18 - 20 April 2005, Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, Montreal, Canada
World health.
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Calendar of Events
bioLOGIC Europe 2008 ~ Geneva
World Drug Safety Congress Europe ~ London
European BioPharm Scale-Up Congress 2008 ~ Geneva
Exploratory Clinical Development World Americas ~ Philadelphia
World Vaccine Congress Lyon 2008 ~ Lyon
World Vaccine Congress Australia 2008 ~ Sydney
Oncology Drug Development World Europe 2008 ~ London

More events >

Speakers      

Mr Jeff Abbey,
Director, Strategic Development,
Argos Therapeutics


Jeffrey Abbey joined Argos Therapeutics in September 2002. Before joining Argos, Abbey was Vice President of Business Development and Finance for Internet Appliance Network (IAN), a venture-backed information technology company based in New York City. Prior to joining IAN, he was a partner in Ehrenreich Eilenberg and Krause, a boutique corporate law firm, where he acted as business counsel for a number of life sciences and other emerging technology companies. Abbey has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating licenses, joint ventures and other technology transfer agreements, as well as mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions. He holds an A.B. in Mathematical Economics from Brown University and received an M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Dr David Allison,
Medical Officer Of Health,
Health and Community Services Canada


Dr. David Allison serves the Eastern Region Integrated Health Authority (Eastern Health) in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, as Medical Officer of Health. A graduate of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Community Medicine, he is also a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Division of Community Health in the Faculty of Medicine of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Dr. Allison has worked in public health settings in Saskatchewan, Alberta and New Brunswick. Additionally he has worked internationally in Nepal and Sierra Leone, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Allison is a Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion and an active member of the Canadian Public Health Association.


Dr Lorne Babiuk,
Director,
VIDO


Dr. Babiuk is the Director of the Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and Canada Research Chair in Vaccinology in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Under his direction, VIDO has become internationally recognized for its role in the use of biotechnology to develop vaccines. The world’s first genetically engineered vaccine for animal species was developed at VIDO. He has held prestigious national and international awards for excellence in research and for transferring research into the commercial arena including an NSERC Chair in Biotechnology, Canadian Society of Microbiology Award, Xerox-Canada Forum Award; served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board or Board of Directors for numerous companies involved in commercializing biological research and as a consultant to Genetech, Molecular Genetics Inc., CIBA-GIEGY; conducted due diligence studies for investors and companies regarding the commercial potential of specific scientific proposals. He has mentored over 90 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who have obtained positions in industry, academia and government, served as a member of many grant and government committees and a reviewer for various scientific journals, as well as serving on general editorial boards. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 80 book chapters and reviews, and is holder of 20 issued patents and 18 patents pending. His special areas of research are in molecular virology, vaccinology, immunology, and viral pathogenesis with emphasis on respiratory and viral infections. Recent interest has been in novel vaccine development using genomics and in delivery to induce mucosal immunity, as well as helping set science policy in Canada. In addition to being a visionary, he is also an accomplished fundraiser and builder of people and facilities by the recent completion of a $19 million research wing and the current construction of a $62 million level III biocontainment facility.

Dr Steven Bell,
VP - Research & Pre-Clinical Development,
BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc


Dr. Bell graduated from Rhodes University in 1981, studied Medicine at University of Cape Town, did graduate studies at the University of Bern,Switzerland, then did a PhD at University of New South Wales, Sydney. He also holds a MBA from KSU, Georgia.

Dr. Bell has worked in different capacities for Boehringer Mannheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, The Upjohn Company, Boehringer Ingelheim, and has been with BioSante Pharmaceuticals since 1997 where he is VP, Research & Pre-clinical Development.


Dr Andrew Bett,
Senior Scientist, Vaccine and Biologics Research,
Merck Research Laboratories


Andrew obtained his Honors B.S. in 1989 from the University of Western Ontario in Ontario, Canada. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1995 in the Lab of Dr. Frank L. Graham at McMaster University, located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Andrew then joined Merck Research Labs in West Point Pennsylvania, USA, as a postdoctoral researcher in the newly formed Department of Human Genetics. In 1997 Andrew became a permanent Merck Research Labs Senior Scientist and is currently a Research Fellow in the Department of Vaccine and Biologics Research.
Andrew’s research interest has been in Virology and Molecular Biology at academic institutions and vaccine and biologics product research & development in industry. During his academic training, he studied the development of adenovirus vectors as vaccine delivery vehicles. At Merck, he has applied this knowledge to the development of adenovirus based HIV vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. He will give a presentation on the experiences and lessons learned in developing Merck’s HIV vaccine.


Mr Kim Bush,
President, Vaccines SBU,
Baxter Healthcare Corporation


Kim Bush joined Baxter International in 1978 and currently holds the position of President, Baxter BioScience, Vaccines Division. He and his team are responsible of the commercial management of Baxter’s vaccine business on a global basis. Prior to holding this position, Kim held several Baxter senior management positions including, President, Hyland Immuno Europe, President, Biotech Europe and President of Baxter’s Fenwal Division. Prior to the spin-off of Allegiance from Baxter, Kim also served as President for both the Industrial and Life Sciences Division and the Biomedical Division of Allegiance Healthcare Corporation.

Dr Francis Cano,
Chairman and CEO,
Vaxin


Dr Cano spent 21 years at Lederle Laboratories where he licensed seven human vaccines, including one for prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia. Cano left as VP and GM to help start Aviron, where he led the team that developed the first nasal influenza vaccine (FluMistT). Cano's consulting firm works with vaccine leaders and other biotechnology companies, venture groups, and universities. He also sits on four boards.

Dr Stephen Chatfield,
Chief Scientific Officer,
Emergent Biosolutions


Steve is currently Chief Scientific Officer for Emergent BioSolutions, a US company focused on the Research, Development and Manufacturing of vaccines. In this role he has the responsibility for R&D strategy and for the development of the vaccine technologies and products.

Steve has spent over 25 years working in the field of vaccine research and development within Industry, previously working at Microscience Ltd, Medeva plc, Evans Medical and Wellcome Biotechnology. He has had a wide range of experience and responsibilities encompassing all phases of vaccine development, including research, process and analytical development, toxicology, GMP manufacture, regulatory submissions and clinical studies in both Europe and the US, including compilation and submission of MAA and BLA dossiers. He has also written expert reports in support of regulatory submissions.

His research efforts have focused on the molecular basis of pathogenicity of bacterial and viral infections. Much of this work has been directed towards the development of novel vaccines and immunotherapeutics, particularly those that can be delivered by the mucosal route. He has published over 97 papers in this field, written several book chapters and is regularly invited to speak at international meetings on Vaccine R&D.


Dr Keith Chidwick,
Consultant,
Technomark


Keith is currently a Pharmaceutical assessor at the Medicinal Healthcare Related products Agency (MHRA) in the UK. He works within the Biologicals group that assesses biotechnology products, blood products and vaccines.

Keith was previously a Consultant with Technomark Consulting Services. The projects with which he was involved included:
· Technical and commercial due diligence of biotechnology companies prior to investment.
· Developing scientific and commercial development plans for vaccine companies.
· Advising on the capabilities required for contract biomanufacturing.
· Advising on clinical outsourcing plans and identifying the most appropriate contract partner.

He was previously a Project Scientist with Bio-Products Laboratories developing large-scale bio-manufacturing processes, during which time he obtained his MBA.

Keith was a Senior Lecturer in biotechnology at the University of Westminster and has conducted post-doctoral research at the London Hospital Medical School in the field of inflammation.


Dr Timothy Cooke,
Chief Operating Officer,
Avant Immunotherapeutics


Dr. Cooke is Senior Vice President for Commercial Development at AVANT Immunotherapeutics. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Mojave Therapeutics, a therapeutic vaccine company that was sold to Antigenics in July 2004. Dr. Cooke held a number of domestic and international marketing and sales positions in the Merck Vaccine Division and Aventis Pasteur-MSD. In 2000, he served as the vaccine industry representative to the Working Group of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. Dr. Cooke holds a Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry from Columbia University and an MBA from the Columbia Business School.

Dr Nancy Cox,
Chief, Influenza Branch, Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control of Influenza,
CDC


Position: Chief, Influenza Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (DVRD), National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Prior Positions: Deputy Chief, Influenza Branch, DVRD, NCID, CDC; Chief, Molecular Genetics Section, Influenza Branch, DVRD, NCID, CDC; Research Chemist, Influenza Branch, CDC; Staff Fellow, Respiratory Virus Branch, CDC.

Scientific Interests: Influenza surveillance, epidemiology and pathogenesis; Molecular epidemiology and evolution of influenza viruses; Molecular basis for attenuation of influenza viruses; Mechanism of antiviral resistance of influenza viruses.

Publications: Author/co-author of over 130 research articles, reviews and book chapters.


Dr Ciro de Quadros,
Director of International Programmes,
Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute


Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros is the Director for International Programs of the Sabin Vaccine Institute (SVI), since February 2003. Before joining the SVI he was Director of the Division of Vaccines and Immunization of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, DC. He completed his medical studies in Brazil in 1966 and received a Master of Public Health degree from the National School of Public Health in Rio de Janeiro in1968. He was involved with the pioneering experiences for the development of the strategies of surveillance and containment for Smallpox eradication and in February, 1970 joined the World Health Organization (WHO) as Chief Epidemiologist for the Smallpox Eradication Program in Ethiopia. He transferred to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in February 1997 to serve as the Senior Advisor on Immunizations. He directed the successful efforts of polio eradication from the Western Hemisphere and directed the efforts to eradicate measles from the same region

Dr de Quadros is also an Associate Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine of the School of Medicine of George Washington University in Washington DC. He has participated and presented papers in over 100 conferences throughout the world and has received several international awards, including the 1993 Prince Mahidol Award of Thailand and the 2000 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal. In 1999 he received the highest civil award given by the Government of Brazil, the Order of Rio Branco.


Dr Jane Devereux,
Senior Director, Corporate Licensing,
Merck & Co.


Dr. Jane Devereux is a Senior Director at Merck & Co., Inc with responsibility for licensing of technology and products related primarily to vaccines and biologicals. Jane joined Merck in 1996 as Director, Business Strategy and joined the Corporate Licensing Group in 1998. Prior to Merck, Jane was a consultant for seven years specializing in pharmaceutical strategy and mergers and acquisitions for PA Consulting Group in the UK and US. Previously, she worked for Glaxo Group Research and is a registered pharmacist in the UK. She obtained her first degree from University of Nottingham and her Ph.D. from University of London.

Mr John Dwyer,
Counsel,
Arent Fox


Mr. Dwyer comes to Arent Fox with 20 years experience in starting, financing and growing early stage, venture backed health care companies. His practice will focus on advising clients on the many regulatory and transactional legal issues faced by drug, device, and healthcare services companies when they experience accelerating growth.

Prior to joining Arent Fox, Mr. Dwyer was CEO of a venture backed specialty pharmacy distribution company. Before that assignment, Mr. Dwyer founded and sold a company that provides software solutions and services for improving treatment planning and care delivery for large managed care organizations and hospitals.

Mr. Dwyer previously served as a principal and managing director in a mid-Atlantic investment bank and began his career as an associate with Arent Fox. Mr. Dwyer currently serves on the Boards of a number of private and not-for-profit organizations including CodeRyte, Inc. and the Trust for America’s Health. Mr. Dwyer is a graduate of Marquette University and the Cornell University Law School.


Dr Ronald Ellis,
Senior Vice President, Development, and General Manager,
ID Biomedical Corporation


Dr Reinhard Glück,
President of Swiss Biotech Association, & Chief Scientific Officer,
Berna Biotech


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Current Position: Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Member of Executive Board of Directors, Berna Biotech Ltd
from 2002: President Swiss Biotech Association
from 2001: President of Etna Biotech, Catania
from 2001: Board of Administration of Pevion GmbH, Berne
from 2000: Director of Research and Development, Member of Executive Board of Directors Berna Biotech Ltd, Berne, Switzerland
1987-2000: Head Virology (Research Production, In-Process Control), Berna Biotech Ltd, Berne, Switzerland
1982: Group Leader Virus Research, Berna Biotech Ltd, Berne, Switzerland
1979-1981: Research Teaching Assistant, University of Berne, Major Advisor, Prof. M. Hess
1976: Research Scientist, Ciba-Geigy AG, Dept. Microbiology, Basle, Switzerland


Dr Phillip Gomez,
Director, Vaccine Production Programme, Vaccine Research Center,
NIAID, NIH


Dr. Phillip L. Gomez III is director of vaccine production at the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center. The VRC's vaccine production program is dedicated to the manufacture, testing, and regulatory submission of vaccine products that will be evaluated in clinical trials. The group also works with industrial partners in the evaluation of new vaccine technology, and executes manufacturing process development and scale-up studies to prepare products for partnering out to industrial collaborators for final development and licensure. Dr. Gomez came to NIH from Baxter Healthcare Corporation in Columbia, Md., where he served as senior director of process development in the vaccine business unit, as well as project leader during the launch of the NeisVac-CTM vaccine in the United Kingdom. He has also served as a project manager and director of product development at Aventis Pasteur in Swiftwater, Pa. At Abbott Laboratories, Dr. Gomez served in several positions in bioprocess development, including senior research scientist and team leader. He earned his master's degree and Ph.D. degree, both in chemical engineering, from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., a M.B.A. from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and a B.A. in engineering science from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

Dr Lance Gordon,
President and CEO,
VaxGen


Dr Lance Gordon has more than 20 years of experience in the vaccine industry, developing both vaccine products and companies. Prior to joining VaxGen, Dr Gordon served as founding CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of two vaccine companies, OraVax and North American Vaccines. He was also the CEO of North American’s predecessors, American Vaccine Corp and Selcore, Inc. During the 1980’s, Dr. Gordon served a seven-year tenure at Connaught where he was Director of Viral and Bacterial vaccines research and the inventor of ProHibit® a vaccine for infant meningitis, the first bacterial conjugate vaccine to receive FDA approval. After leaving Connaught, he served as a medical director at E.R. Squibb where he designed and implemented clinical pharmacology programs for infectious and inflammatory disease products and candidates.

Dr Elwyn Griffiths,
Associate Director General, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate,
Health Canada


Dr Elwyn Griffiths joined Health Canada as Associate Director General, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate in 2003. He has a PhD and DSc degree from the University of Wales and following postdoctoral positions at the National Research Council, Ottawa, and McMaster University, Hamilton, he joined the staff of the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK. Subsequently he became a senior member of staff at the National Institute for Biological Standardization and Control, UK, and in 1994 was appointed Chief, Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva. Here he was responsible for WHO's international programme in biological standardization for assuring the quality and safety of vaccines, blood products and biotherapeutics. He has published widely in microbial pathogenicity, vaccines and the standardization and control of biologicals. Dr Griffiths has been heavily involved in providing scientific and regulatory advice to the UK Medicines Control Agency and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, as well as being a member of numerous WHO working groups. He has also been much involved in clinical studies of acellular pertussis and meningococcal vaccines at both the national and global level and at WHO he was a member of the Editorial Board developing WHO papers on immunization policies published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record.

Dr David Heymann,
Executive Director, Communicable Diseases,
World Health Organisation


Dr David L. Heymann is currently the Representative of the Director General for Polio Eradication at the World Health Organization (WHO). Prior to that he held various positions within WHO.

Before joining WHO, Dr Heymann worked for thirteen years as a medical epidemiologist in sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – formerly Zaire) on assignment from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in CDC-supported activities.

Dr Heymann holds a B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.D. from Wake Forest University, a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and has completed practical epidemiology training in the two year Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of CDC. He has published over 140 scientific articles on infectious diseases and related issues in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals, and authored several chapters on infectious diseases in medical textbooks. He is currently editor of the 18th edition of the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, a joint publication of WHO and American Public Health Association publication.


Dr Anthony Holler,
CEO,
ID BioMedical Corporation


Dr Gary Horwith,
Vice President, Clinical,
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals


Dr Allan Jarvis,
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development,
Aventis Pasteur


Allan Jarvis is currently Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Aventis Pasteur, a Division of Aventis Pharmaceuticals. In that capacity he is responsible for the Business Development, Strategic Planning and Process Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness functions. He oversees AvP’s worldwide Corporate Development function and is responsible for managing the company’s growth through alliances, joint-ventures, partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and the licensing of products and technology. Prior to this, he was Vice President, Business Development and Strategy for the Vaccine Business Unit of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Allan received his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of California and held NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowships from 1976-1980 at Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute and the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. In 1980, he co-founded Damon Biotech, Inc. where he held diverse positions of increasing responsibility from Manager, Molecular Biology to Vice President, Research and Vice President Business Development. From 1990 to 1992, he worked at Abbott Laboratories, Inc., as Director, Business Development. In 1992 he joined Repligen Corp. in the dual role of Vice President, Business Planning for the parent company and Sr. Vice President, Commercial Development for its wholly owned subsidiary, Amira, Inc. His primary areas of business focus include: strategic planning, valuing products and technology, negotiations and partnership management.


Dr Catherine Kaplanski,
Research Fellow, Biologics Safety Assessment,
Merck Research Laboratories


Dr. Catherine Kaplanski is a Research Fellow in Biologics Safety Assessment at Merck & Co. She is the head of the laboratory performing all immunoassays in support of the safety assessment of Merck’s vaccines and biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals. Her group is also responsible for the immunotoxicology assessment of small molecules. A native of France, Dr Kaplanski first joined Merck in 1997 as a post-doctoral fellow. She received a DVM from Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France and a Ph.D in Genetic Differentiation and Immunology from the WHO/International Agency for Research of Cancer in Lyon, France.

Dr Arlene King,
Director, Immunisation and Respiratory Infections,
Public Health Agency of Canada


Dr. King is the Director of the Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, and an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. She received her medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 1981, certification in Family Medicine from the University of Calgary, Alberta in 1984 and practiced Family Medicine in northern Alberta from 1985 to1989. In 1990, she received a Masters Degree in Health Sciences from the University of British Columbia and in 1992, became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Community Medicine. She served as a medical officer of health in British Columbia from 1992 to 1994, and subsequently held various positions in communicable disease control at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control in Vancouver. She has been at Health Canada since 1999.

In 2003, she received Health Canada’s Deputy Minister’s Award of Merit for her contribution to Canada’s National SARS Response. She has provided technical consultation to the World Health Organization on polio, SARS and influenza, and is a member of the World Health Organization Africa Region Polio Eradication Certification Commission.

In 2004, she was appointed to the Board of the Global Alliance on Immunization (GAVI).

Her interests include national and international immunization program and policy development, emerging infectious diseases, surveillance and outbreak response.


Dr Ottfried Kistner,
Head of Department of Virology,
Baxter AG


Dr Michel Klein,
CEO,
CANVAC


Dr. Michel KLEIN received his Medical Degree from the Faculty of Medicine of Paris and his diploma in Immunology from the Institut Pasteur in 1969. He held the position of Professor of Immunology at the University of Toronto and several cross-appointments in Medicine, Pathology and Biochemistry.

Dr. M. KLEIN joined the Connaught Research Institute in 1987 and became successively Vice-President Research, then Vice-President, Science and Technology, Aventis Pasteur Group.

Dr M. KLEIN is currently the Chief Executive officer of the Canadian Network of vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Dr. M. KLEIN is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and 500 patents in the fields of Immunology, Molecular Biology and Vaccinology.

Dr. M. KLEIN is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor.


Mr Jonathan Klein-Evans,
Senior Director, Intellectual Property,
MedImmune


Mr. Jonathan Klein-Evans currently serves as Senior Director, Intellectual Property for MedImmune, Inc., overseeing all intellectual property issues for the company. He joined MedImmune in 2002 as Director, Intellectual Property.
Prior to joining MedImmune, Mr. Klein-Evans was an in-house patent attorney at Human Genome Sciences, Inc. for two years. Prior to his tenure at HGS, Mr. Klein-Evans worked for the law firm of Pennie & Edmonds, LLP, first as a law clerk, then a patent agent, and finally as a patent attorney over a course of six years. Throughout his ten years in the field, Mr. Klein-Evans has worked on all aspects of patent law, including prosecution, litigation, opinions, interferences, oppositions, and licensing.
Mr. Klein-Evans holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Columbia University, an M.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the New York State Bar and registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.


Mr Werner Lanthaler,
CFO,
Intercell


Werner Lanthaler is the Chief Financial Officer at Intercell AG. Earlier he was Head of Marketing and Communications of the Federation of Austrian Industry and before that, a senior management consultant at McKinsey & Company International. His academic career includes doctorates from the Economics University of Vienna and Harvard University, USA. He has considerable experience of labor and capital markets in the USA, South America and Europe. Werner Lanthaler is also the author and co-author of a wide range of books and articles. At Intercell his responsibilities comprise Finance, Administration, Human Resources, Public Affairs and Investor Relations.

Dr Albrecht Laufer,
Managing Director,
Vakzine Projekt Management


Dr. Albrecht Läufer studied biochemistry in Tübingen, chemistry in Basel and worked as a research student at Rikagaku Kenkyusho, Japan, under a grant of Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. 1985 he graduated in physical chemistry at Technical University of Braunschweig (summa cum laude).

He started his business career with Rütgerswerke AG, building up and heading Rütgers-BioTech in Castrop-Rauxel and later Mannheim. He actively managed an acquisition program into food ingredient companies, and became Director of Sevarome Sarl, Yssingeaux, France, in 1990. 1992 he became Director of Weyl GmbH, Mannheim, a subsidiary of Rütgerswerke AG. 1993 Albrecht Läufer joined Solvay Enzymes GmbH & Co KG, Hannover / Nienburg, as the CEO, and head of detergent enzyme marketing of Solvay Enzymes worldwide. 1997 he became Vice President / Regional Director of Region 6 of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, being responsible for the operative business in Canada, Asia (incl. Middle East), Australia / New Zealand and South Africa.

Since April 1, 2003, Albrecht Läufer is CEO of Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH, Braunschweig.


Mr Mark Leuchtenberger,
President and CEO,
Therion Biologics


Mark Leuchtenberger joined Therion as President and CEO in 2002 from Biogen, where he served as Vice President, International. In this capacity, he led all commercial operations outside of North America. Mr. Leuchtenberger joined Biogen in 1990 and served as Program Executive for Biogen’s commercial products Amevive® and Avonex®. In the latter role, Mr. Leuchtenberger was responsible for managing the late-stage development, registration, marketing and North American launch of Avonex®. During his tenure at Biogen, he held several senior positions, including Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, where he oversaw the company's global market, licensing and strategic partnership activities. Prior to Biogen, he worked as a Senior Consultant at Bain and Company specializing in healthcare. Mr. Leuchtenberger received an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. from Wake Forest University.

Dr Ruth Levine,
Director of Programmes and Senior Fellow,
Center for Global Development


Ms. Levine is a Senior Fellow and Director of Programs at the Center for Global Development (CGD) and head of CGD’s Global Health Policy Research Network. An expert on health and education, she was previously a Senior Economist at the World Bank and Social Sectors Advisor at the Inter-American Development Bank. She has worked in 14 developing countries and on global programs such as the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization. Ms. Levine holds a doctoral degree in economics and public health from Johns Hopkins University and is co-author of The Health of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (World Bank) and the forthcoming Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health (CGD).

Mr Clement Lewin,
Vice President, Government Affairs and Immunisation Policy,
Chiron Vaccines


Clement Lewin is currently Vice President Government Affairs & Immunization Policy for Chiron Vaccines US commercial operations. He joined Chiron in 2002 and prior to taking up his current position was Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Intelligence for Chiron Vaccines based at Chiron Vaccines global headquarters in Oxford in the United Kingdom. Clem obtained his BSc and PhD from the University of London. After 5 years as a Research Fellow at the Universities of London and Edinburgh focusing on mechanisms of action and resistance to antibiotics he obtained an MBA with distinction from Cornell University. He then joined the life sciences practice of Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath specializing in product development issues. Prior to joining Chiron, Clem was with Merck Vaccines Division in a variety of domestic and international marketing positions and with Bayer Pharmaceuticals as Director of Global Scientific Affairs for their anti-infective franchise.

Dr Gary Liberson,
Partner, Life Sciences,
PA Consulting


Gary Liberson is a PhD statistician specializing in risk assessment and complex analytics. He has been active in children's health issues for over 15 years. He experience covers product liability matters, corporate governance and management programs to control quality. He now has a senior management role in PA's Life Sciences practice, having spent a number of
years leading PA's activities in the field of the environmental consulting. Gary has extensive experience working with trade associations and corporate clients helping to solve complex enforcement, national regulatory matters and other public policy considerations.

Dr. Liberson has worked with the US Department of Defense on matters associated with chemical agents. He has frequently represented clients in public forums including the EPA Science Advisory Board. Dr. Liberson founded the first statistics office in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water Programs in the mid 1970's.


Mr Mark Lievonen,
President,
Aventis Pasteur Canada


J. Mark Lievonen is President of Aventis Pasteur Limited. He is responsible for all of the company’s operations in Canada and is a member of Aventis Pasteur’s Commercial Operations Management Committee and its North American management structure.

Prior to his appointment as President, Mr. Lievonen was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Oncology Business Unit.

Mr. Lievonen is a member of the Board of Directors of BIOTECanada and served as Chair from January 2000 to May of 2003. He also chaired the Steering Committee of the Bio2002 Conference held in Toronto. In 2003 he was appointed as a Director of the Ontario Genomics Institute Board and Cabinet member of the United Way of Greater Toronto Board, chairing the Health Care Division. Mr. Lievonen was a member of the Ontario Government’s BIOCouncil and served on the 1998 Ontario Biotechnology Task Force. He served on the Canadian Liver Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 1998 and as a Business Ambassador of the Government of Ontario.


Dr Monique Mansoura,
Programme Analyst, Office of Research and Development Co-ordination, Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness,
Department of Health and Human Services


Dr. Mansoura is the Senior Planning Officer for the Office of Research and Development Coordination (ORDC) in the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The OPHEP was established to coordinate interagency activities between DHHS, other Federal departments, agencies, offices, and State and local officials responsible for emergency preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.

Dr. Mansoura serves as a senior technical authority on the overall operations, organization, and resources for advanced development and acquisition of medical countermeasures. She directs the strategic planning program for development and acquisition of medical countermeasures for DHHS and works with colleagues throughout the U.S. government on these issues.

Dr. Mansoura received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Wayne State University, Master’s degrees in Bioengineering and Human Genetics, and a Doctoral degree in Bioengineering from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the staff of the OPHEP, she conducted a post-doctoral fellowship and worked as a Genomics Program and Policy Analyst at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health.


Dr James Meegan,
Senior Director, Biological Defense Systems,
Invitrogen


Dr Thomas Monath,
Chief Scientific Officer,
Acambis


Tom Monath, 63, a qualified medical doctor, joined the Group in 1992 and was appointed to the Board as Chief Scientific Officer on 12 March 2002. Prior to joining Acambis, he worked as Colonel and Chief of the Virology Division of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease. During almost 20 years as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, he was instrumental in building the division into a key centre for research into arthropod-borne viruses such as yellow fever.

Tom is responsible for the direction of Acambis' programmes to develop vaccines against infectious diseases such as smallpox, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever and West Nile, and led the development of Acambis' proprietary ChimeriVax™ technology. During his career, he has published more than 300 scientific papers and six books, including a seminal work on flaviviruses. Among other external positions, he is Adjunct Professor of Harvard School of Public Health, president-elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and a member of the US National Vaccine Advisory Committee.


Dr Charles Nicolette,
Vice President, Research,
Argos Therapeutics


Charles Nicolette is the Vice President of Research and Development at Argos Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of RNA-transfected dendritic cell-based vaccines for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. He is an expert in cellular immunology with extensive experience with dendritic cells and is the inventor on dozens of patent applications in the field.

He was formerly the Director of Antigen Discovery at Genzyme Molecular Oncology where he developed several new vaccine-related technologies. Charles received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and cellular and developmental biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, completing his doctoral dissertation and post-doctoral fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.


Dr Brian Nunnally,
Vaccine Analytical Development,
Wyeth Research


Dr Bram Palache,
Global Medical Affairs Director, Influenza Vaccine,
Solvay Pharmaceuticals


1973-1980: University of Amsterdam, Biochemistry (MSc degree)
1980-1984: Clinical Research Associate. Clinical Research Department Duphar B.V., Weesp, The Netherlands
1984-1987: European Clinical Projectleader, Gastroenterology group. Clinical Research Department Duphar B.V., Weesp, The Netherlands
1984: International Clinical Projectleader, Influenza vaccine. Clinical Research Department Duphar B.V., Weesp, The Netherlands
1990-1991: Influenza Research Fellow at Erasmus University and the WHO Dutch National Influenza Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Prof N. Masurel)
1991: Thesis and PhD degree, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Prof N. Masurel)
1990: Global Medical Affairs Director Influenza Vaccines. Solvay Pharmaceuticals B.V., Weesp, The Netherlands
1990: Board Member of "Foundation of Respiratory Virology, in particular Influenza (SRVI)", Erasmus University and WHO Dutch National Influenza Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Chairman: Prof. A.D.M.E. Osterhaus)
Since 1992: Executive Board member, European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI)
Since 1993: Editorial Board member, "Influeza", Bulletin of European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI)
Since: 2000Member of the Organising Committee Options IV Meeting Crete, Greece.
Since 2001: Members of the Clinical Working Group EVM (European Vaccine Manufacturers)
Since 2001: Member of the Public Health Working Group EVM (European Vaccine Manufacturers)
Since 2002: Member of the Organising Committee First European Influenza Conference, Malta


Dr John Polo,
Director, Vaccines Research,
Chiron Vaccines


Dr. John Polo joined Chiron Corporation in 1995 and currently holds the position of Director, Vaccines Research, where he is responsible for the development of gene-based vaccine delivery platforms using replication-defective viral vectors. He also leads multiple respiratory virus vaccine programs. Prior to joining Chiron, Dr. Polo held a research position at Viagene,
Inc., a gene therapy biotech, where he focused on viral and cancer therapeutics. John received doctoral and postdoctoral training in the areas of molecular virology and viral pathogenesis.


Dr Helene Pora,
Vaccine Application Development Director,
Pall Life Sciences


Dr Hélène Pora is Vaccine Application Development director with Pall LIfe Sciences , where she has the worldwide responsibility for the development of improved separation and purification solutions for the vaccine and gene therapy market. She is also heavily involved in the development of improved single use technologies and related scale-up aspects. Hélène has more than 20 years of experience working for the pharmaceutical and the separation industries, the last 15 years with Pall Corporation. She holds an Engineering Degree in Biochemistry (with Molecular Biology) from the Institut National Agronomique (France) and a PhD in Biochemistry ( on protein engineering and purification) from the University of Orsay (France). Hélène Speaks regularly at conferences about improved separation technologies for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry.

Dr Louis Potash,
Director, Vaccine Technologies,
Novavax


Louis Potash, born in Boston, MA, received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tulane Univ. in 1958. He considers himself a “Classical Virologist” with 50 years of hands-on experience with enteric viruses (polio-, Coxsackie, rota-, ECHO), respiratory viruses (influenza, respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza, adeno-), and systemic viruses (vaccinia, rubella, CMV) and their growth in various tissue culture systems. Dr. Potash is the Director of Novavax, Vaccine Technologies which has produced and safety tested over 200 live virus vaccines and suspensions, most of which have undergone testing in Phase I and II clinical trials in human volunteers.

Ms Jan Reid,
Senior Director, Licensing,
Wyeth Vaccines


Jan Reid is a Senior Director of Licensing for Wyeth. As a member of Wyeth’s Global Business Development team she supports the Wyeth Vaccines business unit. Her responsibilities include the identification and evaluation of new vaccine technology opportunities and the negotiation and management of alliances to advance and add value to Wyeth’s vaccine business.

Jan has a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Queensland, Australia and an M.B.A. from Rice University, Houston, Texas. Prior to joining Wyeth in 1997, she held licensing and business development positions in the biotechnology industry and at a major academic medical center.


Dr Una Ryan,
President and CEO,
Avant Immunotherapeutics


Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., O.B.E., is President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded Massachusetts biotechnology company developing vaccines for large high value markets including cholesterol management, infectious diseases, biodefense and food safety; AVANT’s partner GSK has initiated Phase III trials of its RotarixÒ rotavirus vaccine, and AVANT is working on several funded biodefense vaccine development contracts including an oral single-dose combination anthrax/plague vaccine and developing its VitriLife® preservation process to produce temperature-stable single-dose live oral vaccines. Dr. Ryan is Research Professor of Medicine at the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, serves on the Board of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Whitehead Institute Board of Associates, and is 2004-2006 Chair of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. From 1990 to 1993 she held the position of Director of Health Sciences at Monsanto Company and was Research Professor of Surgery, Medicine and Cell Biology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Ryan was Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami from 1980 to 1989 and Chief, Division of Vascular Cell Biology from 1986 to 1989. In 2002 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Dr. Ryan the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to research, development and promotion of biotechnology.

Dr Rafick-Pierre Sékaly,
Scientific Director,
CANVAC


Dr. Sékaly obtained in PhD from the Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1984. He then spent three years as a post-doctoral fellow at the NIH. From 1987 to 2000, he was Director of the Laboratory of Immunology at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM). Full Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Université de Montréal since 1995, Dr. Sékaly has received a Senior Scientist Award from the Medical Research Council of Canada. From 1994 to 2001, he has been the founding scientific director of the Quebec AIDS Network, which is funded by the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ). Currently, Dr. Sékaly is the Director of the Laboratories of Immunology at both Université de Montréal and CHUM Research Centre and, since 2000, Scientific Director and Program Leader of CANVAC, the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics. He is also Chair of the Vaccines and Immunotherapies Committee of the Canadian HIV Trial Network, Director of the Canadian HIV Primary Infection Group, which is funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and Associate Director of the CHUM Research Centre.

Dr. Sékaly has been involved in the areas HIV and HIV pathogenesis for the past fifteen years. Using several novel technologies developed in his laboratory, he has investigated, in collaborations with internationally recognized groups, the features of the primary cellular immune responses in HIV infected patients. The technologies developed by his group will be critical for the monitoring of immune responses in clinical trials of both vaccines and immunotherapies of HIV, hepatitis C and cancer. The Canada Foundation for Innovation has just recently awarded a grant to Dr. Sékaly and a group of prominent Canadian investigators to create a national infrastructure to monitor the immune responses. This infrastructure will allow Canada to establish a leadership position in this field. Dr. Sékaly hopes to improve the quality of life of Canadians by using novel technologies and a multidisciplinary approach in order to develop vaccines and immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of cancer and chronic viral diseases.


Dr Doris Snow,
Director, Regulatory Affairs,
DVC LLC, A CSC Company


Doris M. Snow, PhD., is an Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs for DynPort Vaccine Company, LLC (DVC), A CSC Company, where she is responsible for developing and implementing regulatory strategy for vaccines. She has over 10 years of experience in biochemistry, regulatory affairs and research with expertise in new product development. Prior to joining DVC, Dr. Snow held positions in quality assurance and regulatory affairs overseeing the development of cancer therapeutics and biodefense vaccines through the IND stage. Dr. Snow received a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr Klaus Stöhr,
Head, Global Influenza Programme,
World Health Organisation


Dr Elizabeth Sutkowski,
Scientific and Regulatory Reviewer, OVRR,
CBER, FDA


Elizabeth M. Sutkowski, Ph.D. is currently a Chemist/Regulatory Scientist in the Division of Vaccines and Related Products Applications within the Office of Vaccines Research and Review in CBER where she serves as a scientific and regulatory reviewer of Investigational New Drug Applications and Biologics License Applications for vaccines. She has represented CBER at national and international meetings and presented CBER’s approach to nonclinical safety evaluation of preventive vaccines, especially in the area of adjuvants for bacterial vaccines. Dr. Sutkowski obtained her B.A. degree in Chemistry from Manhattanville College (1979) and her Ph.D. (Biochemistry; 1984; thesis research on biosynthesis of multiple forms of dopamine beta-hydroxylase) from Georgetown University. She conducted post-doctoral research on the voltage-dependent sodium channel in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, and in 1988 she joined CBER as a National Research Council Fellow to conduct studies on the interaction of forskolin, a diterpene natural product which elevates intracellular cAMP, with adenylyl cyclase.

SVP John Trizzino,
SVP Business Development,
ID Biomedical


John J Trizzino
Sr. VP Business Development
US and Canada vaccine market expertise with a focus on business development, M&A and distribution.
ID Bio has a significant portfolio of licensed and pipeline products in the adult, pediatric and biodefense markets.


Dr. Daniel Tusé,
Vice President, Business Development,
Large Scale Biology Corporation


Dr Daniel Tusé,
Vice President, Business Development,
Large Scale Biology Corporation


Daniel Tusé is currently Vice President, Business Development, at Large Scale Biology Corporation (LSBC), Vacaville, California. In that capacity he is responsible for business development functions and for helping coordinate strategic planning and product development programs. Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Tusé was Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development at LSBC, and he directed R&D programs that resulted in the Company’s first clinical experience with a lead plant-made pharmaceutical product.

Before joining LSBC, Dr. Tusé was Assistant Director of the Life Sciences Division at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute). Prior to that, he held a number of research management positions at SRI in pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals, focusing on commercial applications for an international list of clients.

Dr. Tusé received his Ph.D. in Microbiology with a minor in Toxicology from the University of California, under sponsorship by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to study microbial and biochemical catalysis in the conversion of plant biomass, and is the author of numerous patents and research articles.


Ms Lynda Tussey,
Program Leader of Immunotherapeutics,
VaxInnate Corporation


Dr Brian Underdown,
Senior Partner,
MDS Capital Corporation


Dr. Brian Underdown is a senior partner in MDS Capital Corp, that manages over a $1B of capital dedicated to building companies in the Life and Health Sciences. An immunologist by training, he has previously held senior positions in the vaccine industry and universities where he undertook research and development of vaccines. Dr. Underdown is a Director of two vaccine companies, ID Biomedical Corp and Argos Therapeutics Inc.

Dr Ralf Wagner,
Dept of Viral Vaccines,
Paul Ehrlich Institut


Ms Marsha Wertzberger,
Member,
Arent Fox


Marsha C. Wertzberger specializes in food and drug issues including issues involving products derived from bioengineering. Ms. Wertzberger focuses on product development, including assisting clients with regulatory strategies for positioning products, and ensuring that safety and claims substantiation testing will support the safety and efficacy of the product. Ms. Wertzberger assists companies in preparing regulatory submissions to the FDA, and responding to enforcement actions by FDA and FTC. She has published numerous articles on food and drug law.

Before attending law school, Ms. Wertzberger worked as an Economic and Market Research Analyst and Professional Education Writer for Merck, Sharp and Dohme, West Point, Pennsylvania.


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