Course Director
Director, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Principal areas of research: Malaria vaccines, vectored vaccine development, immunogenetics of infectious disease susceptibility
Adrian Hill trained in medicine at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Oxford, qualifying in 1982. He undertook a DPhil with Sir David Weatherall and John Clegg at the MRC Molecular Haematology unit on the molecular population genetics of thalassaemia in Pacific Islanders. Following further clinical posts in London he returned to the newly opened Institute of Molecular Medicine in 1988 to study genetic susceptibility to malaria as a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow. In 1995 he was awarded a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship and in 1996 the title of Professor of Human Genetics. He participated in the founding of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in 1994, and in 2003 co-founded the Oxford Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, which he now chairs. In 2004 he participated in the restructuring of the Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research and in 2005 was appointed director of the new Jenner Institute. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, of Magdalen College, Oxford, and of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences
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Dr. César López-Camacho is currently a Senior Researcher at the Jenner Institute where he works on genetic-vaccine development for arthropod-borne pathogens, with a special interest in tick-borne pathogens.
He holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and has held four postdoctoral positions in molecular biology, fidelity of gene expression, and vaccinology at UMASS Medical School-USA, University of Vermont College of Medicine-USA and the Jenner Institute at University of Oxford, respectively.
His contribution encompasses the development of a Zika virus vaccine, a Chikungunya virus vaccine and other vaccines for infectious agents (HPV, T. cruzi and malaria).
He is interested in antigen design and optimisation of antigen expression in vivo.
During the coronavirus pandemic, his scientific activity encompassed the design and protein production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens to be utilised as diagnostic tools, for coronavirus research applications and for the exploration of the immune responses in COVID-19 convalescent individuals.
In terms of intellectual property activities, he is an inventor and collaborator in vaccine-related patents and he is an author in more than 30 scientific publications related to vaccinology.
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Professor of Immunology, University of Oxford & Distinguished Immunology Professor, Kumamoto University, Japan
Tomáš's research aims to develop a universal HIV-1 vaccine, which targets most global virus variants including escape mutants. He explores novel vaccine modalities and optimizes their immunogenicity in heterelogous prime-boost regimens in mice and macaques. He co-ordinates a clinical program assessing candidate HIV vaccines in humans in UK, Europe and Africa.
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Senior Research Fellow, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
Prof Hope obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences (Microbiology) from the University of Birmingham, UK in 1991, and a PhD degree from the University of Manchester, UK, in 1994. She then carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Manchester (1994-1996) and Kings College School of Medicine and Dentistry (1996-1997). Between 1997 and 2011 Dr Hope worked at the Institute for Animal Health carrying out research into bovine tuberculosis (TB) and immune mechanisms that lead to protective immunity. Dr Hope moved to The Roslin Institute in August 2011.
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Group Head / PI, University of Oxford
I am an academic clinician and hold a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship for Clinicians (i.e. Career Development fellowship). My main interests are the development of antibody-inducing vaccines against the sporozoite stage of malaria and the development of a novel thermostable rabies vaccine.
In earlier work, I identified the potential of PfRH5 as an antigen capable of inducing highly potent strain-transcending neutralising antibodies against the disease causing blood-stage of Plasmodium falciparum and demonstrated that PfRH5-based vaccines could achieve in vivo protection against a virulent P. falciparum challenge. These vaccines are now in clinical trials.
Dr Ahmed Salman
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Senior Postdoctoral Researcher (vaccinologist), The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Principal areas of research: Preclinical vaccine development and vaccine production systems, Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), vaccines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Over 18 years of cumulative experience in both industry and academic settings. Previous roles include Lead Scientist and Head of Protein Production and Bioprocessing in specialist biopharma SME (iQur Ltd, UK). Research training in Oncology research at Novartis (CH) and contract research services at Covance (UK).
More recently, expertise in bioprocess and protein purification has combined with an interest in molecular and structural virology to adapt biological nanoparticle assemblies for translational biomedical uses (e.g., vaccines). Research has focused on developing virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccines for chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Where further exploring immunological principles to improve vaccine designs (i.e., immune kinetics, immunomodulation, isotype switching). Additional projects included addressing vaccine supply issues for established and innovative vaccines to improve compatibility/ engagement with developers in LMIC settings (Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub, Vax-Hub). Currently, Co-Investigator leading a pan-EU consortium studying biomarker species for applications towards personalised medicine approaches for neurodegenerative diseases (OligoFIT).
Recent projects within the groups of Prof Martin Bachmann and Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert (DBE) have been on preclinical vaccine development and vaccine production systems, respectively
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Director, Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, Tel Aviv University
Dan Peer is the director of the Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine at Tel Aviv University. He is also the Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University. His lab works in the interface of basic and translational science. In addition, Prof. Peer is the Founder and Managing Director of the SPARK Tel Aviv, Center for Translational Medicine. Moreover, Prof. Peer is on the Scientific Advisory Board of numerous international companies and an invited keynote speaker in many conferences.
Prof. Peer’s work was among the first to demonstrate systemic delivery of RNA molecules using targeted nanocarriers to the immune system and he pioneered the use of RNA interference for drug discovery in immune cells. In addition, his lab was the first to show systemic ,cell- specific delivery of modified mRNA expressing therapeutic proteins that has enormous implications in cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases. Prof. Peer is one of the pioneers in the use of molecular medicines (gene silencing, gene expression and gene editing) for therapeutics and diseases management.
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Professor of Vaccinology, Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Florian Krammer, PhD, graduated from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Austria) in 2010. He received his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Palese at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York working on hemagglutinin stalk-based immunity and universal influenza virus vaccines. In 2014 he became an independent principal investigator and is currently Mount Sinai Professor of Vaccinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Krammer’s work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of interactions between antibodies and viral surface glycoproteins and on translating this work into novel, broadly protective vaccines and therapeutics. The main target is influenza virus but he is also working on coronaviruses, flaviviruses, hantaviruses, filoviruses and arenaviruses.
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Vaccine Developer
Mike is a BSc Biochemist and then completed his PhD in Immunology at the Royal London Hospital. Post-doctoral study at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) focused in investigating CTL responses in horses infected with Equine Herpesvirus 1. This was then followed by working as a post-doctoral scientist at The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research examining the immune activation of dendritic cells and their role in defining TH1/TH2 immune responses.
Mike then moved over into industry and spent seven years as Head of Research at Onyvax Ltd. This company was developing allogeneic whole cell vaccines for cancer. Mike’s team was involved in both pre-clinical proof of concept studies, and then the examination of samples from both Phase I and II clinical trials. He joined iQur Ltd in 2006 and his team helped develop a universal influenza vaccine based on a novel virus like particle vaccine platform. Mike is currently working as a freelance consultant.
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Director, The Pirbright Institute & Investigator, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Dr Charleston obtained a BVetMed from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK in 1982.
After a period of time in Large Animal Practice, studied for a Masters degree in Molecular Biology at University College London in 1988, then a PhD degree, as a Wellcome Trust Scholar, from the University of London, UK, in 1991. He then carried out postdoctoral research, as a Wellcome Trust Post-doctoral fellow, at the Royal Veterinary College and the Babraham Institute, Cambridge for three years.
He joined The Pirbright Institute (formerly the Institute for Animal Health) in 1994 and focused on studies of the immune response to viral infections in cattle. In addition, he has provided advice and expertise on the design of infectious disease challenge models for a wide range of pathogens in important agricultural species.
His research group is based at The Pirbright Institute in Surrey; the group’s efforts are focused on understanding the immune response to Foot-and–Mouth disease virus in cattle to develop novel vaccines.
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Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, The Pirbright Institute
Principal areas of research: Zoonotic infectious diseases, vaccine development, One Health, porcine immunology
Rebecca McLean completed her Bio-veterinary Science undergraduate degree at Harper Adams University, graduating in 2013. She then went on to complete a PhD with Dr David Griffiths, Prof Gary Entrican and Prof Jayne Hope at The University of Edinburgh on the development of a lentiviral based vaccine vector for the use in livestock. In 2018, Rebecca moved to The Pirbright Institute to focus on the development of porcine vaccines against Nipah virus to safeguard human health.
Dr Julian Seago
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Principal Investigator, African Swine Fever Vaccinology, The Pirbright Institute
Chris Netherton runs the African Swine Fever Vaccinology group and has been investigating different aspects of the life cycle of African swine fever virus (ASFV) for over twenty years.
His studies on ASFV have encompassed analysis of individual viral proteins right through to herd transmission experiments. Chris’ earlier work on ASFV focussed on intracellular virus-host interactions with a strong emphasis on cell-biology.
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Group Leader, The Pirbright Institute
Professor Munir Iqbal is Head of the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) group at The Pirbright Institute and visiting professor at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Munir obtained Veterinary Medicine and MPhil degrees in Pakistan and a PhD in Biotechnology at Imperial College London in 1991. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool and the University of St Andrews, before joining the Institute in 1996. Currently, he is leading a number of research projects aimed to define the impact of AIV genetic changes on the ability of the virus to evade immune responses, cause increased disease severity and allow cross-species transmission. He is also leading the development of new multivalent vaccines and diagnostics for better control of avian respiratory viruses like avian influenza, Newcastle disease, avian adenovirus and avian metapneumoviruses.
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Professor of Vaccinology, Wellcome Senior Fellow, PI, Head of TB vaccines group, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Principal areas of research: MVA85A Tuberculosis Vaccine (BCG booster vaccine).
Helen McShane obtained an intercalated BSc in 1988, and then a degree in medicine in 1991; both from the University of London. After junior hospital posts during which she obtained MRCP in 1994, she worked as a registrar in Infectious Diseases and HIV/GU medicine for 3 years. She then began a PhD with Adrian Hill in 1997, and was awarded a PhD in 2001, also from the University of London.
In 2001 she was awarded a Wellcome Clinician Scientist Fellowship to establish a translational programme of vaccine research evaluating new TB vaccines in the clinic. This fellowship also allowed her to complete her clinical training and she was awarded a CCST in HIV and GU Medicine in 2003.
In 2005, she was awarded a Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellowship, which she took up in 2006. Her research team continues with the programme of translational vaccinology, and is involved in developing new assays for monitoring vaccination induced cellular immune responses, developing a BCG challenge model in humans and the aerosol delivery of vaccines.
Mr Gerardo Montalvo Zurbia Flores
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Professor of Immunology, The Jenner Instiute, University of Oxford
Martin F. Bachmann is currently Professor of Immunology at the Jenner Instiute, University of Oxford.
Martin F. Bachmann, PhD in molecular biology was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Saiba. Dr. Bachmann received his PhD in 1995 at the Institute for Experimental Immunology Zurich in the laboratories of Prof. Zinkernagel and Prof. Hengartner. He joined Cytos from the Basel Institute for Immunology where he was a Member in October 1999.
He has published over 100 articles in internationally renowned scientific journals. His achievements were honored with two ETH Medals (1991 and 1995) and the Pfizer Prize for Immunology (1998) and he is laureate of the 'Swiss Technology Award 2004'.
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Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Rachel obtained an MA in Biological Sciences (Wadham College) and a DPhil in Clinical Medicine (St Cross College) from the University of Oxford. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Jenner Institute and a Lecturer in Human Sciences at Wadham College. Rachel's research interests are the host immune response to tuberculosis vaccination and immune correlates of protection. Her DPhil focussed on the development of in vitro functional assays that may be applied in preclinical vaccine testing to reduce the number of animals used in challenge experiments, in line with the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement of the use of animals in scientific procedures). Following this, she led the development of a non-human primate mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA), and a work-package subgroup on assay harmonisation as part of the European Research Infrastructures for Poverty Related Diseases (EURIPRED). Rachel currently holds a UKRI-funded VALIDATE Fellowship to characterise the humoral immune response to BCG vaccination to inform the design of improved TB vaccines.
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Jenner Investigator, Vaccine Formulation and Adjuvants, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Dr. Milicic studied Molecular Biology and Physiology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, before completing an MSc in Genetics and DPhil in Immunology at the University of Oxford, UK. In 2009 Dr. Milicic joined the Jenner Institute in Oxford as the Head of the Adjuvant Facility.
Dr. Milicic now leads the Vaccine Formulation Group, focusing on vaccine adjuvant development in the context of malaria vaccines, with a key emphasis on the adjuvant mechanism of action. Additionally, in collaboration with the Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBME), is developing new microfluidics-based vaccine encapsulation technologies for controlled vaccine release. The aim is to achieve single-dose immunisation that could replace the standard prime-boost approach.
Dr. Milicic’s overall interest is in the mechanisms of immune activation, in particular the interplay between the innate and the adaptive immunity. Vaccine development, with a focus on vaccine adjuvants, provides the ideal base for such studies. Current research includes exploring the mechanism of action of adjuvanted vaccines using different vaccine platforms and clinically-compatible adjuvants developed by the Vaccine Formulation Institute in Geneva. In another adjuvant-focused project, with the support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, they are studying the initial events in adjuvant-induced inflammation ex vivo. Using adjuvant-stimulated human secondary lymphatic tissue, in combination with single cell transcriptomics and hyperplexed imaging, they aim to create a high-resolution map of the early innate immune responses to clinically relevant vaccine adjuvants.
Dr. Milicic is a Core Group member and Working Group leader in the EU COST Action Programme ENOVA (European Network of Vaccine Adjuvants), and is also the Jenner Institute lead for Public Engagement with Research.
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Group Head / PI, University of Oxford
I trained as a veterinary surgeon at the University of Nairobi, Kenya and completed a PhD in the epidemiology of childhood malaria in 2010. I later joined the Jenner Institute where, with support from Wellcome and other funders, I initiated a One Health vaccine programme in which vaccines against Rift Valley Fever and other zoonotic disease indications are co-developed for deployment in humans and the respective animal hosts of infection. Using this approach I have developed a novel chimpanzee adenovirus vectored Rift Valley Fever vaccine that is highly efficacious in multiple target livestock species. The vaccine is just about to enter human phase I clinical trials in the UK and East Africa, and will be evaluated in parallel livestock field trials in Kenya. I also co-lead a similar One Health vaccine project for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) aimed at developing a MERS vaccine for deployment in camels and humans.
More recently I have begun an arbovirus epidemiology programme at the Wellcome Programme in Kenya. My focus is on estimating long term transmission trends and case burden of flaviviruses (e.g. Dengue), alphaviruses (e.g. Chikungunya, Onyong'nyong') and bunyaviruses (e.g. Rift Valley Fever) in coastal Kenya, where recurrent outbreaks of these diseases are known to occur. These studies will inform target product profiles for candidate vaccines against these arboviral threats and underpin the design of clinical trials for vaccine efficacy estimation.
Dr Simon Funnell
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