Editorial Advisory Board

Maria Elena Bottazzi

Senior Associate Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Division Chief of Pediatric Tropical Medicine; Co-director of Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; and Distinguished Professor in Biology at Baylor University in Waco

Maria Elena Bottazzi is an internationally recognized tropical and emerging disease vaccinologist, global health advocate and co-creator of a patent-free, open science COVID-19 vaccine technology that led to the development of CORBEVAX in India and Halal-certified INDOVAC in Indonesia, both COVID-19 vaccines suitable for global access. She pioneers and leads the advancement of a robust infectious and tropical disease vaccine portfolio tackling diseases such as coronavirus, hookworm, schistosomiasis, and Chagas that affect disproportionally the world’s poorest populations. She also has established innovative partnerships in Latin America, Middle East and Southeast Asia, making significant contributions to innovative educational & research programs, catalyze policies, and disseminate scientific information to reach a diverse set of audiences. She has published more than 230 scientific papers and participated in more than 250 conferences worldwide. She has received national and international awards, such as the 2018 Carlos Slim Foundation Health Award for Lifetime Achievement in Research, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC’s) 2022 National Service Award, the 2023 Holocaust Museum Houston LBJ Moral Courage Award. In 2022, alongside Dr. Peter Hotez, she was nominated by Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Cristiana Campa

Technical R&D Advisor and Senior Fellow, GSK Vaccines

Cristiana Campa has more than 20 years’ experience in Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) for biologics research and development. She is very active in CMC advocacy, with contributions to working groups and publications on innovative technologies, specifications setting, accelerated development strategies, and pandemic preparedness, promoting dialogue across industry and with Regulatory Agencies. She is active in several trade associations (e.g., Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), EFPIA, Vaccines Europe), and is a member of the PDA Board of Directors since January 2023.

After her PhD and Post-Doc in Chemistry, she worked at Bracco Imaging SpA, first as a senior researcher and then as head of the research laboratory in Trieste, italy. She joined Novartis Vaccines (Technical Development) in 2006, first as analytical senior manager and then as Head of Analytical Development, Italy. Since 2012, Cristiana has worked on Quality by Design principles implementation for vaccines across different company sites in Europe and US. After acquisition of Novartis Vaccines by GSK in 2015, she has been the Head of QbD Integration and, until June 2018, the Head of Science and Development Practices in Global Technical R&D, covering Quality by Design, Knowledge Management and Development roadmaps.

Sudha Chivukula

Head of Discovery Biology, mRNA Center of Excellence, Sanofi

Sudha Chivukula is building the knowledge, technology, and tools required to evaluate new designs for mRNA therapies. Her interdisciplinary research team covers a spectrum of scientific endeavors involving cell biology, translational biology, virology, and immunology. Her laboratory undertakes basic research and preclinical development for elucidating mechanisms of action of mRNA therapies and characterizing immune responses to mRNA vaccination with an overall goal of improving vaccines against respiratory viruses. Sudha received a PhD. in Biochemistry and worked as a post-doctoral fellow at University Putra Malaysia, researching differential gene expression profiling. Enthusiastic about public health interventions, Sudha joined vaccinology to research viral and combination vaccine programs targeting unmet medical needs of low- and middle-income countries. Her scientific contributions have impacted translational research, taking novel vaccine candidates from concept through pharmaceutical, clinical development, and licensure.

Fred Cassels

Global Head, Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, USA

Fred Cassels leads the enteric and diarrheal diseases (EDD) group, which focuses on rotavirus, polio, Shigella, and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) vaccines, all within the Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access at PATH. The projects within the EDD portfolio encompass vaccine discovery, in vitro and in vivo proof of concept, process development, cGMP manufacture, Phase 1-4 clinical trials, licensure in-country and through the WHO, and introduction of vaccines – all for the benefit low- and middle-income countries. Previously, Fred was Chief of the Enteric and Hepatic Diseases Branch, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID), NIAID. The work there encompassed the management of grants, preclinical product development and vaccine manufacturing contracts, as well as domestic and international clinical trials. While at DMID, Fred served as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Influenza Vaccines program officer. Prior to DMID, Dr. Cassels worked in the Department of Enteric Infections, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, developing ETEC vaccine candidates and delivery technologies.

Marco Cavaleri

Head of Biological Health Threats and Vaccines Strategy, EMA

Marco Cavaleri is the Chair of EMA COVID-19 Task Force (ETF) and responsible for EMA activities for emergent pathogens, vaccines, and antimicrobial resistance. Marco is a pharmacologist who spent several years in industry R&D, mainly in preclinical and clinical development of anti-infectives. In 2005, he joined the EMA as Scientific Administrator in the Scientific Advice Sector, specifically anti-infectives and vaccines scientific advice procedures, and 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

Ana Jaklenec

Principal Research Scientist and PI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research

Ana Jaklenec’s group is focused on engineering delivery systems for global health. Ana has over 15 years of experience in the area of bioengineering, materials science, micronutrient and vaccine stabilization and delivery. She is the recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows in 2022 for her work in controlled delivery of vaccines and heat-stable micronutrients for global health that can change the world. She has supervised over 50 pre- and postdoctoral students, has written over 35 articles in high-impact journals and has over 40 issued and pending patents worldwide. She is an active member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Controlled Release Society, and the Society for Biomaterials.

Isis Kanevsky

Director Bacterial Vaccines, Pfizer, USA

Marios Koutsakos

Senior Researcher, Viral Vax Lab, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute

Marios Koutsakos received his PhD in viral immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on understanding protective immunity to influenza viruses, especially the understudied but clinically relevant influenza B viruses. He is interested in dissecting the antigenic evolution and antibody responses to influenza B viruses, in order to rationally design a universal influenza B virus vaccine.

Denny Kraichely

Global Program Leader, Vaccine Development Management, Pfizer, USA

Denny Kraichely is an accomplished scientist, author, and inventor. After receiving a PhD in Pharmacological and Physiological Science from Saint Louis University, he completed a short post-doctoral fellowship, then joined the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past 20+ years, through strong technical expertise and cross-functional matrix leadership of internal and cross-company teams, his efforts have contributed to the development and approval of multiple biologic therapeutics and vaccines. In his current role at Pfizer, he manages and guides Vaccine Research & Development program teams to develop aggressive, forward-thinking development plans that maximize scientific, medical, and commercial value.

Ingrid Kromann

Head of CMC and Acting Executive Director of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Division, CEPI, UK

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Manufacturing & Supply Chain Division supports vaccine development projects, implements new innovative technologies and establishes sustainable development, manufacturing facility, and supply chain networks to rapidly deliver equitable vaccine access where and when needed. Ingrid has a background as chemical engineer. She has more than 25 years’ experience of working with vaccines through her employment at Statens Serum Institut, Denmark. For the last 16 years, Ingrid led the Vaccine Development department at Statens Serum Institut, and she has developed more than 10 different vaccines from research to clinical trials, mostly within Tuberculosis, Polio, and Chlamydia.

Jacqueline Miller

Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head, Infectious Diseases, Moderna, USA

Jacqueline Miller is currently the Head of Development, Infectious Diseases at Moderna. She graduated from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and trained as a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has spent the past 22 years engaged in vaccine development, and has contributed to the licensure of seven novel vaccines, including Shingrix® and most recently Spikevax®. Prior to joining Moderna, she was the Head, Clinical Research and Development in the US for GSK Vaccines.

Ebrahim Mohamed

Science & Innovation Group Leader, Biovac, South Africa

Ebrahim Mohamed is a Synthetic Organic Chemist by training, with over 18 years’ experience in pharmaceuticals and expertise covering business development, product development, technology transfers, process optimizations and cGMP. After completing his PhD from the University of Cape Town in 2009, he joined the Science and Innovation (S&I) Department at the Biovac Institute (BIOVAC) where he worked on the development of glycoconjugate vaccines against diseases such as Haemophilus influenzae B, Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Group B Strep. As Group Leader he currently manages all the CMC-related activities with the S&I department. He has accumulated experience in both inward- and outward-bound technology transfers of clinical vaccine candidates and commercial products. In 2015, Ebrahim joined the secretariat team of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), where he has been pivotal in the coordination of the AVMI Vaccine Manufacturing and Procurement in Africa (VMPA) study. Subsequently elected as a member of the AVMI board, Ebrahim represented the Southern African Region between 2016 and 2021. In 2021 he was elected as part of the Scientific Working group addressing Technology and IP in the ‘Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing’ (PAVM) study coordinated by the African CDC. He also serves on Emerging Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturers Network (EBPMN) scientific committee.

Emanuele Montomoli

Full Professor of Hygiene and Public Health at the University of Siena, Italy

Pierre A. Morgon

CEO, MRGN Advisors, Senior Vice President International Business, CanSino Biologics, and Regional Partner for Switzerland at Merieux Equity Partners, Switzerland

Pierre has over 35 years of experience in the global life science industry, especially with specialty care, vaccines and immunotherapy, at the helm of international operations, in C-level positions at global level in multinational corporations and as CEO of start-up companies. He is a lecturer in several MBA programs and in life science conferences, and at the Mass Challenge incubator in Switzerland where he is also a mentor for start-up life sciences companies. He holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy, a master’s degree in Business Law and a MBA, and he is an alumnus of INSEAD and IMD.

Vikram Paradkar

Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, Biological E Ltd

Vikram Paradkar received a PhD in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering from the University of Iowa, USA, followed by a 30-year professional career in Technical Operations for leading biotech companies, including process & product development, and clinical & commercial manufacturing of multiple classes of biotherapeutics such as vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and recombinant proteins.  For the past 10 years, he has served as Executive Vice President – Technical Operations at Biological E Limited, India, a fully vertically integrated vaccine development and manufacturing organization.  There, he provides leadership and oversight to product development and manufacturing teams involved in supplying nine WHO-Prequalified vaccines globally and a development portfolio of more than ten vaccines in early- to late-stage development. He led the development and manufacturing of RBD protein-based COVID-19 vaccine CORBEVAX, with more than 75 million doses administered.

Norbert Pardi

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Norbert Pardi holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and genetics and has been working at the University of Pennsylvania since 2011. His research interest is the development of mRNA-based therapeutics, with particular focus on new-generation infectious disease vaccines. He has explored the development of a novel vaccine platform using nucleoside-modified mRNA in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and used it to generate highly effective vaccines targeting various pathogens (influenza virus, coronaviruses, malaria and others). Norbert is a pioneer of the nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine technology and has published several milestone papers in the field.

Mariagrazia Pizza

Senior Scientific Director, Bacterial Vaccines, GSK, and Head of Preclinical, GSK Vaccine Institute for Global Health, Italy

Mariagrazia Pizza received her degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the University of Naples, Italy. Following a period at the EMBO laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany, Mariagrazia moved to Siena, Italy where she has been ever since, leading many bacterial projects. She has contributed to the discovery of a pertussis vaccine based on a genetically detoxified toxin that can protect children from the disease and to the discovery of new vaccine antigens by genome mining (reverse vaccinology), which are the basis of a new Meningitis B vaccine now licensed in more than 40 countries worldwide. She has received many scientific awards and is an elected member of EMBO and the European Academy of Microbiology and Academia Europaea, Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and Vice President of International Unit of Microbiology Societies. Mariagrazia is Honorary Visiting Professor at Imperial College (UK). She has over 200 publications and is co-inventor of over 70 patents.

Yongjun Sui

Scientist, Vaccine Branch, Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA

Yongjun Sui received her Ph.D. in pathology from Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences in 1998 and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Kansas Medical Center (2002-2005) and University of Pittsburgh (2005-2008). She joined the Vaccine Branch of the NCI as a staff scientist in 2008. Her research interests focus on the development of mucosal HIV and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines using non-human primate and rodent models. She is interested in identifying innate and adaptive immune correlates of protection against HIV and SARS-Cov-2 infections, as well as exploring trained innate immunity mediated by myeloid cells.

Christopher Ton

Principal Scientist, Vaccines & Advanced Biotechnologies Process Development, Merck & Co., USA

Christopher Ton has over 23 years of experience in the life science industry, including process development, optimization, scale-up, tech transfer and GMP manufacture of cell therapeutics, and live viral vaccines. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto, Canada.  Since joining Merck in 2009, his primary focus has been on vaccine upstream bioprocess development. He has led and contributed to the development of multiple vaccine candidates such as SARS-CoV-2 and dengue vaccines.

Jeffrey B Ulmer

President, TechImmune LLC

Jeffrey B Ulmer, PhD, spent more than 30 years in vaccines R&D at Merck Research Laboratories, Chiron Corporation, Novartis, and GlaxoSmithKline. His most recent leadership positions included Global Head, External R&D; Head, Preclinical R&D; and Program Head, Technical R&D. His scientific focus has been vaccine technology platforms, including DNA and mRNA vaccines, viral vectors, and adjuvants. He received his PhD in biochemistry from McGill University and completed his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Nobel laureate Dr George Palade in the Department of Cell Biology at Yale University School of Medicine. He has published over 210 scientific articles, is an inventor on 11 patents, and is a Fellow of the International Society for Vaccines where he serves as Treasurer. He is currently President, TechImmune LLC (Newport Beach, CA).