & Immunology section of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands. He has been involved in vaccine research in EC-funded framework programmes under TBVI governance and in collaborations with former Aeras Foundation. He is member of the NHP research community of the Gates’ CTVD. His team focuses on translational modelling of TB in NHP towards defining improved vaccination strategies and investigating fundamental aspects of protective immunity.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Head of Policy
Dr. Marta Tufet Bayona is the Head of Policy at Gavi, where she leads the Vaccine Investment Strategy and the development of an evidence-based policy framework to guide scope, allocation and programming of Gavi funding. Before joining Gavi she was the Executive Director of the UK Collaborative on Development Research, ensuring strategic coherence across three UK government departments (FCDO, BEIS, DHSC) and research funders of international development (Wellcome, UKRI). She has also led development and implementation of large global health research funding programmes and partnerships whilst working at a range of funders including the Wellcome Trust; The Department of Health and Social Care, UK government; the African Academy of Sciences and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Head of Policy
Dr. Marta Tufet Bayona is the Head of Policy at Gavi, where she leads the Vaccine Investment Strategy and the development of an evidence-based policy framework to guide scope, allocation and programming of Gavi funding. Before joining Gavi she was the Executive Director of the UK Collaborative on Development Research, ensuring strategic coherence across three UK government departments (FCDO, BEIS, DHSC) and research funders of international development (Wellcome, UKRI). She has also led development and implementation of large global health research funding programmes and partnerships whilst working at a range of funders including the Wellcome Trust; The Department of Health and Social Care, UK government; the African Academy of Sciences and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
REDE-TB
CE Projects Coordinator
Lawyer by formation, holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and DSc. (PhD) in Health Policies by the Medical School of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Pioneered community engagement (CE) in TB in 2002 in Brazil and internationally. Has served as a member or delegate to several institutions, commissions and committees including the Stop TB, the Global Fund and the WHO Civil Society Task Force. Established and coordinates several community advisory boards (CAB) in Brazil and abroad and is currently an emeritus Global TB CAB member.
REDE-TB
CE Projects Coordinator
Lawyer by formation, holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and DSc. (PhD) in Health Policies by the Medical School of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Pioneered community engagement (CE) in TB in 2002 in Brazil and internationally. Has served as a member or delegate to several institutions, commissions and committees including the Stop TB, the Global Fund and the WHO Civil Society Task Force. Established and coordinates several community advisory boards (CAB) in Brazil and abroad and is currently an emeritus Global TB CAB member.
Principal Adviser, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme
Chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is a pediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV. She is currently the Chairperson of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and Principal Adviser at the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in India. She has previously served as the WHO’s inaugural Chief Scientist and, before that, Deputy Director-General for Programmes. She played a key role during the pandemic in coordinating scientific efforts at the WHO, as well as in setting up Covax, with a focus on equitable vaccine distribution to LMICs. She also served as the Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017, where she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy-making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools, and forging south-south partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/ UNDP/ World Bank/ WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, Geneva.
Principal Adviser, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme
Chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is a pediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV. She is currently the Chairperson of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and Principal Adviser at the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in India. She has previously served as the WHO’s inaugural Chief Scientist and, before that, Deputy Director-General for Programmes. She played a key role during the pandemic in coordinating scientific efforts at the WHO, as well as in setting up Covax, with a focus on equitable vaccine distribution to LMICs. She also served as the Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017, where she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy-making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools, and forging south-south partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/ UNDP/ World Bank/ WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, Geneva.
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town
Deputy Director, Immunology and Professor
Dr Scriba is Deputy Director, Immunology and directs the Immunology Laboratory of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), a research center at the University of Cape Town dedicated to clinical TB vaccine development. SATVI has completed more than 30 phase 1/2/2b clinical trials of novel TB vaccines. Dr Scriba’s research focuses on characterization of vaccine-induced immune responses, identification and validation of human TB biomarkers, immune correlates of risk of TB, and of protection against of TB.
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town
Deputy Director, Immunology and Professor
Dr Scriba is Deputy Director, Immunology and directs the Immunology Laboratory of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), a research center at the University of Cape Town dedicated to clinical TB vaccine development. SATVI has completed more than 30 phase 1/2/2b clinical trials of novel TB vaccines. Dr Scriba’s research focuses on characterization of vaccine-induced immune responses, identification and validation of human TB biomarkers, immune correlates of risk of TB, and of protection against of TB.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
Head of Vaccine Development
Alex Schmidt serves as Head of Vaccine Development at the Gates Medical Research Institute. He joined Gates MRI in 2018, after 7 years with GSK Vaccines, where he led clinical vaccine development programs for dengue, RSV, and influenza virus vaccines. Prior to joining industry, he spent ten years in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, U.S. National Institutes of Health, and five years in academic medicine in Berlin, Germany. He started his research career in lab-based research on host-pathogen interactions for negative strand RNA viruses, and then focused on preclinical, translational, and clinical vaccine development. At the Gates Medical Research Institute, Alex leads vaccine development efforts for tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, and probiotics interventions.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
Head of Vaccine Development
Alex Schmidt serves as Head of Vaccine Development at the Gates Medical Research Institute. He joined Gates MRI in 2018, after 7 years with GSK Vaccines, where he led clinical vaccine development programs for dengue, RSV, and influenza virus vaccines. Prior to joining industry, he spent ten years in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, U.S. National Institutes of Health, and five years in academic medicine in Berlin, Germany. He started his research career in lab-based research on host-pathogen interactions for negative strand RNA viruses, and then focused on preclinical, translational, and clinical vaccine development. At the Gates Medical Research Institute, Alex leads vaccine development efforts for tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, and probiotics interventions.
Co-lead, TB Vaccines Advocacy Roadmap
Communications and Advocacy Specialist, IAVI
Shaun is a communications and advocacy specialist at IAVI. Shaun co-leads the TB Vaccine Advocacy Roadmap (TB Vax ARM) coalition and its related global advocacy initiatives, with a focus on evidence-based advocacy and policy interventions for TB vaccine development and implementation. They are also a founding co-chair of IAVI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Shaun holds a BA in biological sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in global health research from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. They are currently a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit, researching the resource mobilization and access landscape for vaccine development against NTDs.
Co-lead, TB Vaccines Advocacy Roadmap
Communications and Advocacy Specialist, IAVI
Shaun is a communications and advocacy specialist at IAVI. Shaun co-leads the TB Vaccine Advocacy Roadmap (TB Vax ARM) coalition and its related global advocacy initiatives, with a focus on evidence-based advocacy and policy interventions for TB vaccine development and implementation. They are also a founding co-chair of IAVI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Shaun holds a BA in biological sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in global health research from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. They are currently a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit, researching the resource mobilization and access landscape for vaccine development against NTDs.
Gavi Civil Society Organization (CSO) Constituency
Steering Committee Member
Peter Ngo’la Owiti is the director of Wote Youth Development Projects, a youth TB/HIV survivors led advocacy organization in Makueni, Kenya. Peter has a long history of family affected by TB and is passionate about advocacy on access TB tools and human rights globally. He has a master’s degree in environmental health and currently sits on Stop TB Partnership Board representing TB affected community and locally is in the thinktank of Network of TB Champions in Kenya and also board member of TB Proof of South Africa. He serves in many capacities including Gavi Civil Societies Steering committee, Welcome Community of practice, Community Advisory Panel of The Medicines Patent Pool Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). Interim Medical Countermeasures (i-MCM). He is a core group member and treasurer of TB Proof, an occupational health care workers organization that fights TB stigma. Peter is currently pursuing doctorate program in public health.
Gavi Civil Society Organization (CSO) Constituency
Steering Committee Member
Peter Ngo’la Owiti is the director of Wote Youth Development Projects, a youth TB/HIV survivors led advocacy organization in Makueni, Kenya. Peter has a long history of family affected by TB and is passionate about advocacy on access TB tools and human rights globally. He has a master’s degree in environmental health and currently sits on Stop TB Partnership Board representing TB affected community and locally is in the thinktank of Network of TB Champions in Kenya and also board member of TB Proof of South Africa. He serves in many capacities including Gavi Civil Societies Steering committee, Welcome Community of practice, Community Advisory Panel of The Medicines Patent Pool Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). Interim Medical Countermeasures (i-MCM). He is a core group member and treasurer of TB Proof, an occupational health care workers organization that fights TB stigma. Peter is currently pursuing doctorate program in public health.
National Department of Health
Chief Director, TB Control and Management
Professor Norbert Ndjeka is the Chief Director of TB Control and Management at the National Department of Health in South Africa. Previously, he served as Director, Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis and HIV. Under his leadership, there has been a decline in the number of drug-resistant TB cases in South Africa and a remarkable improvement in the proportion of patients successfully treated for drug-resistant TB.
He is a family physician specialist with an interest in TB and HIV. He holds a diploma in clinical management of HIV and a diploma in management of health institutions. He is the author of numerous articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has coordinated and drafted treatment guides and training modules for drug-resistant TB in several countries in Africa.
He is currently the chair of the African Green Light Committee (Afro-GLC), a committee that advises WHO on how to manage drug-resistant TB. He is also president of the End TB Southern African Development Community (SADC) Committee. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the fight against drug-resistant TB locally and globally. He is appointed as an Honorary Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Cape Town (South Africa).
National Department of Health
Chief Director, TB Control and Management
Professor Norbert Ndjeka is the Chief Director of TB Control and Management at the National Department of Health in South Africa. Previously, he served as Director, Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis and HIV. Under his leadership, there has been a decline in the number of drug-resistant TB cases in South Africa and a remarkable improvement in the proportion of patients successfully treated for drug-resistant TB.
He is a family physician specialist with an interest in TB and HIV. He holds a diploma in clinical management of HIV and a diploma in management of health institutions. He is the author of numerous articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has coordinated and drafted treatment guides and training modules for drug-resistant TB in several countries in Africa.
He is currently the chair of the African Green Light Committee (Afro-GLC), a committee that advises WHO on how to manage drug-resistant TB. He is also president of the End TB Southern African Development Community (SADC) Committee. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the fight against drug-resistant TB locally and globally. He is appointed as an Honorary Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Cape Town (South Africa).
Ministry of Health
General Coordinator, Supplies Management and Cold Chain, National Immunization Program
Biomedical scientist, specialized in Clinical Pathology and Public Health. Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Brasilia, with postgraduate studies in Big Data Analytics and Public Health and Environmental Management. She has 10 years of experience in managing strategic surveillance supplies. Since January 2023, she has held the position of General Coordinator of Supply Management and Cold Chain at the National Immunization Program Department of the Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Health
General Coordinator, Supplies Management and Cold Chain, National Immunization Program
Biomedical scientist, specialized in Clinical Pathology and Public Health. Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Brasilia, with postgraduate studies in Big Data Analytics and Public Health and Environmental Management. She has 10 years of experience in managing strategic surveillance supplies. Since January 2023, she has held the position of General Coordinator of Supply Management and Cold Chain at the National Immunization Program Department of the Ministry of Health.