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Event Details

Click Here for VIF World 2025

Vaccine Innovation Forum (VIF) World 2024 to be held in China aims to bring together experts, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world to collaborate and advance the field of vaccine development and immunization. 

As the world faces emerging infectious threats and ongoing health challenges, it is crucial to foster international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the realm of vaccine development. This conference will serve as a platform to share cutting-edge research findings, discuss innovative vaccine technologies, address global immunization gaps, and promote equitable vaccine distribution.


Scientific Advisory Board:

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 Photos


Panel Discussion:



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Talks:

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Exhibition

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Q&A:

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1-ON-1 Meeting

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Welcome Reception

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Statistics

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Key Sessions & Topics

  • Novel Vaccine Innovation:

  • Infectious diseases

  • RNA Technology

  • Bacterial vaccines

  • Veterinary Vaccines

  • Cancer Vaccines & Immunotherapies

  • Bioprocessing & Manufacturing

  • Clinical Trial/Vaccine Safety

  • Market Access/Regulatory/International Partnership

  • Adjuvant, Formulation, and Delivery Technologies



Young Scientist Poster Session:

 

 

VIF World 2024


 

 

The future of vaccine innovation rests in the hands of the next generation of scientists, whose fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are driving breakthroughs that will shape global health. This dynamic and interactive poster session, dedicated to young scientists, provides a platform for emerging researchers to showcase their cutting-

edge work and engage in meaningful discussions within the esteemed community of the Vaccine Innovation Forum.

Pls click here for poster application

 

One-on-One Meeting System:

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Whether you are an early-career scientist seeking mentorship, a researcher pursuing collaborative projects, or a representative of an organization exploring partnerships, this system provides the tools to shape your event experience. By matching your expertise, interests, and goals with the right counterparts, we aim to cultivate an environment where collaboration flourishes and transformative ideas take root.

 

Embrace this opportunity to leverage the power of personal connections in the pursuit of innovative solutions. Join us at the Vaccine Innovation Forum World and unlock the potential of one-on-one interactions that will shape the future of vaccine research, development, and deployment.


Download Event Agenda:

VIF World 2024VIF World-agenda0315.pdf





Partners

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Speakers
  • Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School Visiting Researcher, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences President, Siber Biotechnologies LLCGeorge Siber
    George Siber
    Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School Visiting Researcher, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences President, Siber Biotechnologies LLC

    Dr. Siber is an infectious disease trained physician with more than 40 years of experience in developing vaccines and antibody products. From 1996 to 2007, Dr. Siber served as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Wyeth Vaccines (now Pfizer) where he led the development and approval of multiple innovative childhood vaccines, including Prevenar 7 and 13, the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccines,  Rotashield, the first rotavirus diarrhea vaccine, Meningitec, the first meningococcal meningitis conjugate vaccine and FluMist, the first nasal influenza vaccine. Prior to Wyeth, Dr. Siber was Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Medicine at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Biologic Laboratories where he developed multiple vaccines and immune globulins, including Respigam, the first antibody licensed for respiratory syncytial virus. Dr. Siber most recently was a Co-founder and Board Member of Affinivax which developed a 24 valent pneumococcal vaccine and was acquired by GSK in 2022. Dr. Siber currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of AdVaccine, CanSino, Clover, Everest Medicines, ILiAD, Valneva, Vaxart and Vaxxinity and has been a consultant to the NIH, EU, WHO and the Gates Foundation. Dr.Siber was member of the Board of  Trustees of the International Vaccine Institute. Dr Siber has received multiple awards including the 2016 Albert Sabin Gold Medal in vaccinology. Dr. Siber holds an MD degree from McGill University in Canada, received post‑doctoral training in Internal Medicine at Rush‑Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and training in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School.



  • CEO, Afrigen Biologics, South AfricaPetro Terblanche
    Petro Terblanche
    CEO, Afrigen Biologics, South Africa
    Professor Petro Terblanche has a successful track record in the strategic and operational management of technology intensive organizations. She has played a key part in the design and implementation of South Africa’s biotechnology strategy. She holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics (Pty)Ltd based in Cape Town, South Africa. Afrigen hosts the WHO Global mRNA technology development and transfer Hub and has a mRNA Covid 19 vaccine candidate in development as part of a global program to build capacity and capabilities in LMICs to design, develop and produce mRNA vaccines. Prof Terblanche is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and conference papers in public health. Petro holds several Board positions and serves on a number of scientific advisory boards in the public health sector. She was recently acknowledged as one of the legends of science by the Academy of Sciences South Africa.
  • Professor, The Pirbright Institute, UKSimon Graham
    Simon Graham
    Professor, The Pirbright Institute, UK
    I am a veterinary immunologist with an interest in understanding mechanisms of protective immunity and its application to vaccine development. My early career focussed on parasitic diseases, I developed a natural cattle model for testing vaccines against onchocerciasis (river blindness), which provided the first proof-of-principle for vaccine-induced protection. I identified and evaluated vaccine candidate antigens from the apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva, which were designed to induce protective bovine CD8 T cell responses. More recently, my research has focussed on porcine viruses, such as classical swine fever (CSFV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) viruses. I informed discussions on the use of emergency vaccination to control future CSF outbreaks by demonstrating that live attenuated CSFV prevented transmission of divergent CSFV strains after only 3 days. I showed that this rapid protection was associated with broadly reactive CD8 T cell responses, opening new avenues to develop DIVA vaccines for outbreak settings. For PRRSV, I contributed to the study of the enhanced pathogenicity of Eastern European strains, highlighting the threat these viruses pose; and contributed to vaccine development efforts through the identification of conserved T cell antigens. My current research is largely focussed on PRRSV and we are pursuing complimentary approaches to improved vaccine development. I am also leading research aimed at developing a Nipah virus vaccine for pigs and supporting COVID-19 vaccine development by using the pig as a preclinical model for assessing immunogenicity of vaccine candidates.
  • CSO, GeneOne Life Science, USAKar Muthumani
    Kar Muthumani
    CSO, GeneOne Life Science, USA
    Dr. Muthumani has been working on basic immunology and translational science, especially in vaccine and immunotherapy areas. He completed his MS and Ph.D. at the Madurai Kamaraj University and post-doctoral fellowship at the Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA, focused on viral pathogenesis, nucleic acid vaccines, and immune therapies. He has directed a translational research laboratory focusing on synthetic nucleic acid technology to develop novel vaccines and immunotherapies for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases at The Wistar Institute, PA-USA, as part of preclinical studies using small animals and non-human primates and facilitated the translation of several vaccine candidates into the human clinical trials. In addition, he was associated with, as an investigator or co-investigator, several grants, including the prestigious NIH-HVDDT program grant for HIV-1 vaccine development, a highly selective NIH directors translational grant for universal influenza vaccine development, Sponsored Research Agreement grant for studying the virus and host receptor interactions (Dengue, MAYV, POWV, and CHIKV), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), WW Smith grant, and Emerson Collective Cancer Research grant regarding immunotherapeutics. Over the years, his laboratory developed, evaluated, and demonstrated the efficacy of vaccine immunogens for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), ZIKA, Nipah, POWV, MAYV, and SARS-CoV2 virus. Notable was that the synthetic nucleic acid vaccines MERS- Coronavirus (NCT03721718), Zika virus (NCT02887482), and SARS-CoV-2 (NCT04336410) were the first vaccines into human clinical testing. As a significant contributor to the vaccine literature, he has published 128 highly cited peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, with a Google H-index of 39. In addition, the research articles appeared in scholarly journals, awarded 22 patents, and filed 25 patents (total of 47) for the work. Given his stellar scientific background and accomplishments, Dr. Muthumani is uniquely positioned to lead and tackle new challenges for emerging and reemerging diseases of public health importance or relevance.
  • Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)Shan Lu
    Shan Lu
    Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)

    Dr. Lu is a physician scientist and a translational vaccine researcher.   Currently he is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), USA.  Before his retirement in late 2022, he was the Director, Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines at UMMS since 1996. 


    Dr. Lu was one of scientists who started the nucleic acid vaccines in early 1990s and continued to advocate the further advancement of this field in the last 3 decades.  He promoted the heterologous prime-boost vaccination concept and developed the world first polyvalent DNA/protein HIV vaccine which showed the robust and broadly cross-reactive immune responses in human clinical studies including the recently completed HVTN124 which sets a new milestone for HIV vaccine development.  


    Dr. Lu is the Editor-in-Chief, Emerging Microbes and Infections (EMI), a global leading journal in emerging infections published by Nature and Taylor & Francis, respectively, in addition to editorial board memberships for Journal of Virology, Vaccine, NPJ Vaccine, and Human Vaccines & Immune Therapeutics.


    Dr. Lu has been a board member for International Society for Vaccines (ISV) since 2008 and served as ISV president for the term of 2011-2013 and Chair of Board in 2022.  He has co-organized or served as Chairs for a wide range of vaccine congresses over the last two decades.  He is a Fellow of ISV and a Fellow of ACP (America College of Physicians). 

  • Professor, Chonnam National University Medical School, South KoreaJoon Haeng Rhee
    Joon Haeng Rhee
    Professor, Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea
    Dr. Joon Haeng Rhee is a graduate of Chonnam National University Medical School and received PhD from the same university. He has been working on molecular microbial pathogenesis and vaccine biology for more than 30 years. His team was the first reporter of the whole genome sequence of V. vulnificus, which became one of the most widely used standard strains in the Vibrio research field. Vaccine study was first started aiming the high mortality V. vulnificus infections. During the vaccine research, his team came across the finding that a flagellin protein of V. vulnificus has an excellent mucosal adjuvant activity in late 1990s. Now flagellin is applied to the development of effective vaccines and immunotherapeutics against diverse diseases such as cancers, allergies, and Alzheimer’s disease. He served the president of Korean Vaccine Society (KVS) from 2013 to 2015. He was elected as an ISV Fellow and serves a member of ISV Executive Board. He is currently the director of Clinical Vaccine R&D Center and Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy Research Center of Chonnam National University. As of November 2023, he has more than 170 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and named as an inventor on 40 patents.
  • Founder, Vaxine, AustraliaNikolai Petrovsky
    Nikolai Petrovsky
    Founder, Vaxine, Australia
    Professor Nikolai Petrovsky is a physician and vaccine researcher. He is the founder of Vaxine, an Australian biotechnology company applying novel approaches including artificial intelligence to vaccine and adjuvant development. His research has been awarded multi-million dollar contracts from the US National Institutes of Health and he has authored over 200 peer-reviewed research papers. He developed SpikoGen®, a vaccine against COVID-19 that received emergency use authorization in the Middle East in October 2021, making it the first recombinant protein vaccine against COVID-19 to achieve regulatory approval.
  • Director of Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chulalongkorn UniversityKiat Ruxrungtham
    Kiat Ruxrungtham
    Director of Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chulalongkorn University
    Kiat Ruxrungtham, is a Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; and Scientific Chair of the Chula Vaccine Research Center (ChulaVRC); and Director of the Covid19 Vaccine Development Program, ChulaVRC. He is providing teaching and patient care on Allergy -Clinical Immunology and HIV Medicine at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; and is mentoring junior researchers on HIV medicine at HIVNAT, TRCARC; vaccine and Immunology (at Chula Vaccine Research Center); and also on clinical trials. He is currently leading the Chula-Covid19 mRNA vaccine development program at ChulaVRC. Honors: He has received several awards: 2006 Outstanding Internist Award on Medical Academy, Royal College of Physicians, Thailand 2007 Outstanding Researcher Award, and the Highest Citation Award, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand 2011 Senior Research Scholar Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2011 Outstanding Researcher Award, National Research Council, Thailand 2015 Senior Research Scholar Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2015 Outstanding Research Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2022 A Royal Award “Contributors to the development of the country’s vaccines” from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the 10th Vaccination Conference Publications: He has published more than 370 peer review papers on HIV, immunology, allergy, and vaccine. Contributions to national and international academics and professional organization: 1. Former President of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Association, Thailand (AAIAT) 2. Former President of the Thai AIDS Society (TAS) 3. Co-chair of the Co-chair of the APAACI and APAAAPARI 2018, Bangkok, Thailand 4. Co-chair of the World Allergy Congress 2023, Bangkok, Thailand 5. Chief-editor, Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology (APJAI)
  • Executive Vice President, The Wistar Institute, USADavid Weiner
    David Weiner
    Executive Vice President, The Wistar Institute, USA

    Dr. David Weiner directs a translational research laboratory at The Wistar Institute in the area of Molecular Immunology. His group is one of the pioneering research teams in establishing the field of DNA vaccines and immunotherapies. Important reports from his lab include the first DNA vaccine studied for HIV as well as for cancer immunotherapy, the early development of DNA encoded genetic adjuvants including the particularly relevant IL-12, advances in gene optimization, and advances in electroporation (EP) technologies resulting in improved gene delivery among others. His group worked with collaborators to become the first to move DNA technology into human study. His laboratory’s work helped revitalize the field through advancement of new synthetic DNA design and modification of EP delivery approaches resulting in potent immune induction as well as the first successful Phase IIb DNA efficacy study (for HPV immunotherapy) in humans. Dr. Weiner is the recipient of numerous honors including election as a fellow to both the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2011 and the International Society for Vaccines in 2012. He is the recipient of the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award and received the Vaccine Industry Excellence Award for Best Academic Research Team in 2015 at the World Vaccine Congress. Weiner was honored with the prestigious Hilleman Lectureship in 2015 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Grand Rounds session and received a Stone Family Award from Abramson Cancer Center for his groundbreaking work on DNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. In 2019, Dr. Weiner was honored with the Scientific Achievement Award from Life Sciences PA (LSPA). Dr. Weiner returned to Wistar in 2016 from his position at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. From 1990 to 1993, Weiner held a joint position as assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The Wistar Institute and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Weiner is a co-founder of Inovio Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Weiner graduated with a B.S. in biology from SUNY at Stony Brook, N.Y., a M.S. in biology from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. in developmental biology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

  • Co-Founder, WestgeneXiangrong Song
    Xiangrong Song
    Co-Founder, Westgene
    Xiangrong Song is a full professor at Sichuan University and a pharmaceutical scientist at National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy. The Song lab has developed the targeted delivery systems for gene drugs and small molecules to treat tumors, atherosclerosis, ocular diseases, infection or brain diseases. Two novel drug candidates (IND) have been approved for phase I clinical trials. She has authored more than 100 papers and is an inventor of more than 50 issued / pending patents worldwide. The technologies that Dr. Song and her colleagues have developed formed the basis for the launch of 2 biotechnology companies. The two companies are translating the aforementioned academic innovations toward commercialization and societal impact. In 2019, she was a recipient of the first prize of Science and Technology Award in Chinese National Medicine Association, for the research on immune function of Yi nationality's medicine. In 2022, she was named as the elite of science and technology in China.
  • PI, Guangzhou LaboratoryLing Chen
    Ling Chen
    PI, Guangzhou Laboratory

    Dr. Chen has been a Professor at the State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University since 2013. Dr. Chen received a medical degree from Shanghai Medical College in 1984. He obtained a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Chen completed his postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School.  From 1997-2001, Dr. Chen served as a Senior Research Fellow at Merck Research Laboratories, where he was the first inventor of Merck's Ad5-based AIDS vaccine that entered clinical trials worldwide. Dr. Chen served as Vice President of R&D for GlaxoSmithKline in 2009-2011 and as Vice President at Sanofi Pasteur in 2012. Dr. Chen has over 200 publications in infectious diseases, vaccine research, and cancer research. His current research is focused on vaccine and antibody research on adenovirus, influenza virus, and emerging viruses. Since 2020, Dr. Chen has been working on developing user-friendly intranasal vaccines and mucosal immunity.

  • Professor, Fudan UniversityHuimin Yan
    Huimin Yan
    Professor, Fudan University

    Dr. Yan graduated and earned his B.S. and Ph.D at Wuhan University. He continued to work as a teaching staff member in College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University until 1998. From 1998 to 2002, he worked with Prof. Michael E. Lamm as a Research Associate in Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and conducted scientific research on mucosal immune functions of IgA in relation to virus infections. He returned to Wuhan University in autumn 2002 and joined in the newly established Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University as an associate professor. In 2006, he moved to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he was appointed as a professor and group leader to set up an independent research lab named Mucosal Immunity Research Group. His lab is a group member of the State Key Laboratory of Virology in China. He has continued his research on the mucosal IgA functions against virus infections and focused more on the intra-epithelial activities of IgA against viral non-surface and non-structure components, which helps to reveal novel anti-viral mechanisms of IgA antibodies. His lab demonstrated that measles virus (MV) non-surface protein such as matrix protein (M), non-structural protein such as phosphoprotein (P) specific IgA can interact with viral newly synthesized proteins during IgA transport through the viral infected epithelial cells, and inhibit viral replication intracellularly. He also extended his study in developing optimized recombinant flagellin as mucosal adjuvant for designing novel subunit mucosal vaccines. He obtains 3 patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and 4 patents issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC related to novel flagellin adjuvants as well as anti-caries vaccine and anti-RSV vaccine. His research is mostly funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.

  • President& General Manager, MaxvaxDexiang Chen
    Dexiang Chen
    President& General Manager, Maxvax
    Dexiang Chen, Doctor of Immunology, Mississippi State University, has been engaged in the development of vaccines and vaccine adjuvants in Pfizer, Novartis and PATH scientific and technological organizations for more than 30 years, and has presided over a number of major international public health special projects funded by international organizations, foundations and national governments. Among the more than 20 infectious disease vaccine development projects presided over and participated in, many products have been listed globally. Dr. Chen Dexiang has published more than 60 vaccine-related academic papers in world-class academic journals such as Science and Nature Medicine.
  • Professor, Xiamen UniversityShaowei Li
    Shaowei Li
    Professor, Xiamen University
    Shaowei Li Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Vaccinology, Xiamen University Shaowei Li is a tenured Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Vaccinology in the School of Life Sciences with a joint appointment in the School of Public Health, Xiamen University, China. He is the vaccine group leader in the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in infectious diseases (NIDVD), one of the academic leaders in the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Diagnostics, deputy director in Fujian provincial Xiang An biomedicine laboratory. Dr. Li has inter-disciplinary research interests focusing on structural vaccinology, resulting in more than 120 peer-reviewed papers. He also has translational experience in vaccine development against infectious diseases—such as Hepatitis E vaccine and HPV vaccine, especially in aspects of immunogen design, process development and antigen characterization. Dr. Li has won two of China’s National Science and Technology Awards and been listed in the Top 20 translational researchers of 2016, ranked by Nature Biotechnology. He has served on the Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee (PDVAC), World Health Organization (WHO) since 2022.
  • Founder, Advacccine, ChinaBin Wang
    Bin Wang
    Founder, Advacccine, China

    Dr. Bin Wang is the Co-founder, Chairman of Advaccine Biotechnology Co LTD. He is also holding a distinguished professor position at the Fudan University School of Basic Medical Sciences and serves as the chairman for the Nucleic Acid Vaccines branch of the Chinese Vaccine Society. His research area is focused on the effects of therapeutic vaccination to activate T cells and the mechanism of immune regulations. He has developed novel adjuvants and recombinant vaccines, novel DNA vaccine delivery, and led to several developed vaccines being tested in human clinical trials. He received his Ph.D. from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in 1990. He completed his postdoc training in virology and immunology at the Wistar Institute in 1992 in Philadelphia. He became an instructor and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School from 1993 to 1998. He was a professor and served as the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology for six years at the College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University before he joined Fudan University. He was one of the very early DNA vaccine technology inventors in the 90’s and performed the first-in-human DNA vaccine trials in 1994-1996. He has been involved in several clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines against chronic HBV infections in recent years and invented a novel prophylactic RSV vaccine currently under clinical phase II testing. He has published over 160 peer-review articles and awarded 35 US and 30 Chinese patents. He serves as an editorial board member for several international journals and executive member in several professional societies.

  • General Manager, Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology, ChinaAndrew Wong
    Andrew Wong
    General Manager, Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology, China

    Andrew Wong is General Manager of Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary company of Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a public listed and leading vaccine development, and manufacturing company in China, where Andrew held a position as Director of Business Development until recently. Andrew had managed Walvax's global business activities including product global registration, sales & marketing, tech-transfer and licensing-in/out for more than 4 years till August 2024.. 

    By participating in Walvax’s efforts to become a global vaccine manufacturer, between September 2015 and March 2020, Andrew managed a three collaboration projects under a combined sum of USD 8.5 million funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development of bivalent, nona-valent HPV vaccines and recombinant COVID-19 vaccine for developing countries. Representing Walvax, Andrew participated in the efforts with Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a Walvax subsidiary in Shanghai, to secure grants more than USD 20 millions from CEPI to support the preclinical and clinical development of the variant recombinant COVID-19 vaccine.  Currently, Andrew leads his teams to work on Walvax’s global business expansion through licensing-in/out and international product registration and distribution.

    After academic trainings from China, Canada and United States in clinical medicine, immunology, molecular biology,  and business administration with an MBA from UCLA Anderson School, Andrew Wong, MD, MBA has almost three decades’ experiences in biopharmaceutical research, business development and general management, including close to 12 years’ work experience at the world’s largest biotech company - Amgen Inc. in USA, by engaging in recombinant antibody therapeutics and anticancer small molecule drug research and development.


  • Chief Science Advisor, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, EthiopiaNicaise Ndembi
    Nicaise Ndembi
    Chief Science Advisor, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia
    Dr. Nicaise Ndembi is Senior strategic Advisor on Sciece and Policy to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General and currently Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. Dr. Ndembi is a graduate of Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Department of Viral Infection and International Public Health, Japan and a Research Professor within the same Institution. He is a Principal Investigator on numerous grants including US National Health Institute (NIH). He has authored/co-authored more than 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA), AIDS Research and Therapy (ARTY), and serves on various WHO and US NIH Advisory Groups.
  • President, TechImmune, USAJeffrey Ulmer
    Jeffrey Ulmer
    President, TechImmune, USA
    Jeffrey B. Ulmer, Ph.D. 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 Ph.D. 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 of Vaccines where he serves as Treasurer. He is currently President, TechImmune LLC (Newport Beach, CA) and Chief Scientific Advisor, Immorna Biotherapeutics (Morrisville, NC).
  • Scientific Director at PATH, USAKutub Mahmood
    Kutub Mahmood
    Scientific Director at PATH, USA
    Senior biotech executive professional with expertise in viral vaccines with 30yrs experience in vaccine development. Currently at PATH, leading projects for vaccines and biologics including product development strategies for compliance with GMP and/or GLP practices as applicable for national and international regulatory framework compliance (WHO, FDA, EMA,DCGI, NMPA). Experience in national regulatory approvals and for achieving WHO pre-qualification for vaccine products. Currently project lead for polio vaccines development and scaleup for OPV and IPV related work. Current and past projects at PATH includes work related to measles-rubella, influenza, RSV, Yellow fever, live rotavirus, and SARS-CoV2 with technologies including whole virion, inactivated, vectored, live attenuated, VLPs and subunit vaccines. Holds national and international patents on VLP technology for influenza and RSV vaccines, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Presently serves as scientific advisory panel for companies and on several scientific panels for national and international vaccine meetings. Besides, serves as scientific reviewer for manuscripts submitted for publications in journals including Vaccine, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Human Vaccines & Therapeutics.
  • Professor, Trinity College Dublin, IrelandEd Lavelle
    Ed Lavelle
    Professor, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
    Professor Ed Lavelle is the current Professor of Vaccine Immunology in Trinity College Dublin He was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA) in 2021 is currently President of ECI2024 and former President of the Irish Society for Immunology and head of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He graduated with a BSc in Microbiology from University College Galway and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Plymouth and carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham, Rowett Research Institute, Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin on vaccine adjuvants and immunomodulation. He was appointed at Trinity College Dublin as a lecturer in 2004, associate Professor in 2012, Professor in Immunology in 2015 and Professor of Vaccine Immunology in 2022. His research has led to the development of adjuvants suitable for inclusion in injectable and mucosal vaccines for infectious diseases and resolving their mode of action. The lab is also focused on developing therapeutic vaccines for cancer and investigating vaccine strategies that promote immunogenic cell death, leading to enhanced protective immunity.
  • Senior Advisor, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, ChinaJames Wai Kuo Shih
    James Wai Kuo Shih
    Senior Advisor, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, China
    James W. Shih is a senior advisor at the Innovax Biotech Inc. Xiamen, China and Professor Emeritus of the School of Public Health, Xiamen University, China since 2016. For over 10 years, he was Professor of Microbiology at the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in infectious diseases at the Xiamen University. He retired from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA in 2006. While at NIH, he was a senior investigator and served as the Chief of Lab Study, Infectious Disease Section and Supervisor of the Transmission Transmitted Virus Lab at the Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH Clinical Center. Prof. Shih is a microbiologist with over 40 years of experience in the biomedical field. Most of his career is associated with the development and the understanding of hepatitis viruses and their clinical implications. He has managed active research programs in viral discovery and the development and evaluation of vaccines against hepatitis B and hepatitis C. He has extensive experience in development and clinical evaluation of serological and molecular diagnostics in infectious diseases. Currently, he is engaging in developing international collaborative projects one of them is the evaluation of hepatitis E vaccine.
  • Professor, Army Medical University, ChinaHaibo Li
    Haibo Li
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    Dr. Haibo Li is a professor in the National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University). He obtained his PhD in biological technology from Third Military Medical University in 2013. His current research activities focus on integrating chemical synthesis and immunology to discover novel mucosal vaccine adjuvants. He developed an original strategy to rationally design novel lipopeptides as mucosal adjuvants by mimicking the active sites of the bacterial lipoproteins. Dr. Li has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and several books and book chapters. Now he is a council member of Chongqing Pharmacological Society.
  • Director, International Vaccine Design Center, Professor, University of Tokyo, JapanKen Ishii
    Ken Ishii
    Director, International Vaccine Design Center, Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan

    Prof. Ken J. Ishii, M.D., Ph.D., currently Director for Int. Vaccine Design Center, The Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, has 27 years of experience in Vaccine R&D since 1998 including 7 years as a IND reviewer at US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 15 years as a basic immunologist at Osaka University, 9 years as a vaccine adjuvant expert at National Institute (NIBIOHN), 2 years as managing director at AMED (medical funding agency), as well as Advisor for PMDA (regulatory agency), GHIT (global fund) and CEPI. He has contributed to basic research on infectious diseases and immunology, resulted in numerous books and over 250 periodical publications and 35,000 citations with H-index 84 as well as over 50 patents related to vaccine and adjuvant, and to regulation of many vaccines and guidelines for vaccine preclinical and clinical trials in Japan and US.

  • R&D Director, Advagene, ChinaMingi Chang
    Mingi Chang
    R&D Director, Advagene, China
    • Director of Research and Development, Advagene Biopharmaceuticals Inc • Director of Biologics Division, RuenHuei Biopharmaceuticals Inc. • Research Fellow, Protein Drug Project, Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB). • Assistant Professor. Section of Immunology, Department of Medicine, Tzu Chi University
  • CSO, Reber Genetics, ChinaFrank Chang
    Frank Chang
    CSO, Reber Genetics, China

    Dr. Frank Chia-Jung Chang obtains his Ph.D. from Life Science and Institute of Genome Science department of Taiwan Yang-Ming Medical University in 2012. He received his postdoctoral training at Molecular Biology Institute of Academia Sinica (Taiwan) and worked as visiting scholar in Frances H. Arnold’s laboratory (Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner in 2018), Chemical Engineering Department of Caltech (U.S.). He joined Reber Genetics as the supervisor of R&D Division in 2014. From 2017, Frank also works for business development and strategic layout of vaccine products (technology included).

     

    Dr. Chang has considerable expertise in virology, microbiology, reverse vaccinology and protein engineering for industrial production. His group has successfully developed novel subunit vaccines of swine PRRSV, pan-PCV, Mycoplasma, CSFV and PEDV in Reber Genetics, furthermore, also support the study of safe vector vaccine against ASF with external partners.


  • Professor, Fudan University, ChinaShibo Jiang
    Shibo Jiang
    Professor, Fudan University, China
    Dr. Shibo Jiang is a Professor at the Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. His main research interest is the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines. He has published 572 papers (total IF: 7,662, average IF: 13.4) in SCI journals such as Cell (x3), Nature (x2), Science (x2), Lancet (x4), CNS’ sister journals (x71), with total 45,327 citations and an h-index of 105. He has applied for 104 patents, 54 of which were issued, and 11 of them were licensed out with 3 classes of innovative drugs and medical products used in clinics.
  • Head, External R&D Asia Pacific, Global R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, ChinaSean Du
    Sean Du
    Head, External R&D Asia Pacific, Global R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, China
  • Lecturer, University of Sheffield, UKZoltan Kis
    Zoltan Kis
    Lecturer, University of Sheffield, UK
    Dr. Zoltán Kis is a Lecturer at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Sheffield, and an Honorary Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. Zoltán is leading a multidisciplinary team that is innovating and digitalising RNA vaccine and therapeutics production platform technologies. His work is addressing the challenges of producing large volumes of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, rapidly, at high quality and at low cost in a disease-agnostic manner. Zoltán has previously worked as a Research Associate in the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub at Imperial College London. He obtained his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, UK, holds an M.Sc. in Applied Biotechnology and a B.Eng. in Chemical with Biochemical Engineering.
  • Co-founder and CSO, Cansino Bio, ChinaTao Zhu
    Tao Zhu
    Co-founder and CSO, Cansino Bio, China

    Dr. Tao Zhu, Ph.D. the University of Pittsburgh

    Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CanSino Biologics Inc. 


    Dr. Zhu is a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the “Healthy China Construction” professional committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. 


    Dr. Zhu focuses on the research and development of biological products. He established multiple core technology platforms, including viral vector, polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine, VLP recombinant vaccine and mRNA vaccine technology at CanSino. Multiple projects led by him have been selected as national “Major Science and Technology Projects for New Drug Creation” and “Major Science and Technology Projects for Infectious Diseases”. 


    Dr. Zhu has led the team to develop a series of vaccine products, of which 6 vaccine products have been registered and marketed, another 7 vaccine products are in different stages of clinical studies. He co-developed the adenovirus vector-based Ebola virus vaccine (2018), the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Convidecia, 2021), the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine for Inhalation(Convidecia Air, 2022), and the Recombinant COVID-19 XBB Vaccine for Inhalation(2023), with the team of Academician Chen Wei of the Institute of Bioengineering, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, all of which have been marketed. Especially, Convidecia Air is the first developed inhalation vaccine product in the global. Menhycia, which was approved in 2021, is currently the only quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine on the market in China. Dr. Zhu also holds over 50 patents and 70 publications, including 15 papers from The Lancet publishers.


  • Owner, MDW Consultant,LLC, Former SVP of R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, USAMichel De Wilde
    Michel De Wilde
    Owner, MDW Consultant,LLC, Former SVP of R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, USA

    Michel De Wilde holds a PhD in Biochemistry and has a long and successful career in Vaccine Research and Development. He currently consults for the vaccine community and is member of several Scientific Advisory Boards

    From  2001 till June 2013, Michel De Wilde was Senior Vice President, Research & Development, at sanofi pasteur where he drove the development and licensure  of a number of products.

     

    From 1978 till 2000, De Wilde was at SmithKline Beecham Biologicals (now GSK Vaccines) where he held positions of increasing responsibility. He played a key role in the development of several new vaccines, most notably the recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine, as well as GSK’s Malaria vaccine.

     


  • Research Associate, Cardiff University, UKMaria Dul
    Maria Dul
    Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
    Maria, a chemist by training (MSc from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland), completed her PhD in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, working on ‘Engineering an oral delivery system for insulin’. She then moved to Cardiff University and in the last decade her research has predominantly focused on the development of innovative microneedle-based technologies for the delivery of small molecules, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids into the skin. Maria has extensive experience in the microneedle field, having used a range of microneedle prototypes in both pre-clinical and clinical projects. She is currently lead researcher in an international collaboration between key stakeholders (Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) Regulatory Working Group), which aims to advance the regulatory science of microneedle-based dosage forms by informing future guidance and developing standardized test methods for proposed MAP products.
  • Head of Process Development, Quantoom, BelgiumHela Kallel
    Hela Kallel
    Head of Process Development, Quantoom, Belgium
    Hela Kallel worked for more than 20 years at Institute Pasteur de Tunis in Tunisia; she was leading the bioprocess development lab. She worked on process improvement and on the development of vaccines using mainly animal cells and yeasts. In Jan 2020, Hela joined Univercells as a vaccine process development manager. She led the Measles and hepatitis A vaccines projects. In Jan 2022, she moved to mRNA technology and was appointed as the head of Process Development at Quantoom Biosciences. Recently She was nominated as the Head of Co-Development Projects at Univercells. Hela holds a Ph.D in biotechnology obtained at INPL in France.
  • CEO, AstriVax, BelgiumHanne Callewaer
    Hanne Callewaer
    CEO, AstriVax, Belgium

    July 2022 - current : AstriVax

    CEO and Co-founder


    July 2021 – July 2022: KU Leuven

    Entrepreneur in Residence


    June 2018 – August 2022: Oxurion

    Head Regulatory Affairs

    Business Development

    Chief Operating Officer


    March 2009 – May 2018: GSK Vaccines

    Regulatory Affairs

    Vaccine Development Leader


    Sept 2008 – Feb 2009 – Gevers Patents

    Trainee patent attorney


    About

    Diverse experience in the life science industry exhibiting a unique capability to merge operational execution and strategic development - implementation. Global industry experience in large pharmaceutical industry as well as into smaller biotech environment. Strong experience in development of commercial, late or early stage vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, peptides and small molecules. Regulatory affairs, drug and vaccine development expertise blended with business and corporate development. Proven track record to build up and lead diverse teams. Innovative mindset, with demonstrated ability to think beyond commonly accepted boundaries, understanding well different personalities and able to perform complex and challenging tasks and capable to distil the essence from the noise.



  • CSO, Delonix Bioworks, ChinaRong Xu
    Rong Xu
    CSO, Delonix Bioworks, China

    Dr. Xu Rong has over 20 years of experience in innovative vaccine research and development and in leading vaccine R&D teams within multinational corporations. She particularly excels in preclinical vaccine research and evaluation, the development and validation of immunological methodologies, and the CMC development of vaccine products.

     

    Before joining Delonix, Dr. Xu held the position of Senior Vice President of Preclinical Vaccine R&D at Clover Biopharmaceuticals. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President of R&D at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States, where she led the CMC development, clinical immunology assay development and validation, and non-clinical safety and efficacy studies of vaccines. Additionally, she has held several key vaccine R&D and team management roles at Profectus Biosciences, Pfizer (Wyeth), and the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute.

     

    In 2016, Dr. Xu was honored with the Distinguished Female Scientist Award by the Westchester Association in New York, recognizing her outstanding contributions to vaccine research and development. Dr. Xu holds a Bachelor degree in Medicine from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.


  • Professor, Army Medical University, ChinaQuanming Zou
    Quanming Zou
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    Quanming Zou Professor & Director National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Army Medical University Dr. Quanming Zou is a professor and the director of National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Army Medical University. He received his PhD degree in immunology from the Third Military Medical University and research experience in University of Hannover (GER). He serves as Member of Subjects Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee, State Council, Member of the 12th Pharmacopoeia Commission of China, Vice director of Biochemical and Biotech Medicine Professional Committee of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Vice director of Vaccine Research and Development Committee of the China Association for Vaccines and Vice Chairman of Chongqing Pharmaceutical Association. Dr. Zou has engaged in researches on innovative vaccines and pathogenic mechanisms and immune response of serious resistant bacteria. Prof. Zou successfully developed the Oral Recombinant Helicobacter Pylori Vaccine, which was approved with national innovative drug license. The other novel Staphylococcus Aureus Vaccine directed by Prof. Zou, have conducted the Clinical Trial phase Ⅲ. He published over 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Lancet, Gastroenterology, Gut, Nature Communication,Autophagy, J Immunol, etc., and got 32 patents granted as first inventor. He won the Second prize of National Award for Technological Invention by the State Council, Outstanding Contribution to the Science and Technology Program Award by Ministry of Science and Technology, Frist prize of Chongqing Science and Technology Invention Award, Frist prize of Chongqing Natural Science Award by Chongqing Municipal People's Government, and Merit Citation Class II.
  • Professor, Weirui Bio, ChinaQihan Li
    Qihan Li
    Professor, Weirui Bio, China
  • CSO, CNBG-Virogin, CanadaWilliam Jia
    William Jia
    CSO, CNBG-Virogin, Canada

    Biography :

    n  Senior Scientist, Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada (09.1994-07.2019)

    n  Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, UBC (tenured) (09.1994-07.2019)

    n  Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder of Virogin Biotech Ltd (05.2015- present)

    n  Chief Scientific Officer, CNBG-Virogin Biotech Ltd (2019- present)

     

    Dr. Jia obtained his PhD in neurobiology from University of British Columbia (1991), MSc. Psychology (1987) from Dalhousie University in Canada, and BSc. Biology from Fudan University (1982) in China. In 2015, Dr.Jia co-founded Virogin Biotech, an oncolytic virotherapy company in Canada. He is currently the chief scientific officer of Virogin and CNBG-Virogin to develop oncolytic viruses and novel vaccines.


  • Deputy Department Head, Jiangsu CDC, ChinaJingxin Li
    Jingxin Li
    Deputy Department Head, Jiangsu CDC, China

    Jingxin Li, PhD, Professor, is working at Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Her research is focused on vaccine clinical evaluation and immunization strategy. She has participated in a lot of epidemiology investigations and a series of clinical trials of novel vaccines, including Enterovirus type 71 vaccine, recombinant human Ad5 vectored Ebola vaccine, and Covid-19 vaccines. She has got National Natural Science Outstanding Youth Founds and Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Funds for Distinguished youths, and hosted or participated in seven National Natural Science Founds or National Science and Technology Major Projects. She has published over 25 articles in medical journals on vaccine clinical studies, including Nature Med, Lancet Respir Med, Lancet Glob Health, etc.


  • CEO/Co-founder, Cure Bio Tech, ChinaXia Jin
    Xia Jin
    CEO/Co-founder, Cure Bio Tech, China

    Xia JIN,MD, PhD is currently an executive director and Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure BioTech Ltd., Hong Kong. He has hold a number of academic positions previously, including Professor of Fudan University Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, and its Director of Vaccine & Immunology Center; Distinguished Professor of the Chinese Academy of Science(CAS), and Deputy Director of Vaccine Research Center of the Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, and Deputy Director of CAS Molecular Virology & Immunology Key Lab. Before returning China, he has been a tenure-track Associate Professor of University of Rochester. His research focuses on the immune pathogenesis of human infectious diseases such as HIV and Dengue, and pre-clinical and clinical development of vaccines against these and other human pathogens.  He has published in 140 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Science,J. Exp. Med.,J. Clin. Inv.,Nat. Commn., J Virol., Vaccine etc..

  • Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania , USAMohamad-Gabriel Alameh
    Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
    Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania , USA

    Dr. Alameh is an Assistant Professor at Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania and the Children Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and the co-director of the Engineered mRNA and Targeted Nanomedicine Core at the Penn RNA Institute for RNA Innovation.

    Dr. Alameh obtained his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2017 from Polytechnique Montreal under the supervision of Dr. Michael D. Buschmann and joined the laboratory of the now Nobel laureate Dr. Drew Weissman. Dr. Alameh explored the development of a novel lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) based adjuvant platform and developed potent mRNA-based vaccines against various pathogens including Clostridium difficile.

    His research program lies at the interface of nanotechnology, material science, engineering, and medicine to develop prophylactic and therapeutic nucleic acid-based delivery platforms and optimize their manufacturing. His team studies, and model Structure-Activity Relationships of material for improved delivery systems, and nucleic acid-based vaccines. 


  • CEO, Ruizhou BioJeff Zhu
    Jeff Zhu
    CEO, Ruizhou Bio
    Dr. Jeff Zhu is the founder and CEO of Shanghai Reinovax Biologics co., Ltd., a fast-growing biotech company focusing on discovery and development of innovative vaccines and other biologics. Dr. Zhu has over 20 years’ industrial experience on discovery and development of small molecules, recombinant proteins, antibodies and vaccines from the early discovery to clinical trials. He played an important role in moving multiple drug candidates from the initiation to the clinical trial stage during his 13-year tenure at Pfizer’s R & D center in San Diego. Dr. Zhu moved back to China in 2011, and served as CSO and head of the R & D at Hualan Biological Engineering Inc., and two years later worked as senior director and department head in USP, Shanghai. Dr. Zhu published earned his Ph.D. degree on biological sciences from UC, Irvine, M.S. degree on biochemistry from Georgetown university, and B.S. degree on chemistry from Tsinghua university.
  • Professor and Director  University of Karachi,  BangladashRaza Shah
    Raza Shah
    Professor and Director University of Karachi, Bangladash
    Prof. Shah is working in the area of Nanomedicines and clinical trials. He has authored six books (Elsevier) and also edited four books (Elsevier), along with 12 chapters in books and more than 460 research articles in international journals with impact factor more than 1700. He has several US patents to his credit too. He has supervised and co-supervised 34 Ph.Ds. and 44 M.S/M.Phil scholars. The research projects of Dr. Shah is funded by both National and International funding agencies. He was declared top scientist for the year 2019 by the government of Pakistan. He received the Civil award Tamgha-i-Imtiaz-2015 (Medal of Distinction) from President Islamic republic of Pakistan. Atta-ur-Rahman gold medal-2006 and Dr. Raziuddin gold medal-2015 by Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He received the Abdus Salam (Nobel Laureate) award, and was selected TWAS Young Affiliate in 2010 by The World Academy of Sciences. One of his authored books was declared best book of the year 2017 by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He is fellow Pakistan Academy of Sciences, fellow Islamic world academy of sciences, fellow International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), fellow the Chemical Society of Pakistan and fellow Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. He remained a member in the panel of inspectors for Evaluation of Clinical Trial Sites from Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). He conducted 28 Phase-1 clinical-trials (BE-PK) along with 04 phase-II clinical-trials for Multinational pharma as PI. He led the vaccine (COVID-19) phase-1 clinical trial of Sinopharm company in Pakistan. He led the DRAP approved clinical trial for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with traditional Chinese medicines. Various Research Projects Sponsored by International Funding Agencies such as OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Netherlands), COMSTEC-ISECO (Saudi Arabia), International Foundation for Science (Sweden), Third World Academy of Sciences (Italy), DTRA (USA) and European Commission National Funding like HEC and PSF
  • CSO China, Immorna BiotherapeuticsYuanqing Liu
    Yuanqing Liu
    CSO China, Immorna Biotherapeutics

    Dr. Liu Yuanqing graduated from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University and was a surgeon at Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital. He completed his PhD in Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and was one of the pioneers on myeloid-derived suppressors in tumors. He was previously a senior research lead at Sanofi Pasteur French headquarter, where he contributed to various vaccine projects, including cancer vaccines, vaccines against infectious diseases, pediatric vaccines, adjuvants, etc. Dr. Liu is an industry veteran with extensive experience in the development of innovative vaccines for international market. He was a member of the EU Innovative Medicine Initiative. Since 2021, he has been the Chief Scientific Officer of Immorna Biotechnology. He is based in Shanghai where Immorna has established a high-standard R&D site aiming to accelerate the development of mRNA vaccines and drugs in China.

  • Senior Scientiest, Virogin Biotech, ChinaJiang Xu
    Jiang Xu
    Senior Scientiest, Virogin Biotech, China
    Dr. Jiang Xu has served as a senior scientist at Virogin Biotech since 2021, leading the microfluidics group. Prior to this, he worked at Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral and held a PI scientist position at Boston Molecules Inc. Dr. Xu earned his cotutelle Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Bordeaux and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Xu is particularly passionate about the multidisciplinary research of fluid dynamics, soft matter, and biomedical engineering. He has contributed to reputable journals such as Nature Communications, Small, Physical Review Fluids, etc. Notably, his work has garnered recognition from a series of prestigious funding and awards, including Harvard Catalyst Fellowship (2021), European Erasmus Mundus Fellowship (2012, Ph.D.), NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) grant (2020, PI), and Shanghai Rising-Star program (2023, PI).
  • Associate Professor,Tulane University, USAElizabeth Norton
    Elizabeth Norton
    Associate Professor,Tulane University, USA
    Dr. Elizabeth B. Norton is an immunologist with 20 years of experience in evaluating immunity, vaccines, and microbial infections. The focus of her research is on immunity, including drivers of diversity and therapeutic interventions. She has a public health and research background and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Dr. Norton began her training at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA identifying correlates of sepsis in children and assisting in field studies in African hospitals. In her doctoral and post-doctoral programs, she evaluated innate immunomodulation and mucosal delivery techniques, the latter in the laboratory of Dr. John Clements at Tulane University. A focus of her lab’s research is using mucosal adjuvants derived from heat-labile toxin (e.g., dmLT) as a strategy to improve memory responses to vaccines. This has involved adjuvanted enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), polio and tuberculosis vaccines sponsored by NIH and Gates Foundation. Recently, she is also pursuing novel dmLT adjuvant combinations for oral vaccination. The Norton lab has also pioneered a derivative intranasal adjuvant called LTA1 for Klebsiella pneumoniae, opioid, and influenza vaccines and is preparing for an NIH-sponsored clinical trial with the former. Part of this research involves correlates of protection from clinical trials with these adjuvants or licensed vaccines. Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, her lab is also a key part of the Tulane University Convalescent Antibody and Immunity Network (TUCAIN) evaluating cellular and memory responses to SARS-CoV-2 or other infections and vaccinations in healthy adults or special populations.
  • Chief Development Officer, Vaccines,Arcturus Therapeutics, USAIgor Smolenov
    Igor Smolenov
    Chief Development Officer, Vaccines,Arcturus Therapeutics, USA

    Igor Smolenov is the Chief Development Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics. Dr. Smolenov is an infectious disease physician dedicated to the clinical development of novel vaccines, with a proven record of accomplishment in both small biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies. He contributed to the successful development and licensure of several innovative vaccines.

    Before joining Arcturus, Dr. Smolenov was the Executive Vice President at Clover Pharmaceuticals, where he built a robust team able to rapidly generate pivotal clinical data leading to adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine authorization. Prior to that, Dr Smolenov served as Therapeutic Area Head, leading the development of several seasonal influenza vaccines in Seqirus (CSL), and Head of Clinical Development in Moderna Therapeutics, leading the initiation of the first clinical trials of mRNA vaccines in humans. At Novartis Vaccines, Dr. Smolenov contributed to the development and global licensure of meningococcal vaccines (Menveo, Bexsero, and MenABCWY) and the overall commercial success of the meningococcal vaccines franchise.

    Igor Smolenov graduated from Volgograd State Medical University, Russia, and holds MD, Ph.D., and Doctor of Science (Habilitation) degrees from this university. Before starting his career in the industry, he passed multiple academic steps from junior researcher to professor and head of the Allergy/immunology department of the university. He is the author of more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals in clinical pharmacology and vaccine development.


  • CEO, Chimigen, ChinaEric Yuenian Shi
    Eric Yuenian Shi
    CEO, Chimigen, China
    Over 35 years of experience in biomedical research and development specializing in cancer research and translational medicine. Prior to founding Chimigen Bio, Dr Shi was Co-founder/CEO of OncoVent, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. OncoVent’s leading candidate, Oregovomab, is a First-in-Class cancer immunotherapeutic drug belonging to the therapeutic cancer vaccine, currently in the global phase III stage. He was Vice President of the Academy of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine in Jiangsu Province since 2011. He led 4 research projects sponsored by the China National Science Foundation and 1 cancer early diagnosis research sponsored by the National Key Technology R&D Program for the 12th Five-year Plan of China. Prior to that Dr Shi was a full Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, where he led 12 national research programs funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and American Cancer Society. Dr Shi received his doctorate degree in biochemistry in 1989 at Dartmouth Medical School. Upon graduation from Peking University School of Medicine in 1983, Dr Shi was admitted into CUSBEA (China-U.S. Biochemistry Examination Application), a very selective and competitive program leading to graduate study at Dartmouth.
  • Vice president of Chengdu Olymvax Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Head of Olymvax R&D institutionFan Fan
    Fan Fan
    Vice president of Chengdu Olymvax Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Head of Olymvax R&D institution
    Fan fan has nearly ten years experience in the biological industry and has made remarkable achievements. In 2016, she completed the in-licensing of Class I new drugs from Griffith University in Australia, which is the first aligned biological drugs project between universities in Queensland and enterprises in China. In June 2020, she was identified as the urgently needed talents and high-end talents by Chengdu High-tech Zone. She also serves as the standing committee member of Supply Chain Management Branch of China Association for Vaccines and the member of Meningitis Prevention and Control Branch of China Association for Vaccines. In September 2020, she was awarded the Advanced Individual against the epidemic by Sichuan Provincial Working Committee of Jiusan Society, and made her due contribution to the fight against the epidemic. In June 2021, she was awarded the Golden Panda "Talent Award" of Chengdu High-tech Zone.
  • CEO, InThera, South KoreaDeog-Young Choi
    Deog-Young Choi
    CEO, InThera, South Korea
    2016.05 – Present InThera Inc. CEO 2010.01 – 2015.12 LG Life Sciences, Ltd Director of Vaccine Development & Business 2000.07– 2009.12 LG Life Sciences, Ltd. R&D Center Head of Research Team 1995.09 – 1999.12 State University of New York at Stony Brook Ph.D. in Biology
  • Professor, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, ChinaHuichen Guo
    Huichen Guo
    Professor, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, China

    Dr. Raman Rao joined as the Chief Executive Officer at Hilleman Laboratories in February 2020. Dr. Rao has more than two decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines for infectious diseases in global pharma and biotech companies. Prior to joining Hilleman Laboratories, Dr. Rao served as the Vice President of Global Product Operations with Takeda, Singapore, where he enhanced the global product portfolio while successfully leading an international team across Japan, Singapore and the United States. The teams worked in the areas of dengue, norovirus, zika, polio and other vaccines.

    Dr. Rao started his career in 2002 with Shantha Biotechnics Limited, part of Sanofi Aventis Group in India, in Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs. He holds a MD in Medical Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

    He plans to carry forward Dr. Maurice Hilleman’s legacy for providing effective solutions for global health, especially those impacting low- and middle-income countries.


  • Professor, Sun Yat-sen UniversityYongming Chen
    Yongming Chen
    Professor, Sun Yat-sen University
    Yongming Chen received his Ph.D. on polymer science in 1993 from Nankai University. From 1994 to 1998, he was Postdoctoral Researcher and later Research Assistant at the Institute of Chemistry, CAS. Then he spent the period 1998−2001 as Postdoctoral Researcher in University of Düsseldorf and University of Mainz. Since 2001, Chen was Professor at the Institute of Chemistry CAS. He moved to Sun Yat-sen University in 2013. He obtained “Distinguished Young Scholars” by National Science Foundation of China (2006). He served for Polymer, an Elsevier journal, as an Associate Editor during 2007 to 2018. He also was in Advisory Board Panel of Macromolecules and ACS Macro Letters, the ACS Publication. Professor Chen’s research interests are in the areas of biomaterials chemistry and biomaterials application in delivery of proteins and nucleic acids, specifically application in immune attenuation. He has published over 260 research articles in Science Advances, Nature Communication, Biomaterials, Nano Letters et al and obtained 10 more licenced patents.
  • Professor & Director, Jinan UniversityFeng Gao
    Feng Gao
    Professor & Director, Jinan University
    Dr. Feng Gao is a professor and director of the Institute of Molecular and Medical Virology at Jinan University. Dr. Gao has a long-standing interest in elucidating the origin, evolution and genetic variation of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV/SIV) as well as in studying gene function, pathogenesis and vaccines of HIV/SIV from the evolutionary perspective. He has published over 200 scientific research papers, including many in the top tier journals such as Cell, Nature and Science. He discovered that origin of HIV-1 in chimpanzees. He developed the consensus gene vaccine approach for induction of cross-subtype immune responses by reducing the distances between epidemic HIV-1 strains and vaccine immunogens. He also studied the coevolution of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and HIV-1 in the same infected host and discovered a cooperative mechanism between different bnAbs to drive maturation of the bnAb lineage. His publications have been cited over 31,000 times and his h-index is 83. Currently, his research mainly focuses on pathogenesis of viral infections, vaccines, transmission mechanisms, drug resistance, oncolytic viruses, ultra-sensitive detection and development of fetal immunity.
  • Professor, Dalian University of Technology, ChinaBingbing Sun
    Bingbing Sun
    Professor, Dalian University of Technology, China
    Dr. Bingbing Sun received B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology (DUT), and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington. He had his postdoctoral training at the University of California's Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC-CEIN) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He starts his academic career in the School of Chemical Engineering at DUT in 2016. Currently, he is a full professor and serves as the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at DUT. His research interest includes vaccine adjuvants, formulation, biomaterials, nano-bio interface, and immunoengineering. He serves as earlier career researchers editorial board of BMEMat.
  • CEO, Stemirna, ChinaHangwen Li
    Hangwen Li
    CEO, Stemirna, China
    Dr. Hangwen Li holds a Ph.D from MD. Anderson Cancer Center. He was Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Therapy of MD Anderson Cancer Center and successively received grants and awards from the US Department of Defense. He is currently a distinguished researcher of Dongfang Hospital of Tongji University, a member of the Vaccine International Cooperation Promotion Branch of the China Association For Vaccines, and a permanent member of the Nucleic Acid Vaccine Branch of the China Association For Vaccines. Dr. Li has more than 19 years of experience in the field of RNA and cancer immunotherapy. His research fields include tumor immunotherapy, RNA drugs and cancer stem cells. He has published more than 30 SCI articles and publications, and his articles have been cited for more than 3000 times. In 2021, he won the National Science and Technology System's award for Distinguished Individual in Fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic, and in 2022, he won the “Gold Gathering Award” in the Shanghai Global Talents Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. In 2016, Dr. Li returned to China and founded StemiRNA, which is the first company in Asia that focuses on the research and development of innovative mRNA drugs and vaccines. StemiRNA has now developed into a global leader and the first domestic platform innovative drug enterprise for mRNA vaccine and drug research and development in China. Its self-developed lipid polymer nano carrier (LPP) technology platform has been granted patents in Europe, America and other places. StemiRNA’s pipelines include mRNA vaccines and drugs for a series of infectious diseases (including COVID-19, influenza, etc.), tumors, and rare diseases.
  • VP, Innorna, ChinaZhangjing (Jim) Chen
    Zhangjing (Jim) Chen
    VP, Innorna, China
    Zhangjing Chen, VP, Clinical Science in Vaccine and Infectious disease, Innorna • Lead the development strategy and study execution for Innorna’s proprietary mRNA prophylactic vaccines since joining in 2022. • Sixteen-year journey in industry, concentrating in clinical development of anti-infective agents and prophylactic vaccines in Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Janssen and native biotech companies. • Lead or contribute to the development strategy, protocol generation, study execution, IND/CTA/BLA application, and post-marketing strategy in China for various vaccine products, including pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine, extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli vaccine. • Nine-year clinical practice in Infectious Disease in Huashan Hospital Fudan University and participated into international multi-center clinical trials or national registration clinical trials for several novel antimicrobials. • Master of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University • Bachelor of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University
  • Co-founder& CSO, VisMederi, ItalyEmanuele Montomoli
    Emanuele Montomoli
    Co-founder& CSO, VisMederi, Italy
    Emanuele Montomoli was graduated in Life Sciences at University of Siena in 1997. Since November 2016 he was appointed by the Department of Molecular Medicine of University of Siena as full Professor on Public Health. Since April 2018 to 2021 he was nominated in the Executive Board of the Toscana Life Sciences Foundation. Since 2010 he he was elected as President of the Board for the “Master in vaccinology and drug development” at University of Siena. Since 2019 he was nominated in the Executive Board of Eurocine vaccines AB. In 2008 he funded VisMederi srl, an enterprise involved in laboratory activities for vaccines and antiviral drugs clinical trials. Actually, he has a role of Chief Scientific Officer in VisMederi srl. Since 1994 he has carried out epidemiological research, surveillance networks for infectious diseases and serological assays for clinical trials for vaccines. In 2015 he was appointed as scientific coordinator for a project funded by EU-IMI (Innovative Medicine Initiative) titled “Standardization and development of assays for assessment of influenza vaccine correlates of protection”. He is the author of more than 200 papers, as well as numerous abstracts and letters, published in international scientific journals.
  • Distinguished Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, ChinaDiana Boraschi
    Diana Boraschi
    Distinguished Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    Diana Boraschi is an immunologist that built her experience in academic institutions and industrial settings in her home country (Italy) and abroad (USA, France, Austria, Korea, Brazil). She is Senior Associate Researcher at the Italian National Research Council (where she served as Institute Director) and at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Napoli, Italy, and Academician of the Accademia dei Fisiocritici. She is currently serving as Distinguished Professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technologies (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Shenzhen, China. She is author of over 200 peer-reviewed research articles in immunology (h-index 67, over 16000 citations), in addition to many books and book chapters, and inventor in eight patents. In 2017, she has received an honorary PhD degree by the University of Salzburg (Austria), in 2020 the High-Level Talents Program Award for Foreign Scholars, and in 2022 the Chinese Government Friendship Award. She is listed within the first 2% scientists worldwide since 2017 and in the first 1% since 2020. Her area of expertise is innate immunity and inflammation, in particular in relation to autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases, and vaccine development. Her focus on macrophages and cytokines of the IL-1 superfamily (a bioactive IL-1 domain is known as the “Boraschi loop”), and the interaction of engineered nanomaterials with immunity in humans and environmental species. She is particularly involved in higher education training activities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, with a focus on poverty-related diseases.
  • Chief Scientist, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, ChinaAldo Tagliabue
    Aldo Tagliabue
    Chief Scientist, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    Aldo Tagliabue has been active for more than 4 decades in research, development, management, strategic planning and establishing facilities for innovative vaccines. After a long career as experimental immunologist and as manager of large cooperation R&D projects in public-private partnerships funded by the European Commission, Aldo Tagliabue has been involved in the creation of start-up companies in the field of human vaccines, such as AchilleS Vaccines Srl, a company of the Siena Vaccine Hub (Italy), and BCGene in São Paulo (Brazil). He has recently founded Veterna Srl, to develop mRNA vaccines for veterinary infections. His scientific background is based on early experience in the public sector, including a postdoctoral period at the NCI/NIH in Bethesda, MD, USA, from 1976 to 1979, and an internship at the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1981. This was the basis for his subsequent experiences in industry. In 1982, he joined the Sclavo Research Center in Siena (Italy) as Head of Immunology, and in 1990 he became R&D Director at the pharmaceutical company Dompé in L’Aquila (Italy). In the early 2000s, he was Deputy Director at the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul (Republic of Korea), a WHO and UN initiative, and also served as a member of the Programme/Policy Committee of the GAVI Alliance Board. In 2011, with Rino Rappuoli he created the Sclavo Vaccine Foundation, whose mission is to sustain and promote vaccines for poverty related diseases. From 2014 to 2017, he was Director General of the Regional Foundation for Biomedical Research in Milan, the funding agency of the Lombardy Region (Italy) for health sciences. He was Adjunct Professor of Immunology at the University of Bologna (Italy) from 1996 to 2006, and Adjunct Professor at the Seoul National University from 2003 to 2005. He is author of more than 120 publications in immunology and vaccinology and inventor in 10 patents. Since 2017 is Senior Associated Scientist of the Italian National Research Council. In September 2021 he moved to China, at the Shenzhen Institute for Advanced Technology, as Visiting Professor supported by Chinese Academy of Science with a President International Fellowship. Recently he was awarded with a professorship in the Yangtze River Scholar Fellowship Program for his experience in vaccinology.
  • GM/CSO, Nano Microgene, ChinaEnqi Du
    Enqi Du
    GM/CSO, Nano Microgene, China
  • Application Engineer,NanoFCM INC.Huijie Zhu
    Huijie Zhu
    Application Engineer,NanoFCM INC.
    After graduating from the University of New South Wales,she has been responsible for the application development and pre-sales technical support of nano-flow cytometry, with solid theoretical foundation and rich experience in LNP characterization.
  • Global BD Director, Aptar PharmaNektaria Karavas
    Nektaria Karavas
    Global BD Director, Aptar Pharma
    Nektaria Karavas is the Global Director of Business Development for Nasal Vaccines, Antivirals and Immuno-stimulants at Aptar Pharma. Ms. Karavas joined Aptar Pharma in 2004 and has held various commercial roles executing long-term strategy within key customer and global accounts in North America focusing on nasal drug delivery. She has contributed to multiple nasal development programs, supported commercial scale up and product launches for New Drug Applications (NDA) using an Aptar delivery device for key pharmaceutical clients across different therapeutic indications. Nektaria holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Aptar PharmaJulie D. Suman
    Julie D. Suman
    Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Aptar Pharma
    Dr. Julie D. Suman is the Vice President of Scientific Affairs for Aptar Pharma. She manages strategic scientific planning and Aptar’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Suman is also the co-founder of Next Breath. She holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from Duquesne University (1996) and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (2002). Dr. Suman serves on the External Advisory Committee of the New South Wales RNA Production and Research Network. In addition, she is a co-editor for Respiratory Drug Delivery Proceedings, an international symposium, and an an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Suman is the Past-Chair of the AAPS Inhalation Technology Focus Group. Dr. Suman is also a member of the Parental Drug Association Visible Particulate Taskforce. She is a licensed Maryland pharmacist. Dr. Suman has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and has been presented during podium sessions at international meetings, the FDA Topics in Bioequivalence Seminar Series and has been an invited speaker at ANVISA in Brazil. Dr. Suman’s doctoral research, which focused on the relationship between in vitro tests for nasal sprays and in vivo deposition, has been recognized for excellence by a research award presented at the International Society for Aerosols in Medicine, 2001. In 2008, Dr. Suman received an award from the Greater Baltimore Committee for Entrepreneurial Spirit.
  • Prof., Northwest A&F UniversityXiaodong Xu
    Xiaodong Xu
    Prof., Northwest A&F University
    Xu Xiaodong, currently a professor and doctoral supervisor in the School of Life Sciences of Northwest A&F University, holds a master's degree in China Agricultural University and a doctor's degree in virology from the University of Reading, UK. He is mainly engaged in the research on the gene function and molecular biological mechanism of baculovirus, the optimization of baculovirus/insect cell expression system and the application and development of protein products. More than 10 domestic invention patents and 1 PCT international invention patent have been applied. In 2019, Xu Xiaodong led a team to discover prions in viruses for the first time in the world. The relevant scientific research results were published in the internationally renowned journal Nature Communications. Xu Xiaodong, as the founder of qBac® baculovirus/insect cell protein expression system, has improved the protein yield by the level of grams per liter by knocking out many genes that affect the protein yield, inserting siRNA to inhibit the apoptosis of host cells, and fine-tuning the expression level of transcription factors.
  • CEO, Hilleman LaboratoriesRaman Rao
    Raman Rao
    CEO, Hilleman Laboratories

    Dr. Raman Rao joined as the Chief Executive Officer at Hilleman Laboratories in February 2020. Dr. Rao has more than two decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines for infectious diseases in global pharma and biotech companies. Prior to joining Hilleman Laboratories, Dr. Rao served as the Vice President of Global Product Operations with Takeda, Singapore, where he enhanced the global product portfolio while successfully leading an international team across Japan, Singapore and the United States. The teams worked in the areas of dengue, norovirus, zika, polio and other vaccines.

    Dr. Rao started his career in 2002 with Shantha Biotechnics Limited, part of Sanofi Aventis Group in India, in Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs. He holds a MD in Medical Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

    He plans to carry forward Dr. Maurice Hilleman’s legacy for providing effective solutions for global health, especially those impacting low- and middle-income countries.


  • Co-founder& VP, TherarnaCaiyi Fei
    Caiyi Fei
    Co-founder& VP, Therarna
  • President, Vaccine Division, Fosun PharmaJiguo Zhang
    Jiguo Zhang
    President, Vaccine Division, Fosun Pharma

    Graduated from Peking University School of Medicine, and National School of Development at Peking University, Jeffrey Zhang has deep insights in the fields of vaccines, while having extensive experience in business management, strategy and investment. He has successively served as the head of Pfizer’s New Business Development in China, General Manager of Emerging Business Department of GSK China/Vice President of Emerging Market Strategy, as well as the Vice President of Strategy of WuXi/Vice President of WuXi Vaccine Business.

  • Professor, Tsinghua UniversityLinqi Zhang
    Linqi Zhang
    Professor, Tsinghua University
    Professor Linqi Zhang is the Director of the Comprehensive AIDS Research Center at Tsinghua University. Prof. Zhang's research focuses on HIV-1 pathogenesis and vaccine development, and has recently expanded to the field of emerging and re-emerging human viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-1/2 and MERS-CoV. Using cutting-edge antibody and combinatorial antigen library techniques, Prof. Zhang’s research aims to characterize protective antibody immunity in infected humans and rational design of effective vaccines and therapies against the viral infection. Professor Zhang is the recipient of the National Outstanding Young Scientist Award, privileged Changjiang Professorship, and Bayer and Vanke Chair professor. He has published extensively and is among the most cited Chinese researchers in the field of microbiology and immunology. Professor Zhang has also served as a member of national expert and advisory board to the Chinese government and several international organizations on HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases,and was recently elected as a Foreign Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.
  • Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CASFan Yang
    Fan Yang
    Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS
    Dr. Fan Yang, professor at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Yang earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Computational Biology from the University of Toronto and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University. Her work primarily focuses on leveraging nulti-omics techniques and big data analysis algorithms to reveal the pathogenesis of diseases such as respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases, as well as the characteristics of related adaptive immune responses. Dr. Yang has published in Science, Cell, Nature Medicine, and Cell Host & Microbe and many other top articles, totaling over 4700 citations. She also acts as a peer reviewer for journals such as Genome Research, Frontiers in Oncology, PLoS Computational Biology, and Scientific Data, and served as an editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology, a Program Committee member and reviewer for ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) conferences, and a committee member of the International Workshop on Computational Mathematical Models in Cancer (CMMCA).
  • Prof., Jilin University;Scientific Advisor, ProMab Forethought;Chongyang Liang
    Chongyang Liang
    Prof., Jilin University;Scientific Advisor, ProMab Forethought;

    Professor Liang is dedicated to the development of large molecular drugs in the field of recombinant protein. He has been engaged in the research of drug action mechanism-related structural biology and physicochemical analysis for many years, leading the development of multiple innovative monoclonal antibody drugs and subunit vaccines. Through the transformation of achievements and cooperation with enterprises, he has promoted the approval of clinical trials or market launch by the US FDA and China NMPA.

  • Vice President, Suzhou HealiRNA BiotechnologyZhong Chen
    Zhong Chen
    Vice President, Suzhou HealiRNA Biotechnology
    Doctor of Pharmacy, Postdoctoral Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill, USA. During his academic career, he was awarded the title of Associated Professor. Presided over and/or participated in a number of National Natural Science Foundation projects and national Science and Technology major projects for new drug development, and participated in the successful marketing of small molecule innovative drugs. He has published 20 academic papers in international journals and authorized 10 Chinese invention patents. In the past 5 years, he has focused on the development and industrialization of nucleic acid drug delivery vectors (mRNA, siRNA) and nucleic acid medicinal chemistry, and has applied for a number of PCT patents. He has accumulated a lot of industrialization experience in nucleic acid drug project selection, delivery vector development and CMC research.
  • CTO, NeoVAC, UKHeinrich Hass
    Heinrich Hass
    CTO, NeoVAC, UK

    Heinrich Haas, Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz Mainz, Germany. Ph.D. in the group of Prof. Dr. Helmuth Möhwald at Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz. Researched lipid membranes and organized bio-molecular systems. In pharmaceutical industry (Munich Biotech, Medigene, BioNTech) developed different types of nanoparticle products to clinical stage. Focus on advanced approaches for nanoparticle development and control.

  • CSO, Dyadic InternationalRonen Tchelet
    Ronen Tchelet
    CSO, Dyadic International
    Ronen Tchelet, PhD: Ronen Tchelet joined Dyadic in May 2014 and has been Dyadic’s Vice President of Research and Business Development since January 2016 and later on became Dyadic’s CSO. Dr. Tchelet received his Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology from Tel Aviv University in 1993 and did his postdoctoral as an EERO fellow at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG) in Switzerland. In the late 2000’s, he joined the API Division of TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries LTD., where he served as a Chief Technology Officer of Biotechnology. Dr. Tchelet leaded and directed the Research and Development Biotechnology department of TEVA’s fermentation plant in Hungary. In his work he managed and organized Biotechnology and Biosimilar projects that combined multidisciplinary areas such as development, operation, and production of API and biologics. In addition, from 2000 – 2005, Dr. Tchelet was the QA manager of COPAXONE® the flag ship TEVA¹s innovative drug. From 2007 through 2013, prior to joining Dyadic, Dr. Tchelet became the founder and the Managing Director of Codexis Laboratories Hungary kft. (CLH) and a Vice President of Codexis Inc. At CLH, he established a state-of-the-art laboratory for strain engineering and all aspects of fermentation work including process optimization and scaling up. It was during this time that Dr. Tchelet engaged with the C1 technology that was successfully developed for the Biofuel and the Bio-Industrial enzymes fields.
  • Bioprocess Services Manager,Univercells TechnologiesRimenys Carvalho
    Rimenys Carvalho
    Bioprocess Services Manager,Univercells Technologies
    Rimenys Carvalho is a Biochemical Engineering and PhD in Bioengineering. After more than 10 years working in a academia, he joined Univercells Technologies in 2020 as Bioprocess Specialist, and currently, he is working as a Bioprocess Services Manager.
  • CEO vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLCHao Wang
    Hao Wang
    CEO vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLC
    CEO,vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLC(葳瑞医药), USA and China Dr. Hao Wang is currently the CEO of vuRoyal Pharmaceutical. He received his Ph.D. from MIT and MPA from Harvard University. Previously, Dr. Wang served as the vice president of the largest university-related research foundation, the Research Foundation for the State University of New York, and the chief information officer of the United States' largest comprehensive university system, the State University of New York. Hao was a partner/managing director of Accenture, a global 500 company, and served as vice president of Accenture China, leading Accenture's healthcare practice in Greater China. He had also served as deputy commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. A graduate from Peking University, Dr. Wang served as an adjunct professor in several leading research universities such as Columbia University, Tsinghua University, University at Albany, and Xian Jiaotong University.
  • Director, Desert King InternationalDamian Hiley
    Damian Hiley
    Director, Desert King International
    Damian Hiley Product Manager for Vaccine Adjuvants, Desert King International, USA Since joining Desert King in 2012, Damian Hiley has played a crucial role in revolutionizing QS21 Vaccine adjuvants, leading to the pivotal launch of GMP QS21 in 2017. Beyond his substantial contributions to vaccine science, where his work underpins all commercially available vaccines with AS01 or Matrix M, Damian has spearheaded the company’s commitment to responsible forestry practices and the development of clonal plantations. His strategic oversight of the Pharmaceutical Exipient factory in Chile reflects his multifaceted expertise. Holding an MBA, Damian’s vision for sustainable innovation and leadership in global health advancements exemplifies his dedication to both environmental stewardship and medical progress.
  • Staff Scientist, Vaccine Research Center, NIHBaoshan Zhang
    Baoshan Zhang
    Staff Scientist, Vaccine Research Center, NIH
    Dr. Baoshan Zhang is a Staff Scientist at Vaccine Research Center, NIH. He has broad experiences in vaccine development with a focus on structure-based immunogen design. Dr. Zhang leads optimizing and advancing methodologies that impact the development of novel molecules and proposes investment in alternate technologies. He is one inventor of the prefusion RSV F vaccine immunogens that are licensed to several major pharmaceutical companies. His ground-breaking work on RSV prefusion F molecules is the basis for mRNA1345 RSV vaccine developed at Moderna. Dr. Zhang currently focuses on vaccine development for infectious diseases as well as for non-communicable chronic diseases.
  • Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine , University of OxfordSimon Draper
    Simon Draper
    Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine , University of Oxford
    Simon Draper is Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford. He was based at the Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine from 2005 until Feb 2021 when he moved his laboratory to the Department of Biochemistry. The group's clinical team are based at the University's Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM) on the Churchill Hospital site. The Draper Lab study vaccine-induced immunity, with a particular focus on antibody immunology and human malaria infection. A critical strength of the group is a strong dual focus on preclinical vaccine development in parallel with early-phase clinical vaccine testing and experimental medicine studies. In particular, the group's research interests span: strategies for improved vaccine antigen identification; development of improved vaccine delivery strategies; assessment of quantitative antibody correlates of protective immunity; and assessment of human vaccine-induced antibody responses to guide structure-based immunogen design and to better understand protective mechanisms of immunity.
  • Senior Scientist, Virogin BioTechKuan Zhang
    Kuan Zhang
    Senior Scientist, Virogin BioTech
    Dr. Kuan Zhang is the Senior Scientist at Virogin BioTech, specializing in anti-cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development. With a Ph.D. and postdoctoral research completed at VIDO-InterVac (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) and OHRI (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute) respectively, she brings extensive expertise to her role in cancer immunotherapy research. Currently, Dr. Zhang leads the mRNA cancer therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic virus discovery pipelines in Virogin's R&D Department. She has received prestigious awards including the National High-Level University Graduate Program for Overseas Study, Mitax Accelerate Internship, Innovation Award from SK Province, and the Shanghai Key Industries Talent Special Award, among others.
  • Professor/Academician,Institute of Process Engineering, CASGuanghui Ma
    Guanghui Ma
    Professor/Academician,Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
    Guanghui Ma is a professor of the State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering (SKLBCE), Institute of Process Engineering (IPE). She is an academician of CAS in China and AIMBE fellow. She is serving as Director of the State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering. She received Bachelor degree from Gunma University, Master and PhD degrees from Tokyo Institute of Technology, respectively. She joined SKLBCE as a professor in 2001 and was promoted to the director in 2012. Her research interests focus on the preparation of uniform microspheres and microcapsules and their applications in biochemical engineering and biomedicine engineering, such as biochemical separation media, drug carriers, vaccine adjuvants (vaccine delivery systems), microcarriers for cell culture, and enzyme immobilization carriers. She has published over 500 papers, including Nature, Nat. Mater., Nat. Nanotechnol. Nat. Biomed. Eng., Nat. Commun., Sci. Adv., JACS, Adv. Mater., etc. She has more than 90 patents authorized, the technology and products have been commercialized in companies, and have been used in more than 500 affiliations in the world. She has received the State National Invention Award (2nd Class; 2009), the Beijing Science and Technology Award (1st Class; 2005), the Basic Research Achievement Award (1st Class prise of Science and Technology Award; 2020) of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Natural Science Award (1st Class; 2020) of the Chinese Society of Particuology.
  • MSAT lead, Wuxi VaccineYao Pan
    Yao Pan
    MSAT lead, Wuxi Vaccine
    Dr. Yao Pan joined Wuxi Vaccine as MSAT lead and mainly responsible for process technology transfer and process validation. Before joining Wuxi Vaccine, she worked at WuXi Biologics Germany GmbH responsible for DP MSAT and project management departments. She has more than 8 years development and manufacturing experiences with vaccines, biologics as well as molecular diagnostics. Her expertise covers early development, new technology platform establishment, project management, process technology transfer and process validation. Before industrial career, she obtained her ph. D at Universität für Bodenkultur Wien and finished her post-doc at NIOO-KNAW.
  • Chief Strategy Officer, RIGHT Foundation, KoreaHoon Sang Lee
    Hoon Sang Lee
    Chief Strategy Officer, RIGHT Foundation, Korea

    Dr. Hoon Sang Lee is a medical doctor and a global health expert, and currently the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of the RIGHT Foundation (Research Investment for Global Health Technology Foundation) and an adjunct professor at Yonsei University School of Public Health in Korea. Dr. Lee is also a member of Health Sector Advisory Committee of KOICA and a founding member of the Board for Korea Society of Global Health. Previously, he has worked as a health adviser for KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) for bilateral health projects in various countries of Africa and Asia. Prior to KOICA, Dr. Lee worked as a medical officer at Korea CDC, managing national hepatitis B and measles immunization programme, and was involved in North Korea health programme for immunization support. Dr. Lee studied Economics and Public Policy at University of Chicago, received MD and PhD from Yonsei University School of Medicine and received MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.


  • Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan UniversityXinling Wang
    Xinling Wang
    Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University

    Dr. Xinling Wang received her Ph.D. degree in 2021 and was then engaged in postdoctoral research at Fudan University. In October 2023, she as a Young Investigator (eq. to an Associate Professor) joined the Shanghai Institute of Major Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Fudan University and master's supervisor. Her research focuses on the entry mechanism and prevention/treatment strategies of emerging viruses. In the past five years, she as the first or co-first author has published 18 papers in Cell Research (IF=44.1), Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (IF=39.1, x3), Cell Discovery (IF=33.5), Trends in immunology (IF=16.8) and other SCI journals. She as a co-inventor has participated in 4 patent applications, one of which was successfully licensed by a company. As a PI, she has obtained the Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and as a project-leader in 2023 Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan, and as a key researcher in two National Science and Technology Major Projects

  • Professor, Wuhan UniversityKe Xu
    Ke Xu
    Professor, Wuhan University

    Professor Xu focuses on the pathogenesis of respiratory RNA viruses (influenza, coronavirus) and the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines. More than 40 SCI papers have been published in internationally influential academic journals such as Science Translational Medicine, Cell Research, PNAS, Nature Communications, Protein & Cell, and PLoS Pathogens, cited more than 3300 times (including 5 ESI high-cited papers). The research results have been selected as a highlight or cover story by Science, Cell Research, Protein & Cell, Journal of Virology, and the China Science Foundation.

    The group made a series of progress in the mechanism of respiratory virus co-infection and broad-spectrum vaccine or drug candidates, promoted one antiviral drug into multinational clinical trials, and transformed a universal vaccine to deal with antigen drift. The above research results provide candidate strategies for epidemic prevention and control.



  • CEO, WuXi Vaccines; SVP, WuXi BiologicsJian Dong
    Jian Dong
    CEO, WuXi Vaccines; SVP, WuXi Biologics

    Mr. Jian Dong has 35 years’ experience in biopharma manufacturing, quality management and facility construction.

    Joining WuXi Biologics in 2014, he is CEO of WuXi Vaccines and SVP of WuXi Biologics, previously SVP and Head of Global Manufacturing and Head of Global Engineering of WuXi Biologics responsible for the management and R&D of biological drug clinical and commercial manufacturing and construction of production facilities.

    Mr. Dong has led team passing China’s first FDA PLI and EMA GMP inspection and obtaining approval of WuXi Biologics DS and DP manufacturing facilities as well as the design, construction, validation and delivery of various R&D centers and manufacturing sites of WuXi Biologics worldwide.

    Before WuXi Biologics, he was Deputy Chief Engineer in Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products, Senior Process Engineer in Eli Lilly & Co., U.S., VP of Manufacturing and VP of Quality in Shanghai Celgen Biopharma, Deputy General Manager in UBPL and Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology, Unilab’s subsidiary. During his tenure in China before joining WuXi Biologics, he made significant contribution to the approval of one NDA, four BLA and four GMP licenses, including the technical transfer of MSD’s recombinant hepatitis B vaccine to China.

  • Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.Haifei Zhang
    Haifei Zhang
    Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.

    Haifei Zhang, PhD, DABT, Associate Professor

    Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.

    Committee member of Chinese Safety Pharmcology Society

    Committee member of Chinese inhalational toxicology Society

    PhD in Pharmacology and MS in Toxicology.

    Got Diplomate of American Board of Toxicology in 2016. Set up a comprehensive platform for inhalation toxicology & safety pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology studies. Conducted toxicity, safety pharmacology and pharmacodynamic studies for over 200 IND to NMPA or FDA. Participated in key new drug research projects of the 12th national five-year plan and 13th national five-year plan and got 3 patents.


  • Senior expert,Wuhan Institute of Biological Products ltd co.Gelin Xu
    Gelin Xu
    Senior expert,Wuhan Institute of Biological Products ltd co.

    Dr. Xu Gelin, senior  expert of  Wuhan Institute of Biological Products (WIBP), experienced on vaccine development for nearly 40 years. 

  • SVP, Head of China Research and External Collaboration, Clover BiopharmaceuticalWei Tan
    Wei Tan
    SVP, Head of China Research and External Collaboration, Clover Biopharmaceutical

    Dr. Tan is responsible for drug discovery, preclinical development, translation research and external collaboration in China. Dr. Tan got his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from UT Health Science Center San Antonio and received his Postdoctoral training with Dr. Michael Karin at UC San Diego. Dr. Tan worked in Pfizer and Novartis for 9 years, specialized in drug discovery and translational research, bridging preclinical research to early clinical trials. Dr. Tan worked at Biosion Biotech and Coherent Biopharma before he joined Clover. Dr. Tan was selected as Jiangsu Innovation and Entrepreneur Talent and Suzhou Innovation and Entrepreneur Leading Talent.

  • CSO, Jing Tiancheng BiotechnologyLe Sun
    Le Sun
    CSO, Jing Tiancheng Biotechnology

    Beijing special expert, Beijing COVID-19 prevention and technology talent, Beijing Normal University adjunct professor, Tsinghua University doctor, Oregon State University postdoctoral. Dr. Sun Le studied under Professor G. Sato, a member of the American Academy of Sciences, scientific Advisor to President Nixon, inventor of monoclonal antibody drugs, and Professor Zhao Nanming, former Dean of the School of Life Sciences and Medicine of Tsinghua University. Formerly Director of production and scientific research at Upstate/Merck USA; Founded A&G Pharmaceuticals in the United States in 2000 and served as President. Having undertaken a number of major national and Beijing science and technology projects, Jingtiancheng, as a key enterprise in Beijing's infectious disease emergency prevention and control platform, has played an important role in the fight against rabies, hand-foot-mouth EV71, avian influenza H1N1/H7N9, new Pornia virus, Norovirus, Ebola virus and novel coronavirus. Established a huge library of infectious disease pathogens antibodies, including pneumonia 18, HPV9, meningitis 4, DPT, rabies, Bunya Virus, EV71, CA16, HBV, HCV, HEV, HIV, IPV, rubella virus, RSV, RAV,JEV mouse mab thousands of species. In this outbreak, Dr. Sun Le was supported by the Major COVID-19 Emergency Project of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Gates Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Project respectively.

  • CEO, MEDLEADERYan Liu
    Yan Liu
    CEO, MEDLEADER

    Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics - Chongqing Medical University

    Master of Drug Delivery - Aston University, UK

    Bachelor of Clinical Medicine - Chongqing Medical University

    Practicing Physician

    Member of the Standardization Committee of the China Association for Vaccines

    Member of the Professional Committee of the Chinna Safety Pharmacology

    Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Laboratory Animal Technology Association

    Dr.LIU Yan has extensive experience in the R&D of new drugs, especially in the field of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in clinical research of new drugs.


  • Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology,CAMS & PUMCYuelong Shu
    Yuelong Shu
    Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology,CAMS & PUMC

    Prof. Yuelong Shu

    Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He was selected as the first batch of ‘National Science and Technology Innovation Leader’and‘2014 Top Ten Scientific and Technological Innovators’, and is the winner of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the China Youth Science and Technology Award. He has been honored with the National Science and Technology Progress Grand Prize, First Prize, Second Prize, the National Medical and Health System Advanced Individual, the National Innovation Award, the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Development Contribution Award, etc. He is currently the Chairman of the Branch of Medical Virology of the Chinese Medical Association and the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI). He was the founding dean of the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen), the editor-in-chief of the Chinese Journal of Virology, the deputy director of the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the director of the National Influenza Center, and the director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza.

    Shu has long focused on influenza prevention and control research, and has made outstanding achievements in the discovery of new viruses, the development of detection reagents, and the pathogenesis of infection. Through the systematic establishment of new influenza detection and surveillance technology, it was found for the first time in the world that a variety of new avian influenza viruses such as H7N9, H5N6 and H10N8 can lead to human infection and death; The first successful development of pandemic H1N1 2019 and H7N9 avian influenza detection reagent; The origin, evolution and infection mechanism of H7N9 and other avian influenza viruses were clarified, which provided key scientific and technological support for the successful prevention and control of the epidemic in China. He has published nearly 200 papers in Science, Nature, NEJM, Lancet and other academic journals as a corresponding author. The research results were selected as one of the ‘China’s 100 most influential international academic papers in 2013’and ‘2013 Top Ten Scientific Advances in China’.


  • General Manager, Shanghai SDMJohn Mo
    John Mo
    General Manager, Shanghai SDM

    John Mo is the general manager of Shanghai SDM and has 17 years of experience in vaccine clinical trials.

    l  He used to be the director of Guangxi Disease Control and Vaccine Research Institute, a member of the Expert Committee for Drug Registration and Evaluation of the State Administration of Medicine, a member of the Vaccine Research and Development Expert Group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Scientific Research Team of the State Council, a member of the National Immunization Program Technical Working Group, and a member of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association Vaccine Member of the Standing Committee of Clinical Professional Committee, former national and provincial GCP inspector.

    l  Participated in the compilation and discussion of relevant regulations and technical guidelines for vaccine clinical trials in many countries. As a PI, he co-chaired more than 70 vaccine clinical trials, including the world's first human diploid cell EV71 inactivated vaccine, the first domestic mRNA new crown vaccine, HPV vaccine, rotavirus vaccines, microcard vaccine, rabies vaccines, IPV, bOPV, influenza, pneumonia vaccines, and meningococcal vaccines.

    l  Participated in the compilation and discussion of regulations and technical guidance principles for vaccine clinical trials in multiple countries, and has been involved in special projects of major new drug creation science and technology for many times. Published nearly 30 SCI papers in international journals. He is an editorial board member for the translation of the seventh edition of vaccinology, and an editorial board member for the design and implementation of clinical trials.

     


  • Director of International Cooperation, Sinopharm CNBGMeng Li
    Meng Li
    Director of International Cooperation, Sinopharm CNBG

    Meng LI has been leading the International business team of CNBG since 2013, oversees CNBG’s international cooperation and registration activities. She also serves on the board of CNBG-Virogen, and the board of Emerging Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturers Network (EBPMN). During her 19 year experiences in biological industry, she established extensive networks with academia, NGOs, enterprises internationally, and successfully completed a number of landmark projects. Including the bOPV capacity expansion and prequalification program with BMGF (received over 23Million USD financial supports from BMGF, prequalified by WHO in 2019), establishment of CNBG’s first JV with foreign enterprise, the first overseas acquisition by CNBG, roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine PhIII trials in 6 countries and its registration in over 100 countries. Meng Li has successfully signed a number of in-license, research cooperation, commercialization and industrialization projects with NIH, Oxford, France Institut Pasteur, PATH, IVI, biotech companies and developing country manufacturers. She worked as temporary advisor to WHO inspectorate during WHO’s first inspection to China NMPA in 2010, and was elected as the executive committee member of DCVMN from 2014-2016.


  • Head of Formulation and Process Development Microarray Patches at LTSAnna Schlüter
    Anna Schlüter
    Head of Formulation and Process Development Microarray Patches at LTS

    Dr. Anna Schlüter is a pharmacist by training and joined LTS in 2016 as formulation scientist for the development of transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) and oral thin films (OTF). Since 2020 she is a lab head in the microarrays patch (MAP) team and responsible for the formulation and process development for collaboration and internal MAP projects. She is experienced in leading multifunctional teams for formulation development and scale-up projects for transdermal delivery systems.


  • Founder of Rhegen BioYong Hu
    Yong Hu
    Founder of Rhegen Bio

    Dr. Hu Yong, founder of Rhegen Bio, professor of Hubei Industry, Shenzhen Overseas High-level Talent, Shenzhen Nanshan District "Pilot Talent", excellent Communist Party member, former PI and PhD supervisor of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is now the chairman and general manager of Shenzhen Rhegen Biotechnology.

    Dr. Hu has more than 10 years of R&D experience in the mRNA field, focusing on the research and industrial transformation of mRNA-related underlying technologies, and the development of novel mRNA vaccines and drugs for emergent infectious diseases, cancer immunotherapy, and protein-deficiency disorders, etc. In the past five years, he has filed applications for mRNA vaccines and drugs. In the past five years, he has applied for more than 200 patents of mRNA-related technologies, and has been authorized 48 domestic invention patents and many PCT patents. He has presided over a number of national, provincial and municipal key projects, such as the National Biopharmaceutical Technology Innovation Center's nucleic acid drug "unveiling the list of commanding officers" technology research project (lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA vaccine research and development), the Shenzhen High-tech Zone Development Special Plan Innovation Platform Construction Project (mRNA innovative vaccine and drug pilot base), Shenzhen Key Project of Technology Tackling (Research and Development of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine), Shenzhen Basic Discipline Layout (Research on New Generation of Highly Efficient mRNA Drug Molecular Technology).  The research results have been published in Cell Discovery, Nature Protocol, Nature Communication, Circulation Research, Biomaterial and other well-known journals, Biomaterial and other well-known journals.

    Dr. Hu led the team to establish the R4 platform, which is an independent and controllable technology platform for the whole chain of mRNA drug development, led the establishment and release of two mRNA industry group standards, developed the world's first lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, which has been approved for clinical trials in many countries and regions, and the first mRNA therapeutic drug using non-LNP delivery technology has been approved for Phase I clinical trials by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Australia. In addition, the first mRNA therapeutic drug using non-LNP delivery technology has received ethical approval from the Australian Human Research Ethics Committee for Phase I clinical trials.


  • Professor, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityXingchen Peng
    Xingchen Peng
    Professor, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

    Xingchen Peng

    M.D. Ph.D

    Professor and Chief Physician, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University.

     

    Dr. Peng is recognized as a Young Changjiang Scholar by the Ministry of Education, a leading talent in the Sichuan Province Ten Thousand Talent Program. Dr. Peng has completed a postdoctoral fellowship in radiation oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is also a candidate for the academic and technical leadership reserve of the Sichuan Provincial Health Department.

     

    Dr. Peng's work focuses on the integrated treatment of malignant tumors, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. He has special expertise in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, head and neck tumors, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. He is currently leading several multicenter clinical trials in head and neck tumors and has extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In 2017, he was recognized as the most promising young oncologist by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO).

     

    Dr. Peng is also responsible for major projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology. He has published more than 45 high-impact papers as first or corresponding author, and his research has been cited in guidelines in Brazil, the United States.


  • Founder of Rhegen BioYong Hu
    Yong Hu
    Founder of Rhegen Bio

    Dr. Hu Yong, founder of Rhegen Bio, professor of Hubei Industry, Shenzhen Overseas High-level Talent, Shenzhen Nanshan District "Pilot Talent", excellent Communist Party member, former PI and PhD supervisor of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is now the chairman and general manager of Shenzhen Rhegen Biotechnology.

    Dr. Hu has more than 10 years of R&D experience in the mRNA field, focusing on the research and industrial transformation of mRNA-related underlying technologies, and the development of novel mRNA vaccines and drugs for emergent infectious diseases, cancer immunotherapy, and protein-deficiency disorders, etc. In the past five years, he has filed applications for mRNA vaccines and drugs. In the past five years, he has applied for more than 200 patents of mRNA-related technologies, and has been authorized 48 domestic invention patents and many PCT patents. He has presided over a number of national, provincial and municipal key projects, such as the National Biopharmaceutical Technology Innovation Center's nucleic acid drug "unveiling the list of commanding officers" technology research project (lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA vaccine research and development), the Shenzhen High-tech Zone Development Special Plan Innovation Platform Construction Project (mRNA innovative vaccine and drug pilot base), Shenzhen Key Project of Technology Tackling (Research and Development of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine), Shenzhen Basic Discipline Layout (Research on New Generation of Highly Efficient mRNA Drug Molecular Technology).  The research results have been published in Cell Discovery, Nature Protocol, Nature Communication, Circulation Research, Biomaterial and other well-known journals, Biomaterial and other well-known journals.

    Dr. Hu led the team to establish the R4 platform, which is an independent and controllable technology platform for the whole chain of mRNA drug development, led the establishment and release of two mRNA industry group standards, developed the world's first lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, which has been approved for clinical trials in many countries and regions, and the first mRNA therapeutic drug using non-LNP delivery technology has been approved for Phase I clinical trials by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Australia. In addition, the first mRNA therapeutic drug using non-LNP delivery technology has received ethical approval from the Australian Human Research Ethics Committee for Phase I clinical trials.

  • VP, AdvaccineXiaoming Gao
    Xiaoming Gao
    VP, Advaccine

    Naked DNA plasmids, when i.m. or i.d. administered without assistance, are relatively poor in transfection efficiency and consequently show low

    level of immunogenicity. A possible solution to this problem is microneedle array patch (MAP) delivery which utilizes microscopic projection

    arrays on a plaster to deliver a vaccine on the skin. We will report our recent progress in developing MAP-based DNA vaccines that can effectively

    induce protective immunity against SARS-COV-2 variants. MAP technology may open a new avenue for novel vaccine development


  • Schedule
    2024-03-21
    2024-03-22
    2024-03-23
    2024-03-21
    08:45 -12:15
    Plenary Forum
    2024-03-21
    08:45-09:00
    Opening Remark
    2024-03-21
    09:00-09:45
    Plenary Panel:Next-generation vaccine technologies: innovations and challenges

    Ø   Explore the   latest advancements in vaccine technologies, such as mRNA vaccines and viral   vector platforms.

    Ø   Discuss the   potential impact of these innovations on global vaccine development and   deployment.

    Ø   Address   challenges related to safety, efficacy, and public perception of these   cutting-edge vaccine modalities.


    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Shan Lu
    Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)
    2024-03-21
    09:45-10:30
    Plenary Panel: Equitable access to vaccines: overcoming barriers and bridging Gaps
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Jiguo Zhang
    President, Vaccine Division, Fosun Pharma
    VIF World 2024
    Raman Rao
    CEO, Hilleman Laboratories
    VIF World 2024
    Jian Dong
    CEO, WuXi Vaccines; SVP, WuXi Biologics
    VIF World 2024
    Meng Li
    Director of International Cooperation, Sinopharm CNBG
    2024-03-21
    11:00-11:30
    Keynote: The transformation of vaccinology: recent achievements and future prospects

    Advances in technology: reverse vaccinology 2.0, structural vaccinology, mRNA and more

     Remaining gaps: mucosal immunity, understanding the immunome, pandemic preparedness

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Michel De Wilde
    Owner, MDW Consultant,LLC, Former SVP of R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, USA
    2024-03-21
    11:30-12:00
    Keynote: Advancing global health through vaccines
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Simon Draper
    Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine , University of Oxford
    2024-03-21
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream B-Bioprocessing&Manufacturing
    2024-03-21
    13:30-13:55
    Hexavalent rotavirus vaccine development

    Based on the bovine rotavirus UK Compton strain, we developed a human-bovine reassortant hexavalent rotavirus vaccine (HRV) containing G1, G2, G3, G4, G8 and G9 serotypes to cover most serotypes of rotavirus in the world. The phase I and phase II clinical studies showed that HRV was well-tolerated in all adults, toddlers and infants, and was highly immunogenic in infants. The phase III clinical study showed  vaccine efficacy(VE) against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE), severe RVGE, and hospitalization caused by rotavirus serotypes contained in HRV were 69.21% (95%CI: 53.31–79.69), 91.36% (95%CI: 78.45–96.53), and 89.21% (95%CI: 64.51–96.72). VE against RVGE, severe RVGE, and hospitalization caused by any type of rotavirus were 62.88% (95%CI: 49.11–72.92), 85.51%.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Gelin Xu
    Senior expert,Wuhan Institute of Biological Products ltd co.
    2024-03-21
    13:55-14:25
    Intranasal immunization: device and formulation promises and challenges
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Nektaria Karavas
    Global BD Director, Aptar Pharma
    VIF World 2024
    Julie D. Suman
    Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Aptar Pharma
    2024-03-21
    14:25-14:50
    The development of mRNA 2.0 vaccines in HealiRNA Biotechnology
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Zhong Chen
    Vice President, Suzhou HealiRNA Biotechnology
    2024-03-21
    14:50-15:15
    Innovations in end-to-end mRNA vaccine research, development and manufacturing: Progress and Partnerships of the mRNA Technology Development and Transfer programme

    ·         mRNA technology advances focusing on access and sustainability

    ·         overview and progress of the mRNA technology development and transfer programme

    ·         product pipeline for mRNA vaccines addressing neglected diseases

    ·         interpandemic sustainability of mRNA vaccine production expansions

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Petro Terblanche
    CEO, Afrigen Biologics, South Africa
    2024-03-21
    15:15-15:30
    Addressing viral manufacturing scalability challenges through fixed-bed bioreactors
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Rimenys Carvalho
    Bioprocess Services Manager,Univercells Technologies
    2024-03-21
    15:30-16:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-21
    16:00-16:30
    RNA & MAP Combining breakthroug Innovations - Towards better preparedness for the next pandemic
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Anna Schlüter
    Head of Formulation and Process Development Microarray Patches at LTS
    2024-03-21
    16:30-17:00
    Regulatory considerations for Microneedle Array Patches (MAPs), as a potential new delivery system for vaccines

    Microneedle Array Patches (MAPs) contain micron-sized projections that mechanically disrupt the outermost skin barrier (stratum corneum), in a minimally invasive manner, for delivery of APIs (vaccine or drug) to the underlying skin. As part of the Center of Excellence for Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) technology, PATH has partnered with Cardiff University to Chair a group that aims to provide independent scientific opinions and recommendations that help define the regulatory pathway for this emerging dosage form, and thus expedite clinical translation of the technology. This MAP Regulatory Working Group (MAP-RWG) includes representatives from both the commercial and academic sectors, vaccine development experts and representatives from national regulatory authorities, international pharmacopoeia and the WHO pre-qualification of medicines programme.

    MAP-RWG activities focus on key contemporary regulatory issues for MAPs that have been identified in consultation with stakeholders. Four parallel work streams have emerged and these aim to: (i) define the MAP dosage form; (ii) identify and categorise the MAP critical quality attributes (CQAs); (iii) develop standardised validated test methods to evaluate these CQAs and the quality of finished MAP products and/or the development of pre-clinical prototypes; and (iv) inform the microbiological requirements for MAP products (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.001). This talk will provide a general overview of progress against these workstreams and highlight the future directions for the MAP-RWG. More details about this endeavour can be found on the website: www.microneedleregulatory.org.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Maria Dul
    Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
    2024-03-21
    17:00-17:15
    NtensifyTM technology a novel platform for mRNA vaccine development: case of rabies vaccine.

    Quantoom Biosciences, a Belgian biotech company, and a subsidiary of the Univercells Group, has developed an innovative system named NtensifyTM for mRNA manufacturing. NtensifyTM leverages an optimized mRNA production process executed by a fully automated equipment, resulting in industry-leading yields and recovery rates. The system enables a significant reduction of the CoGs for the development and commercial manufacturing of mRNA-based therapeutics. In this presentation, I will introduce the NtensifyTM machine, and explain how it can be empowered to develop novel mRNA vaccines for global health. I will present data on the development of an mRNA rabies vaccine using this technology.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Hela Kallel
    Head of Process Development, Quantoom, Belgium
    2024-03-21
    17:15-17:30
    Tackling thermostability and biodegradation challenges in mRNA vaccine through rapid onsite microfluidic assembly (ROMA) technology

    The groundbreaking success of mRNA vaccines is undeniably significant, yet their inherent challenges, such as thermo-instability and susceptibility to biological degradation, pose formidable obstacles. Herein, we present a ROMA (rapid onsite microfluidic assembly) platform to fundamentally address these problems.

    Distinguished by its organic solvent-free working process, the ROMA platform revolutionizes traditional mRNA manufacturing by obviating the need for dialysis, purification, sterile filtration, and large-scale filling processes. It enables the rapid assembly of pre-made mRNA and blank lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) into injectable mRNA vaccines within mere minutes at the point of care. Noteworthy is the fact that the entire ROMA system, along with its raw materials, remains viable at ambient temperatures, requiring minimal user intervention.

    The versatility of the ROMA platform extends across different LNP formulations and various nucleic acids, encompassing mRNA, circular RNA, saRNA, and plasmid DNA, spanning lengths from 1,000 nt to 13,000 nt. Crucially, the ROMA vaccine achieves in-vivo mRNA expression levels comparable to conventional methods. Positioned as a paradigm shift, ROMA emerges as an adaptable solution applicable across diverse scenarios, from fundamental research to bedside vaccination. Its advantages not only pave the way for efficient and accessible vaccine production but also underscore its potential to reshape the landscape of mRNA-based therapies.


    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Jiang Xu
    Senior Scientiest, Virogin Biotech, China
    2024-03-21
    17:30-18:00
    Innovating and digitalising mRNA vaccine and therapeutics production platform processes

    The RNA platform technology has emerged as one of the most promising and strategic technologies for rapid global vaccination, infectious disease control, biotherapeutics development, and preparedness for future healthcare challenges. Since this is a platform technology, the manufacturing infrastructure, the product and process analytical technologies, the product-process interactions, and learnings can be re-used or transferred from existing products to new products. To reach the full potential of this disease agnostic RNA platform, we are developing a set of synergistic technologies consisting of physical production processes (enzymatic RNA synthesis, downstream purification, and lipid nanoparticle formulation), analytical technologies, computer models and software. These technologies are co-developed under a patient-centric Quality by Digital Design (QbDD) framework. In this QbDD framework, first-principle or data-driven relationships are established between the critical process parameters (CPPs) of the production process and the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the RNA vaccine and therapeutic product. The obtained models can be used for defining the design space and for advanced automation using model-predictive control. By combining the QbDD framework with the RNA platform, vaccines and therapeutics can be developed and mass-produced faster against a wide range of diseases. However, the regulatory approval of the digital tools used for process and product quality control is required in order to accelerate the development and manufacturing of RNA products. A form of production process template “pre-qualification” or “pre-approval” could expedite development and regulatory approval by re-using and computationally processing disease agnostic-prior knowledge, based on the platform nature of both the RNA vaccine manufacturing process and of the QbDD framework.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Zoltan Kis
    Lecturer, University of Sheffield, UK
    2024-03-21
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream C-Cancer Vaccine/RNA/Immunotherapy
    2024-03-21
    13:30-14:00
    Systems biology based rapid response to emerging infectious diseases -Developing immunotherapeutic interventions

    Mosquito-borne viruses, such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses, pose significant global health threats. Dengue, the most prevalent mosquito-transmitted viral disease, affects 50 to 100 million individuals annually, leading to over 25,000 deaths. Over the past decade, Chikungunya and Zika viruses have undergone substantial geographic expansion, causing multiple outbreaks worldwide. With climate change, increased global travel, and other factors expanding the range of disease-carrying mosquitoes, the risk of further outbreaks by these and other viruses remains high. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop effective strategies for combating these pathogens, focusing on preventive and therapeutic interventions, including vaccines and passive immunotherapies. Addressing these risks is crucial to safeguard global health.

    Recent advancements in the field of systems biology have led to significant progress in the development of nucleic acid-based vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the prevention and treatment of viral infections. This talk highlights the successful generation of these vaccines and mAbs, emphasizing their effectiveness in conferring protection against viral diseases. Specifically, the rapid protection offered by mAbs prophylaxis is discussed, along with compelling evidence demonstrating that the co-administration of nucleic acid-based mAbs and vaccines can provide both immediate and long-lasting immunity against infections. These findings have profound implications, particularly for populations with varying immune statuses, and hold great promise for resource-limited settings where traditional antibody therapies are economically unfeasible. This study underscores the potential of a systems biology approach in addressing global viral challenges and improving healthcare outcomes.

     

    This presentation highlights the utility of synthetic nucleic acid technology in the rapid development of immune therapeutics against infectious diseases.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Kar Muthumani
    CSO, GeneOne Life Science, USA
    2024-03-21
    14:00-14:30
    Therapeutic DNA vaccine development (TBC)
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    David Weiner
    Executive Vice President, The Wistar Institute, USA
    2024-03-21
    14:30-15:00
    mRNA vaccines against Clostridium difficile
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
    Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania , USA
    2024-03-21
    15:00-15:30
    mRNA Vaccine : Pandemics and Beyond - for Vaccine Equity
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Kiat Ruxrungtham
    Director of Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chulalongkorn University
    2024-03-21
    15:30-16:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-21
    16:00-16:30
    Vaccine science and design for future pandemic 100 days mission
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Ken Ishii
    Director, International Vaccine Design Center, Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan
    2024-03-21
    16:30-17:00
    Novel mRNA technology and cancer vaccine development
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Hangwen Li
    CEO, Stemirna, China
    2024-03-21
    17:00-17:15
    Novel prime-boost strategy with mRNA and intratumoral oncolytic virus therapy for advanced cervical cancer

    Therapeutic cancer vaccines are promising next-generation treatments for cancers with tumor-associated or tumor-specific antigens. However, the cancer vaccine development encounters some major obstacles, such as the complication of intratumoral immune suppressive mechanism and the failure of generating sufficient self-antigen-specific cellular immune responses, et al. Virogin has developed a mRNA-and-oncolytic virus (OV)-based immune therapy that effectively induces tumor regression.

     

    In our mRNA therapeutic vaccine, an antigen presenting cells (APC)-targeting cancer antigen (HPV E6/7) was expressed and delivered through a mRNA-LNP platform. The vaccine elicited a robust peripheral CD8+ T-cell immune response and effectively prevented antigen-related cancer development in mouse. The antigen-specific T cells and other immune cells proficiently infiltrated into solid tumors leading to tumor regression. However, as the tumor progresses, intratumoral immune suppression intensifies, which is one of the major obstacles of cancer vaccines. This suppression restricted the infiltration of vaccine-induced immune cells and inactivated cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), limiting the therapeutic outcome, even when peripheral CD8+T cell immunity remained high. To address this challenge, we harnessed an OV therapy in combination with the mRNA vaccine as a prime-boost strategy. The OV intratumoral infection alters the TME through increasing cytotoxic T cells infiltration and polarizing neutrophils to antitumoral linages. As a results, the OV intratumoral boost following the intramuscular mRNA vaccination showed superior therapeutic efficiency in treating advanced solid tumors.

     

    Overall, Virogin's mRNA&OV prime-boost therapy offers a compelling solution for both preventing and treating cancers that are induced by HPV infection. The strategy proves highly effective in overcoming the intratumoral immune suppression. These dual approaches, each harnessing unique strengths, collectively underpin our comprehensive strategy in the battle against cancer with identified tumor antigens.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Kuan Zhang
    Senior Scientist, Virogin BioTech
    2024-03-21
    17:15-17:30
    SynNeogen® immunotherapy platform— New strategies for clinical development of therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B and prostate cancer
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Eric Yuenian Shi
    CEO, Chimigen, China
    2024-03-21
    17:30-17:45
    Clinical trial of an immunotherapy for the treatment of COVID-19
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Mingi Chang
    R&D Director, Advagene, China
    2024-03-21
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream A-Covid/Respiratory
    2024-03-21
    13:30-13:55
    Inhalable SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for single-dose dry powder aerosol immunization

    Coronavirus disease pandemic has fostered major advances in vaccination technologies; however, there are urgent needs of mucosal immune responses and single-dose, non-invasive administration. We develop a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for single-dose, dry-powder aerosol inhalation that induces potent systemic and mucosal immune responses. Our vaccine encapsulates proteinaceous cholera toxin B subunit-assembled nanoparticles displaying the SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen (R-CNP) within microcapsules of optimal aerodynamic size, and such unique nano-micro coupled structure supports efficient alveoli delivery, sustained R-CNP release, and antigen presenting cell uptake, which are favourable for invocation of immune responses. Moreover, our vaccine successfully induces robust serological IgG and secretory IgA production, collectively conferring effective protection from SARS-CoV-2 challenge (including pseudovirus and the authentic virus) in mice, hamsters, and non-human primates. Finally, we also demonstrate a “mosaic iteration” of our vaccine that co-displays ancestral and Omicron’s antigens, thus extending the breadth of antibody response against co-circulating strains and transmission of Omicron variant. These findings support our inhalable vaccine as a promising candidate to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease, and transmission.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Guanghui Ma
    Professor/Academician,Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
    2024-03-21
    13:55-14:20
    Self-amplifying RNA vaccines: growing evidence to support differentiation
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Igor Smolenov
    Chief Development Officer, Vaccines,Arcturus Therapeutics, USA
    2024-03-21
    14:25-14:50
    Africa’s new public health order: lessons from covid-19 pandemic
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Nicaise Ndembi
    Chief Science Advisor, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia
    2024-03-21
    14:50-15:15
    Key points and considerations for non clinical evaluation of inhaled vaccines
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Haifei Zhang
    Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.
    2024-03-21
    15:15-15:40
    Building the Respiratory Disease Vaccine Pipeline based on the Trimer-Tag Platform

    Respiratory diseases including low air track infections became leading causes of death globally. With EUA of SCB-2019, Clover successfully grew into a full-fledged biopharma. Clover is aiming at building a pipeline including vaccines against influenza, SARS-COV2, RSV and other pathogens causing respiratory diseases utilizing established Trimer-Tag platform. RSV is the major virus which causes infections in the low air track. It has been a long journey to develop RSV vaccines before Abrysvo and Arexvy were successfully commercialized in US and Europe in 2023. Both vaccines contain PreF trimer antigens. Clover is also developing a bivalent RSV protein subunit vaccine with a different strategy to stabilize RSV PreF. The vaccine candidate is currently in phase I clinical development.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Wei Tan
    SVP, Head of China Research and External Collaboration, Clover Biopharmaceutical
    2024-03-21
    15:40-16:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-21
    16:25-16:50
    Research on in vitro titer methodology of human vaccine

    1) Current status of titer evaluation methods for human vaccines

    2) Development and application of polysaccharide turbidimetric monoclonal antibody

    3) Research and development of IPV, HPV and rabies stable specific neutralizing active MAB and construction of in vitro titer ELISA methodology


    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Le Sun
    CSO, Jing Tiancheng Biotechnology
    2024-03-21
    16:40-17:05
    Using non-changeable against changeable strategy to develop pan-HCoV vaccines

    SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant XBB with an unprecedented high rate of mutations, high resistance to neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), and high transmissibility have swept the world during the past year, resulting in low effectiveness of the first-generation COVID-19 vaccines to prevent viral infection and transmission, thus calling for the development of pan-HCoV vaccines to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants and the emerging and reemerging HCoV in the future. We have used the following non-changeable against changeable strategies to develop pan-sarbecovirus and pan-HCoV vaccines containing the relatively conserved neutralizing epitopes in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in S1 subunit, heptad repeat 1 (HR1), C-terminal helix (CH) and stem helix (SH) domains in S2 subunit of spike (S) protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain plus a novel adjuvant CF501. We found that CF501/RBD-Fc-based pan-sarbecovirus vaccine could elicit highly potent and long-lasting cross-nAb and T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including Omicron and its subvariants (e.g., XBB), as well as SARS-CoV and bat SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs), while the CF501/HR1LS-based pan-β-CoV vaccine was able to induce potent cross-nAb and T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, bat SARSr-CoVs, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-NL63 in the immunized animals. These results suggest that both pan-sarbecovirus vaccine and pan-HCoV vaccine can be further developed to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of HCoV infectious diseases.

    Bullet Point:

    ➢ It is essential to develop broad-spectrum vaccines to combat the RNA viruses with high rate of mutations (e.g., SARS-CoV-2);

    ➢ It is better to use “non-changeable against changeable” strategy (i.e, using the relatively conserved regions containing neutralizing epitopes in surface proteins of the original virus strain) to design and develop broad-spectrum (e.g., pan-HCoV) vaccines;

    ➢ The recombinant vaccine containing heptad repeat 1 (HR1), C-terminal helix (CH) and stem helix (SH) domains in S2 subunit of spike (S) protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain (HR1LS) plus a novel adjuvant CF501 could elicit potent cross-nAb and T cell responses against α- and β-HCoVs, having potential to be further developed as a pan-HCoV vaccine to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of HCoV infectious diseases.


    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Xinling Wang
    Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University
    2024-03-21
    17:05-17:30
    RSV vaccine development (TBD)
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Bin Wang
    Founder, Advacccine, China
    2024-03-21
    17:30-18:00
    Inhaled vaccine, new platforms for respiratory infectious diseases
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Tao Zhu
    Co-founder and CSO, Cansino Bio, China
    2024-03-22
    09:00 -12:30
    Stream F Novel Platform/Partnership
    2024-03-22
    09:00-09:25
    Structure-Based Immunogen Design for Effective mRNA Vaccines

    The potential of mRNA as a new class of medicines has been well demonstrated by the successfully development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 pedantic. Among many applications of mRNA for unmet medical needs, vaccine products currently dominate mRNA development pipelines. Using Respiratory Syncytial Virus mRNA vaccine development as a case study, the presentation illustrates how structure-based vaccine design could ensure precise vaccine targeting capabilities. The study provides insight into the importance of optimized protein molecules leading to enhanced stability, improved delivery, and ultimately, more potent immune responses.

    1. Atomic level structural information allows engineering of viral fusion proteins as potent vaccine immunogens

    2. Protein immunogens optimized for genetic delivery enables superior mRNA vaccine efficacy

    3. The strategy may be applied to type I viral fusion proteins and other protein immunogens facilitating the development of mRNA therapeutics

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Baoshan Zhang
    Staff Scientist, Vaccine Research Center, NIH
    2024-03-22
    09:25-09:50
    mRNA Nano-vaccines against EBV-positive Tumors

    More than ten kinds of tumors are associated with the infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). For EBV-driven tumors, vaccines using EBNA1, LMP1, and LMP2 as antigens were found to induce anti-tumor immunity. Here,we developed novel mRNA nano-vaccines (EBV-mRNA/LNPs) against EBV-positive tumors. The EBV-mRNA/LNPs contained the innovative immune-enhancer (IE) introduced into the mRNA sequence encoding antigens and the ionizable lipid with new structure. Thus, the better safety and enhanced anti-tumor immunogenicity were observed in the investigator-initiated clinial trials (IIT) against nasopharyngeal carcinoma and NK/T lymphoma.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Xiangrong Song
    Co-Founder, Westgene
    2024-03-22
    09:50-10:15
    Nano-drug assembly and control technologies

    ·         Further development of RNA-based pharmaceuticals requires advanced technologies for assembly and control.

    ·         Here, strategies for control of nanoparticles comprising RNA and other active ingredients are presented.

    ·         A method for quantitative determination of size-dependent quality attributes of the nanoparticles is proposed


    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Heinrich Hass
    CTO, NeoVAC, UK
    2024-03-22
    10:15-10:30
    Assessment of LNP Quality & Encapsulation Efficiency by Nano-Flow Cytometry
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Huijie Zhu
    Application Engineer,NanoFCM INC.
    2024-03-22
    10:30-10:45
    AstriVax, a novel vaccine platform committed to address real world vaccinology challenges

    Using innovative technology platforms, Hilleman Laboratories provides end-to-end product development solutionsirom concept to cGMP and Phase ll clinical development for affordable, high-value vaccines and biologics. lts latesticapability in GiP manufacturing of vaccines and biologics is able to pivot to manufacture vaccines for emergencyuse during pandemics. This is enabled through its modular, nimble and clever design which allows the facility toremain platfiorm-agnostic and product-independent. Leveraging various manufacturing platfomms for productinnovation, Hilleman Labs is committed to strengthening innovation in vaccine research and development for globahealth impact.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Hanne Callewaer
    CEO, AstriVax, Belgium
    2024-03-22
    10:45-11:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    11:00-11:25
    Virogin's mRNA vaccines: from infectious disease to cancer

    The outbreak of monkeypox virus infection urgently needs effective vaccines. However, the vaccines approved so far are all based on live viruses, which raises safety concerns. mRNA vaccines have demonstrated their high efficacy and safety against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we developed three mRNA vaccines encoding monkeypox proteins M1R and A35R, including A35R-M1R fusions with a signal peptide leading the A35R extracellular domain (VGPox 1 and VGPox 2) and a mixture of encapsulated full-length mRNAs for A35R and M1R (VGPox 3). All three vaccines induced anti-A35R total Immunoglobulin G (IgG) as early as day 7 following a single vaccination. However, only VGPox 1 and 2 produced anti-M1R IgG at early dates following vaccination, while VGPox 3 did not show significant anti-M1R antibodies until day 35. Similar results were also found for neutralizing antibodies and the T cell immune response. However, all mRNA vaccine groups post 2 dose vaccination completely protected mice from a lethal dose virus challenge and effectively cleared virus in lungs. Furthermore, VGPox 1 and 2 demonstrated superior anti-viral immunity compared to a sublethal VACV-WR virus at an earlier time point post vaccination. Collectively, our results indicate that the novel mRNA vaccines encoding the fusion protein of A35R and M1R—to allow extracellular presentation of both antigens—enhanced immunogenicity. A single dose of VGPox 1 and VGPox 2 can provide sterilizing protection against the lethal viral challenge even within 7 days post vaccination. They can therefore be an alternat

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    William Jia
    CSO, CNBG-Virogin, Canada
    2024-03-22
    11:25-11:40
    Assays for respiratory vaccines evaluation
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Emanuele Montomoli
    Co-founder& CSO, VisMederi, Italy
    2024-03-22
    11:40-12:05
    Research and development of a novel human DNA vaccine platform

    To combat COVID-19, all old vaccine platforms have been utilized, and some new vaccine platforms have been developed.  Here, we report the development of a novel DC-targeting DNA vaccine platform and its application to constructing human vaccines. Our preliminary clinical trial data indicate that these vaccines are safe and immunogenic,  and thus such DNA vaccines warrants further exploration and testing for a broader spectrum of diseases . 

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Xia Jin
    CEO/Co-founder, Cure Bio Tech, China
    2024-03-22
    12:05-12:30
    Developing a thermal stable mRNA RSV vaccine and beyond
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Yuanqing Liu
    CSO China, Immorna Biotherapeutics
    2024-03-22
    09:00 -12:30
    Stream E Vaccine Design/ Innovation
    2024-03-22
    09:00-09:30
    Harnessing germline immune memory for enhancing vaccine efficacy: new molecular mechanisms controlling memory establishment and persistence
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Diana Boraschi
    Distinguished Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    2024-03-22
    09:30-09:55
    Repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens induces exceptionally broad and potent neutralizing immunity to major sarbecoviruses in humans including SARS-CoV-1

    Abstract/Bullet   Point

    Human antibody response to   SARS-CoV-2 has become increasingly complex as new variants continue to emerge   and spread across the world, resulting in multiple waves of breakthrough   infections with distinct antibody potency and breadth. During the outbreak of   Omicron subvariant BF.7 across the major cities in China in late 2022 after   extended lockdown, we have identified two individuals with exceptional plasma   neutralization to a diverse panel of sarbecoviruses including major   SARS-CoV-2 variants, SARS-CoV-1, and ACE-2-using bat and pangolin   coronaviruses. From the two individuals, we have isolated a total of 963   monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and some of which demonstrated exceptionally   broad and potent neutralizing activity to SARS-CoV-1, all SARS-CoV-2 variants   tested including the most recent Omicron subvariant HK3, HV.1, JD.1.1 and   JN.1, as well as ACE-2-using bat and pangolin coronaviruses, resembling that   of corresponding plasma samples. Crystal and cryo-EM structural analysis   revealed some unique features of antibody epitope and recognition. While the   exact underlying mechanism for inducing such broad neutralizing antibodies   remains unknown, it is at least partially attributed to the repeated exposure   of SARS-CoV-2 antigens through both intramuscular and intranasal routes.  Discovery and in-depth analysis of these   broad and potent mAbs serves as the first and important step to inform the   development of next-generation antibody therapeutics and vaccine against   diverse human and animal coronaviruses.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Linqi Zhang
    Professor, Tsinghua University
    2024-03-22
    09:55-10:20
    Rational design of a cross-type HPV vaccine through immunodominance shift guided by a cross-neutralizing antibody

    In vaccine development, broadly or cross-type neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs or cnAbs) are frequently targeted to enhance protection. Utilizing immunodominant antibodies could help fine-tune vaccine immunogenicity and augment the precision of immunization strategies. However, the methodologies to capitalize on the attributes of bnAbs in vaccine design have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we discovered a cross-type neutralizing monoclonal antibody, 13H5, against human papillomavirus 6 (HPV6) and HPV11. This nAb exhibited a marked preference for HPV6, demonstrating superior binding activity to virus-like particles (VLPs) and significantly higher prevalence in anti-HPV6 human serum as compared to HPV11 antiserum (90% vs. 31%). Through co-crystal structural analysis of the HPV6 L1 pentamer:13H5 complex, we delineated the epitope as spanning four segments of amino acids (Phe42-Ala47, Gly172-Asp173, Glu255-Val275, and Val337-Tyr351) on the L1 surface loops. Further interaction analysis and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the Ser341 residue in the HPV6 HI loop plays a critical role in the interaction between 13H5 and L1. Substituting Ser341 with alanine, which is the residue type present in HPV11 L1, almost completely abolished binding activity to 13H5. By swapping amino acids in the HPV11 HI loop with corresponding residues in HPV6 L1 (Ser341, Thr338, and Thr339), we engineered chimeric HPV11-6HI VLPs. Remarkably, the chimeric HPV11-6HI VLPs shifted the high immunodominance of 13H5 from HPV6 to the engineered VLPs and yielded comparable neutralization titers for both HPV6 and HPV11 in mice and non-human primates. This approach paves the way for the design of broadly protective vaccines from antibodies within the main immunization reservoir.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Shaowei Li
    Professor, Xiamen University
    2024-03-22
    10:20-10:45
    Novel vaccine development
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Aldo Tagliabue
    Chief Scientist, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    2024-03-22
    10:45-11:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    11:00-11:15
    Strengthening Innovation in Vaccine R&D for Global Health Access

    Using innovative technology platforms, Hilleman Laboratories provides end-to-end product development solutionsirom concept to cGMP and Phase ll clinical development for affordable, high-value vaccines and biologics. lts latesticapability in GiP manufacturing of vaccines and biologics is able to pivot to manufacture vaccines for emergencyuse during pandemics. This is enabled through its modular, nimble and clever design which allows the facility toremain platfiorm-agnostic and product-independent. Leveraging various manufacturing platfomms for productinnovation, Hilleman Labs is committed to strengthening innovation in vaccine research and development for globahealth impact.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Raman Rao
    CEO, Hilleman Laboratories
    2024-03-22
    11:15-11:40
    Genetically engineered innovative bacterial vaccines
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Rong Xu
    CSO, Delonix Bioworks, China
    2024-03-22
    11:40-12:05
    Broad spectrum influenza vaccine : challenges and progresses
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Yuelong Shu
    Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology,CAMS & PUMC
    2024-03-22
    12:05-12:30
    B-cell responses in vaccinated people versus infected ones

    mRNA   vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 results in polyclonal antibody responses that   differ in antigen-specific breadth compared to viral infection, but it is   still unclear to what extent vaccine- and infection-induced B cell responses   differ at a B cell clonal level. We used a highly multiplexed panel of   DNA-tagged antigens including full SARS-CoV-2 Spike, S1, S2, receptor binding   domain (RBD), and nucleoprotein (N), as well as RBDs from up to 21 viral   variants to simultaneously label and sort over 5,000 antigen-binding B cells   from peripheral blood of 17 mRNA vaccinees, 28 infected patients and the   spleen and lymph nodes from the mediastinum and mesentery of 22 deceased   organ donors. Integrated analysis of single-cell tranome, BCR heavy and   light chain sequences identified an activated B cell phenotype found almost   exclusively in infected patients, and a highly enriched antigen-binding   memory B cell subset with evidence of recent germinal centre exposure. mRNA   vaccination stimulates a subset of BCR clonotypes preferentially, resulting   in greater antigen binding breadth. Secondary lymphoid tissues show   corresponding B cell phenotypes and similar antigenic variant breadth of   binding in donors who had been vaccinated versus infected prior to death.   Antigen-specific and convergent B cell and plasma cell clonal frequencies in   the bone marrow were greater in infected compared to vaccinated individuals,   particularly for RBD binders. These results systematically define human blood   and lymphoid tissue responses that differ following exposure to highly   similar spike antigens delivered by mRNA vaccination compared to infection.   Multiplexed DNA-tagged panel analysis of specific B cells will provide a   massive increase in throughput for human immunology studies in a variety of   disease and therapeutic contexts. 

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Fan Yang
    Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS
    2024-03-22
    09:00 -12:30
    Stream D-Novel Vaccine Development
    2024-03-22
    09:00-09:50
    Next generation pneumococcal vaccines
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    George Siber
    Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School Visiting Researcher, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences President, Siber Biotechnologies LLC
    2024-03-22
    09:50-10:20
    WuXi Vaccines, Enabling Partners with Evolving and Continually Innovative Platforms
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Yao Pan
    MSAT lead, Wuxi Vaccine
    2024-03-22
    10:20-10:40
    New Strategies for Vaccine Immunization Evaluation System——ReadVac scRNA-seq Service Technology Platform for Vaccine Evaluation
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Chongyang Liang
    Prof., Jilin University;Scientific Advisor, ProMab Forethought;
    2024-03-22
    10:40-11:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    11:00-11:15
    The thermophilic filamentous fungus, C1 - an extraordinary platform for the production of prophylactics for humans and animals
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Ronen Tchelet
    CSO, Dyadic International
    2024-03-22
    11:15-11:40
    Pharmaceutical Research of immunoprophylaxis for antimicrobial resistant superbug
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Quanming Zou
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    2024-03-22
    11:40-12:00
    Helicobacter pylori vaccine development
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Fan Fan
    Vice president of Chengdu Olymvax Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Head of Olymvax R&D institution
    2024-03-22
    12:00-12:20
    Development of polyvalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal diseases
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Jeff Zhu
    CEO, Ruizhou Bio
    2024-03-22
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream I Clinical Trial, Market Access
    2024-03-22
    13:30-14:00
    Development of a monovalent XBB.1.5 mRNA Vaccine in China

     During the Covid-19 pandemic, a mRNA research, development and production capabilities were established to develop mRNA Covid-19 vaccine and resulted in the first authorized monovalent XBB.1.5 mRNA vaccine in China. This presentation will highlight the journey of developing a safe and efficacious vaccine to prevent COVID-19 caused by newly emerged SAS-COVID-2 virus variants. 

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Andrew Wong
    General Manager, Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology, China
    2024-03-22
    14:00-14:20
    Vaccine Clinical Trial Strategy in SEA Market
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    John Mo
    General Manager, Shanghai SDM
    2024-03-22
    14:20-14:40
    Overseas vaccine registration process and declaration information requirements
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Yan Liu
    CEO, MEDLEADER
    2024-03-22
    14:40-15:10
    Evaluation on mucosal respiratory COVID -19 vaccines in clinical trials

    1.     Safety and immunogenicity of an orally inhaled adv5 vectored COVID -19 vaccine

    2.     Immunogenicity of the orally inhaled adv5 vectored COVID -19 vaccine using as a booster in primed population

    3.     Efficacy of the orally inhaled adv5 vectored COVID -19 vaccine using as a booster

    4.     Environmental impact assessment for the use of the orally inhaled adv5 vectored COVID -19 vaccine in clinics

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Jingxin Li
    Deputy Department Head, Jiangsu CDC, China
    2024-03-22
    15:10-15:40
    Randomized double blind Clinical Trial on Covid-19 vaccine

    SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the coronavirus family and is a pathogen that can spread across races and easily cause respiratory diseases. The symptoms of the disease caused by the virus are mainly fever, cough and dyspnea, and imaging changes accompanied by patchy diffuse infiltration of the lungs. The symptoms of the disease caused by the virus are mainly fever, cough and dyspnea, and imaging changes accompanied by patchy diffuse infiltration of the lungs. Genome sequencing analysis indicated that the virus is different from any known virus. WHO named the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the disease caused by the virus was named COVID - 19. WHO listed the epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern. Prof. Dr. M. Raza Shah lead Phase 1 trial of Sinopham vaccine in Pakistan and also remained country PI of phase-3 clinical trial of mRNA based vaccine. He will be talking about both trial in the conference and will be sharing his experiencing and some results.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Raza Shah
    Professor and Director University of Karachi, Bangladash
    2024-03-22
    15:40-16:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    16:00-16:30
    Regulatory strategy to accelerate vaccine approval (TBC)
    2024-03-22
    16:30-16:45
    Driving R&D towards global public health and health equity for Vaccine: RIGHT foundation’s approach

    The RIGHT Foundation is a research funding agency dedicated to supporting global health research and development (R&D), established with of goal of providing a platform to catalyse collaborations between Korean and international researchers and partners to develop essential health technologies as global public goods. The presenstation will discuss about how RIGHT Foundation provides overview of how RIGHT Foundation support the R&D on vaccine to improve global health equity in the area of vaccine

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Hoon Sang Lee
    Chief Strategy Officer, RIGHT Foundation, Korea
    2024-03-22
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream H Adjuvant/Mucosal/Delivery
    2024-03-22
    13:30-14:00
    QS-21 for Advanced Adjuvants and its impact on modern vaccines
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Hao Wang
    CEO vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLC
    VIF World 2024
    Damian Hiley
    Director, Desert King International
    2024-03-22
    14:00-14:25
    Evolution of flagellin adjuvant towards clinical application
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Joon Haeng Rhee
    Professor, Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea
    2024-03-22
    14:25-14:50
    Interferons and inflammasomes in adjuvant induced immune responses

    The presentation will address the mode of action of polymeric vaccine adjuvants, focusing on how the physicochemical properties of the particle/polymer regulate innate and adaptive immune responses.  There will be a focus on recent work showing roles for canonical and noncanonical inflammasomes and nucleic acid sensors in adjuvanticity.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Ed Lavelle
    Professor, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
    2024-03-22
    14:50-15:15
    Mucosal adjuvants
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Elizabeth Norton
    Associate Professor,Tulane University, USA
    2024-03-22
    15:15-15:40
    Advances in adjuvants, protein expression, and delivery technologies continue to give protein vaccines the edge; Advax-CpG adjuvant

    The development of safe and effective vaccines is a key requirement to conquering pandemic and other infectious disease threats as well as potentially offering treatments for chronic diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. After a surge of innovation approximately 50 years ago with introduction of the first recombinant protein and polysaccharide conjugates vaccines and adjuvants based on squalene oil emulsions and saponins, the field became relatively quiet in respect of innovations. All that changed with the COVID-19 pandemic which arguably has seen the greatest number of new vaccine technology innovations introduced all in just a few years, including approval of mRNA, DNA and adenoviral vector delivery approaches, new combination adjuvants, and use of structural modelling approaches using artificial intelligence and nanotechnology-based analytical techniques to design more stable vaccine antigens. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of ongoing innovation in the vaccine field.  This current wave of innovation is spilling over into other vaccine programs, including new and improved vaccines against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, plus treatments for allergy, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. This talk will highlight these transformative innovations, particularly relating to Vaxine’s Advax-CpG adjuvant and how this is transforming the future for protein-based vaccines.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Nikolai Petrovsky
    Founder, Vaxine, Australia
    2024-03-22
    15:40-15:55
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    15:55-16:20
    Intranasal vaccination can build effective mucosal immunity wall against Omicron infection

    We generated a replication-incompetent recombinant adenovirus type 5, Ad5-S-Omicron and evaluated in an IIT to test intranasal vaccination in people who had inactivated vaccines. The vaccine is safe and well-tolerated without any SAEs. All participants who completed 2 doses remained no infection between Dec.2022 to April 2023. Nasal mucosal lining fluids collected after intranasal booster contained secretary IgA (sIgA) that can bind to at least 10 spike proteins of Omicron subvariants and pre-Omicron strains. Instillation of nasal lavage fluids into mouse nostril conferred protection against Omicron challenge. We found that nasal sIgA is over 100-fold more potent than serum IgG in neutralizing Omicron subvariant XBB. Intranasal booster using Ad5-S-Omicron can establish an effective immunity wall against infection of Omicron subvariants. We also developed a rapid and convenient assay to detect nasal sIgA for predicting the risk of infection.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Ling Chen
    PI, Guangzhou Laboratory
    2024-03-22
    16:20-16:45
    TLR5 pathway-based mucosal adjuvant for design of subunit mucosal vaccines

    Respiratory mucosa is the first barrier to prevent the invasion of various respiratory viruses. On the other hand, respiratory mucosa becomes a main portal for the invasion and infection of respiratory viruses. Fortifying the frontier of respiratory tract with enhanced mucosal immune defense is critical for prevention against respiratory virus invasion, infection and transmission. Intranasal (i.n.) immunization can induce local mucosal IgA antibody and T cell responses besides comprehensive systemic immune response. Flagellin, as a TLR5 agonist, is an established mucosal adjuvant for enhancing mucosal IgA responses by i.n. immunization. Nasal epithelial cells (NECs) are the first sentinel cells to be exposed to antigen and play an important role in the mucosal adjuvant activity of flagellin. We found that the flagellin-activated NECs functionally modulate airway DCs and convey the regulation for enhancement of IgA production. Based on the TLR5 activity of flagellin, we constructed a series of recombinant flagellin for development of mucosal adjuvants. A subunit mucosal vaccine targeting the phosphoprotein (P) of RSV was developed by integrating the target immunogen into flagellin frame for inducing mucosal immune responses against virus infection by i.n. immunization. We also designed a multi-valent chimeric triple-RBD immunogen 3R-NC, which can elicits broad-spectrum immune responses and potent mucosal immune responses, especially the mucosal IgA antibody responses in the upper-respiratory tract by i.n. immunization. The immune responses confer protection against viral infection in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, indicting potential for prevention against infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Huimin Yan
    Professor, Fudan University
    2024-03-22
    16:45-17:00
    Engineered design of mucus penetration nanoparticles for inhalable vaccines

    Mucosal drug delivery has gained significant attention due to its advantages over traditional injection, e.g., convenience and avoidance of blood-borne diseases. During mucosal administration, a key factor that must be considered is the mucus barrier. Various surface modification strategies, including PEG and zwitterionic polymer, have been explored for mucus-penetrating carriers. However, the microenvironment of mucus varies under different physiological or pathological conditions, and the influence of surface properties of nanoparticles on their mucus penetration in various microenvironments remains unclear. In our study, we have prepared a comprehensive library of amine-, carboxyl-, and PEG-modified nanoparticles with controlled surface ligand densities. We demonstrated that surface properties are critical factors in determining their mucus penetration, which is affected by the mucus pH microenvironments, the type of surface modification, and the ligand density of NPs. PEG- and amine-modified particles exhibited pH-independent immobilization under iso-density conditions, while carboxyl-modified particles exhibited enhanced movement only in weakly alkaline mucus. Biophysical analysis indicated that the penetration behavior was mediated by the NP-mucin interaction, including electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond. Based on these mechanistic insights, we have engineered mucosal vaccine delivery nanoparticles. In a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine model, these particles have been shown to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses, leading to the production of antigen-specific IgA in mucosal compartments and IgG in the serum. Our study reveals the underlying mechanisms of mucus penetration and provides valuable insights for the rational design of prophylactic and therapeutic mucosal vaccines.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Bingbing Sun
    Professor, Dalian University of Technology, China
    2024-03-22
    17:00-17:15
    Innovative and High-Performing Lipids for mRNA Delivery

    mRNA vaccines are a new class of vaccines that have been used in the COVID-19 pandemic. In the post-COVID-19 era, mRNA will show great potential in various preventive and therapeutic vaccines. The efficient delivery technology of mRNA is the core technology and lipid nanoparticle obtained great success in COVID-19. However, the present technology is far from ideal. It suffers from low protein expression and non-specific expression in the liver, leading to the safety risk of vaccination. In this talk, I will present a powerful strategy to modulate ionizable lipids for LNP application by multi-component reaction. A large IL toolbox was established simply and efficiently, allowing us to identify the top-performing ILs in delivering mRNA. We established a novel delivery platform for mRNA application with high expression and organ selectivity as well as high safety. 

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Yongming Chen
    Professor, Sun Yat-sen University
    2024-03-22
    17:15-17:30
    Synthetic lipopeptides as vaccine adjuvants
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Haibo Li
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    2024-03-22
    17:30-18:00
    Adjuvant& delivery technology
    2024-03-22
    13:30 -18:00
    Stream G Novel Vaccine Development
    2024-03-22
    13:30-14:00
    HIV Vaccine:Update, Immune CoP and Impact

    Despite progress in HIV diagnosis rates, linkage to care and treatment, and the increasing availability of chemoprophylaxis, an estimated 1·5 million new HIV infections occurred in 2021 worldwide. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine remains an important objective toward ending the HIV epidemic. I will provide an update on the global effort of HIV vaccine development and more specifically the results of HVTN 124, a phase 1, placebo-controlled safety and immunogenicity trial evaluating a vaccine consisting of polyvalent, multi-subtype, DNA plasmids with matching adjuvanted gp120 proteins (polyvalent DNA-protein HIV vaccine, PDPHV). In addition to the excellent safety profile, PDPHV demonstrated excellent immunogenicity outcomes including a combination of both magnitude and breadth. These immune responses compared very favorably to those observed in contemporaneous early-phase vaccine candidate studies and were of magnitudes that exceeded those associated with vaccine protection in efficacy trials. Further evaluation of this combination in larger trials with more robust statistical methods is warranted.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Shan Lu
    Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)
    2024-03-22
    14:00-14:25
    An update of vaccine development on Heptatis E
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    James Wai Kuo Shih
    Senior Advisor, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, China
    2024-03-22
    14:25-14:50
    lnvestigation of virus-like structure vaccine based on technological strategy of lipid delivery
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Qihan Li
    Professor, Weirui Bio, China
    2024-03-22
    14:50-15:15
    Combination vaccine development
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Kutub Mahmood
    Scientific Director at PATH, USA
    2024-03-22
    15:15-15:35
    Development of in vitro - assembled multivalent VLP vaccine for norovirus infection

    Introduction

    Human noroviruses are the primary viral pathogens causing acute gastroenteriis worldwidc, lcading to a considerable economic burdenWhile the development of a norovirus vaccine has been regarded as significant, any vaccine has not been licensed yet. An effecive norovirusvaccine development has been dificul due to the wide genetic and antigenic diversity of noroviruses and the co-circulalion of multiple variants ofvarious genotypes. In the context of this diversity, effective vaccine must elicit broad protective immunity

    Results

    We confirmed high-eficient soluble expression of the recombinant VP1 proteins in E. col and the improvements in purity andhomogeneity of the norovirus VP1-based VPs assembled in viro. The trivalent norovirus VP vaccine candidates showed excellent immuneresponses with 2-dose administralions in the animal studies and the vaccine candidate-induced antibodies showed the ability to block the bindingof norovirus VLPs and HBGA. Furthermore, GLP-based toxicology and pharmacology data sets confrmed that VLP vaccine candidates did notinduce any unexpected toxicity or pharmacological outcomes associated with CNS, respiratory or cardiology aspects

    Conclusion

    The results demonstrate that E. col-derived norovirus VLPs enable mass and rapid production of norovirus vaccines. Moreover, in vitroassembly of purified VP1 proteins faclitated production of high quality VLP vaccine candidates with high homogeneity and low impurities, whichmight result in increased efficacy and reduced side effects. The results in preclinical studies suggest that the E. col-derived trivalent VlP has apotential as a norovirus vaccine candidate with high efficacy and safety. Thus, this study supports that the E.col-derived & self-assemblednorovirus VLPs are worthy to proceed into clinical study for further development as a vaccine candidate.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Deog-Young Choi
    CEO, InThera, South Korea
    2024-03-22
    15:35-16:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-22
    16:00-16:20
    Progress toward AIDS vaccines

    Without an effective vaccine, AIDS remains an infectious disease that has a huge impact on global public health. An important feature of HIV is the high level of genetic diversity which results in up to 30% difference in the amino acid sequences of the envelope glycoprotein among HIV-1 subtypes. Importantly, the viral evolution within infected individuals is faster than the development of potent neutralizing antibodies in the same infected individuals. These observations pose a huge challenge to the development of effective AIDS vaccines. Since the viruses among different HIV-1-infected individuals are highly divergent, a vaccine that cannot elicit broadly reactive immune responses will not be able to control infections by diverse HIV-1 variants. Therefore, developing an AIDS vaccine that can induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is a key objective that needs to be achieved urgently. Our previous results showed the requirement of several years for bnAbs to mature, the key role of genetic variation of HIV-1 in bnAb production, and the importance to efficiently trigger proper unmutated common ancestors of bnAbs. Our recent studies indicate that the neutralizing strength and breadth of vaccine-induced antibody responses can be improved by the modification of envelope glycoprotein trimers to increase their stability, the sequential immunization mimicking natural infection, and the nanoparticle vaccine technology. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the evolutionary pathways of HIV-1 and further optimization of immunization regimens can accelerate the development of effective AIDS vaccines.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Feng Gao
    Professor & Director, Jinan University
    2024-03-22
    16:40-17:00
    Vaccination with Span, an antigen guided by SARS-CoV-2 S protein evolution, protects against challenge with viral variants in mice

    SARS-CoV-2 continues to accumulate mutations to evade immunity, leading to breakthrough infections after vaccination. How researchers can anticipate the evolutionary trajectory of the virus in advance in the design of next-generation vaccines requires investigation. Here, we performed a comprehensive study of 11,650,487 SARS-CoV-2 sequences, which revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein evolved not randomly but into directional paths of either high infectivity plus low immune resistance or low infectivity plus high immune resistance. The viral infectivity and immune resistance of variants are generally incompatible, except for limited variants such as Beta and Kappa. The Omicron variant has the highest immune resistance but showed high infectivity in only one of the tested cell lines. To provide cross-clade immunity against variants that undergo diverse evolutionary pathways, we designed a new pan-vaccine antigen (Span). Span was designed by analysing the homology of 2675 SARS-CoV-2 S protein sequences from the NCBI database before the Delta variant emerged. The refined Span protein harbors high-frequency residues at given positions that reflect cross-clade generality in sequence evolution. Compared with a prototype wild-type (Swt) vaccine, which, when administered to mice, induced serum with decreased neutralization activity against emerging variants, Span vaccination of mice elicited broad immunity to a wide range of variants, including those that emerged after our design. Moreover, vaccinating mice with a heterologous Span booster conferred complete protection against lethal infection with the Omicron variant. Our results highlight the importance and feasibility of a universal vaccine to fight against SARS-CoV-2 antigenic drift.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Ke Xu
    Professor, Wuhan University
    2024-03-23
    09:00 -12:00
    Stream J Veterinary Vaccine
    2024-03-23
    09:00-09:30
    Developing a ‘One Health’ Nipah virus vaccine to protect animal and public health

     To support efforts to develop vaccines to combat emerging viral zoonoses, we are developing a Nipah virus (NiV) vaccine for use in pigs, which would reduce the risk that NiV poses to the Asian pig industry, livestock keepers and public health. Pig-to-human transmission was responsible for the first and most severe NiV outbreak. This outbreak caused severe and lasting economic costs to the Malaysian pig industry. Despite the threat NiV poses to some of the most pig dense regions of the world, no vaccines are currently available. We have therefore evaluated the immunogenicity of recombinant NiV glycoprotein (G or F) based vaccine candidates delivered as protein subunits or by viral or mRNA vectors in pigs. Three vaccine candidates have been evaluated for efficacy and shown to confer a high degree of protection following a prime-boost regimen. In addition to providing a platform for the development of a NiV vaccine for pigs, we hope these studies will also benefit ongoing human vaccine development efforts. Two scenarios are envisaged for how a NiV vaccine for pigs could be deployed: (1) as part of a government vaccine bank and used in an outbreak situation; consequently, a vaccine that provides a rapid onset of immunity after a single immunisation would be preferable, and (2) incorporated into routine vaccination programmes to reduce the risk of NiV outbreaks occurring; a dual purpose/bivalent vaccine would make this a more financially viable approach. We are evaluating an approach to address the requirements for both scenarios i.e., a single dose NiV vaccine that could also be used as a bivalent vaccine. We hypothesised that a single immunisation with live attenuated pseudorabies virus (PrV) expressing both NiV G and F will induce protective responses. Live attenuated PrV strains are highly efficacious vaccines that can be recombined to encode heterologous antigens from other pathogens, thus making live attenuated PrV an ideal candidate for a multivalent vaccine vector. Since PrV vaccination is widely practiced across the NiV-endemic region, there is the potential that a PrV vaccine expressing NiV glycoproteins could be routinely used to establish NiV immunity in Asian pigs.  We engineered the attenuated PrV Bartha strain to express NiV G and F. Immunisation of pigs with this recombinant PrV induced neutralising antibody titres following the booster immunisation comparable to previously tested vaccine candidates. PrV-specific responses were comparable to those elicited by wild type PrV Bartha immunisation. Further studies are now required to determine the efficacy against both NiV and PrV.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Simon Graham
    Professor, The Pirbright Institute, UK
    2024-03-23
    09:30-10:00
    The Importance of specific antibodies in the Development of VLP based vaccines

    In this lecture,taking foot-and-mouth disease as an example,  speaker will propose the thinking of quality control of virus-like particle vaccine by introducing the necessity and significance of the research and development of foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles. With the advantages of nanobodies, the specific nanobodies for virus-like particles were screened, and the site recognition characteristics were used to establish an immunological method for the quantification of virus-like particles, which achieved the objective, accurate and rapid goal of the quality control of FMD new vaccines. At the same time, the neutralization characteristics of specific nanobodies were used to further track the neutralization mechanism and specific neutralization sites, providing a theoretical and preliminary basis for the use of nanobodies as a new prevention and control product.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Huichen Guo
    Professor, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, China
    2024-03-23
    10:00-10:30
    Targeting Chimeric Subunit Vaccines against Porcine Respiratory Pathogens

    Three chimeric subunit vaccines was developed using reverse vaccinology (RV) technique by Reber. The recombinant proteins chosen for the three vaccines contains multi-epitopes from the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. PRRSV-negative piglets vaccinated with PRRSQ subunit vaccines demonstrated significantly lower (P < 0.05) mean rectal temperatures, respiratory scores, lung lesions and PRRSV nucleic acid level within interstitial pneumonia, as well as reduced type 1, type 2 PRRSV and HP-PRRSV viremia compared to unvaccinated pigs after challenge. Vaccination with PRRSQ also induced PRRSV-specific INF-g cellular immunity and complement neutralizing antibody in pigs. Vaccination with chimeric subunit vaccines of Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae also significantly reduce porcine arthritis polyserositis, and  pneumonia. The data presented supports the claims that the commercialized novel sub-unit vaccines are effective tools in the control of heterologous PRRS viruses and mycoplasma. This chimeric fusion platform has also proven to be effective in controlling and eliminating respiratory pathogens of immunosupressive diseases in advanced mammals such as porcine and human.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Frank Chang
    CSO, Reber Genetics, China
    2024-03-23
    10:30-11:00
    茶歇
    2024-03-23
    11:00-11:30
    mRNA based vaccine development for animal diseases
    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Caiyi Fei
    Co-founder& VP, Therarna
    2024-03-23
    11:30-12:00
    Next-Generation High-Yield Baculovirus/Insect Cell Protein Expression System—qBac® Bacmid

    The qBac® baculovirus/insect cell protein expression system has been engineered with gene knockouts that impact protein yield, incorporates siRNA to inhibit host cell apoptosis, and features fine-tuned expression levels of tranion factors. This has resulted in a suite of robust and distinctive protein expression solutions centered around the baculovirus expression vector, significantly enhancing the expression of exogenous proteins to 1-5 g/L.

    In the vaccine industry (particularly subunit vaccines), we leverage the systemic advantages of the qBac® Bacmid to support a comprehensive five-in-one technology platform, which includes gene-engineered subunit vaccines, peptide/epitope vaccines, gene-deleted vaccines, nucleic acid vaccines, and live vector vaccines. This platform underpins our strategic deployment in animal vaccine product lines, including livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and pet vaccines.

    Speaker
    VIF World 2024
    Xiaodong Xu
    Prof., Northwest A&F University
    Opening Remark
    Plenary Panel:Next-generation vaccine technologies: innovations and challenges
    VIF World 2024
    Shan Lu
    Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)
    Plenary Panel: Equitable access to vaccines: overcoming barriers and bridging Gaps
    VIF World 2024
    Jiguo Zhang
    President, Vaccine Division, Fosun Pharma

    Graduated from Peking University School of Medicine, and National School of Development at Peking University, Jeffrey Zhang has deep insights in the fields of vaccines, while having extensive experience in business management, strategy and investment. He has successively served as the head of Pfizer’s New Business Development in China, General Manager of Emerging Business Department of GSK China/Vice President of Emerging Market Strategy, as well as the Vice President of Strategy of WuXi/Vice President of WuXi Vaccine Business.

    VIF World 2024
    Raman Rao
    CEO, Hilleman Laboratories

    Dr. Raman Rao joined as the Chief Executive Officer at Hilleman Laboratories in February 2020. Dr. Rao has more than two decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines for infectious diseases in global pharma and biotech companies. Prior to joining Hilleman Laboratories, Dr. Rao served as the Vice President of Global Product Operations with Takeda, Singapore, where he enhanced the global product portfolio while successfully leading an international team across Japan, Singapore and the United States. The teams worked in the areas of dengue, norovirus, zika, polio and other vaccines.

    Dr. Rao started his career in 2002 with Shantha Biotechnics Limited, part of Sanofi Aventis Group in India, in Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs. He holds a MD in Medical Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

    He plans to carry forward Dr. Maurice Hilleman’s legacy for providing effective solutions for global health, especially those impacting low- and middle-income countries.


    VIF World 2024
    Jian Dong
    CEO, WuXi Vaccines; SVP, WuXi Biologics

    Mr. Jian Dong has 35 years’ experience in biopharma manufacturing, quality management and facility construction.

    Joining WuXi Biologics in 2014, he is CEO of WuXi Vaccines and SVP of WuXi Biologics, previously SVP and Head of Global Manufacturing and Head of Global Engineering of WuXi Biologics responsible for the management and R&D of biological drug clinical and commercial manufacturing and construction of production facilities.

    Mr. Dong has led team passing China’s first FDA PLI and EMA GMP inspection and obtaining approval of WuXi Biologics DS and DP manufacturing facilities as well as the design, construction, validation and delivery of various R&D centers and manufacturing sites of WuXi Biologics worldwide.

    Before WuXi Biologics, he was Deputy Chief Engineer in Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products, Senior Process Engineer in Eli Lilly & Co., U.S., VP of Manufacturing and VP of Quality in Shanghai Celgen Biopharma, Deputy General Manager in UBPL and Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology, Unilab’s subsidiary. During his tenure in China before joining WuXi Biologics, he made significant contribution to the approval of one NDA, four BLA and four GMP licenses, including the technical transfer of MSD’s recombinant hepatitis B vaccine to China.

    VIF World 2024
    Meng Li
    Director of International Cooperation, Sinopharm CNBG

    Meng LI has been leading the International business team of CNBG since 2013, oversees CNBG’s international cooperation and registration activities. She also serves on the board of CNBG-Virogen, and the board of Emerging Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturers Network (EBPMN). During her 19 year experiences in biological industry, she established extensive networks with academia, NGOs, enterprises internationally, and successfully completed a number of landmark projects. Including the bOPV capacity expansion and prequalification program with BMGF (received over 23Million USD financial supports from BMGF, prequalified by WHO in 2019), establishment of CNBG’s first JV with foreign enterprise, the first overseas acquisition by CNBG, roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine PhIII trials in 6 countries and its registration in over 100 countries. Meng Li has successfully signed a number of in-license, research cooperation, commercialization and industrialization projects with NIH, Oxford, France Institut Pasteur, PATH, IVI, biotech companies and developing country manufacturers. She worked as temporary advisor to WHO inspectorate during WHO’s first inspection to China NMPA in 2010, and was elected as the executive committee member of DCVMN from 2014-2016.


    Keynote: The transformation of vaccinology: recent achievements and future prospects
    VIF World 2024
    Michel De Wilde
    Owner, MDW Consultant,LLC, Former SVP of R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, USA

    Michel De Wilde holds a PhD in Biochemistry and has a long and successful career in Vaccine Research and Development. He currently consults for the vaccine community and is member of several Scientific Advisory Boards

    From  2001 till June 2013, Michel De Wilde was Senior Vice President, Research & Development, at sanofi pasteur where he drove the development and licensure  of a number of products.

     

    From 1978 till 2000, De Wilde was at SmithKline Beecham Biologicals (now GSK Vaccines) where he held positions of increasing responsibility. He played a key role in the development of several new vaccines, most notably the recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine, as well as GSK’s Malaria vaccine.

     


    Keynote: Advancing global health through vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Simon Draper
    Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine , University of Oxford
    Simon Draper is Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford. He was based at the Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine from 2005 until Feb 2021 when he moved his laboratory to the Department of Biochemistry. The group's clinical team are based at the University's Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM) on the Churchill Hospital site. The Draper Lab study vaccine-induced immunity, with a particular focus on antibody immunology and human malaria infection. A critical strength of the group is a strong dual focus on preclinical vaccine development in parallel with early-phase clinical vaccine testing and experimental medicine studies. In particular, the group's research interests span: strategies for improved vaccine antigen identification; development of improved vaccine delivery strategies; assessment of quantitative antibody correlates of protective immunity; and assessment of human vaccine-induced antibody responses to guide structure-based immunogen design and to better understand protective mechanisms of immunity.
    Hexavalent rotavirus vaccine development
    VIF World 2024
    Gelin Xu
    Senior expert,Wuhan Institute of Biological Products ltd co.

    Dr. Xu Gelin, senior  expert of  Wuhan Institute of Biological Products (WIBP), experienced on vaccine development for nearly 40 years. 

    Intranasal immunization: device and formulation promises and challenges
    VIF World 2024
    Nektaria Karavas
    Global BD Director, Aptar Pharma
    Nektaria Karavas is the Global Director of Business Development for Nasal Vaccines, Antivirals and Immuno-stimulants at Aptar Pharma. Ms. Karavas joined Aptar Pharma in 2004 and has held various commercial roles executing long-term strategy within key customer and global accounts in North America focusing on nasal drug delivery. She has contributed to multiple nasal development programs, supported commercial scale up and product launches for New Drug Applications (NDA) using an Aptar delivery device for key pharmaceutical clients across different therapeutic indications. Nektaria holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, Montreal, Canada
    VIF World 2024
    Julie D. Suman
    Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Aptar Pharma
    Dr. Julie D. Suman is the Vice President of Scientific Affairs for Aptar Pharma. She manages strategic scientific planning and Aptar’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Suman is also the co-founder of Next Breath. She holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from Duquesne University (1996) and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (2002). Dr. Suman serves on the External Advisory Committee of the New South Wales RNA Production and Research Network. In addition, she is a co-editor for Respiratory Drug Delivery Proceedings, an international symposium, and an an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Suman is the Past-Chair of the AAPS Inhalation Technology Focus Group. Dr. Suman is also a member of the Parental Drug Association Visible Particulate Taskforce. She is a licensed Maryland pharmacist. Dr. Suman has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and has been presented during podium sessions at international meetings, the FDA Topics in Bioequivalence Seminar Series and has been an invited speaker at ANVISA in Brazil. Dr. Suman’s doctoral research, which focused on the relationship between in vitro tests for nasal sprays and in vivo deposition, has been recognized for excellence by a research award presented at the International Society for Aerosols in Medicine, 2001. In 2008, Dr. Suman received an award from the Greater Baltimore Committee for Entrepreneurial Spirit.
    The development of mRNA 2.0 vaccines in HealiRNA Biotechnology
    VIF World 2024
    Zhong Chen
    Vice President, Suzhou HealiRNA Biotechnology
    Doctor of Pharmacy, Postdoctoral Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill, USA. During his academic career, he was awarded the title of Associated Professor. Presided over and/or participated in a number of National Natural Science Foundation projects and national Science and Technology major projects for new drug development, and participated in the successful marketing of small molecule innovative drugs. He has published 20 academic papers in international journals and authorized 10 Chinese invention patents. In the past 5 years, he has focused on the development and industrialization of nucleic acid drug delivery vectors (mRNA, siRNA) and nucleic acid medicinal chemistry, and has applied for a number of PCT patents. He has accumulated a lot of industrialization experience in nucleic acid drug project selection, delivery vector development and CMC research.
    Innovations in end-to-end mRNA vaccine research, development and manufacturing: Progress and Partnerships of the mRNA Technology Development and Transfer programme
    VIF World 2024
    Petro Terblanche
    CEO, Afrigen Biologics, South Africa
    Professor Petro Terblanche has a successful track record in the strategic and operational management of technology intensive organizations. She has played a key part in the design and implementation of South Africa’s biotechnology strategy. She holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics (Pty)Ltd based in Cape Town, South Africa. Afrigen hosts the WHO Global mRNA technology development and transfer Hub and has a mRNA Covid 19 vaccine candidate in development as part of a global program to build capacity and capabilities in LMICs to design, develop and produce mRNA vaccines. Prof Terblanche is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and conference papers in public health. Petro holds several Board positions and serves on a number of scientific advisory boards in the public health sector. She was recently acknowledged as one of the legends of science by the Academy of Sciences South Africa.
    Addressing viral manufacturing scalability challenges through fixed-bed bioreactors
    VIF World 2024
    Rimenys Carvalho
    Bioprocess Services Manager,Univercells Technologies
    Rimenys Carvalho is a Biochemical Engineering and PhD in Bioengineering. After more than 10 years working in a academia, he joined Univercells Technologies in 2020 as Bioprocess Specialist, and currently, he is working as a Bioprocess Services Manager.
    茶歇
    RNA & MAP Combining breakthroug Innovations - Towards better preparedness for the next pandemic
    VIF World 2024
    Anna Schlüter
    Head of Formulation and Process Development Microarray Patches at LTS

    Dr. Anna Schlüter is a pharmacist by training and joined LTS in 2016 as formulation scientist for the development of transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) and oral thin films (OTF). Since 2020 she is a lab head in the microarrays patch (MAP) team and responsible for the formulation and process development for collaboration and internal MAP projects. She is experienced in leading multifunctional teams for formulation development and scale-up projects for transdermal delivery systems.


    Regulatory considerations for Microneedle Array Patches (MAPs), as a potential new delivery system for vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Maria Dul
    Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
    Maria, a chemist by training (MSc from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland), completed her PhD in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, working on ‘Engineering an oral delivery system for insulin’. She then moved to Cardiff University and in the last decade her research has predominantly focused on the development of innovative microneedle-based technologies for the delivery of small molecules, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids into the skin. Maria has extensive experience in the microneedle field, having used a range of microneedle prototypes in both pre-clinical and clinical projects. She is currently lead researcher in an international collaboration between key stakeholders (Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) Regulatory Working Group), which aims to advance the regulatory science of microneedle-based dosage forms by informing future guidance and developing standardized test methods for proposed MAP products.
    NtensifyTM technology a novel platform for mRNA vaccine development: case of rabies vaccine.
    VIF World 2024
    Hela Kallel
    Head of Process Development, Quantoom, Belgium
    Hela Kallel worked for more than 20 years at Institute Pasteur de Tunis in Tunisia; she was leading the bioprocess development lab. She worked on process improvement and on the development of vaccines using mainly animal cells and yeasts. In Jan 2020, Hela joined Univercells as a vaccine process development manager. She led the Measles and hepatitis A vaccines projects. In Jan 2022, she moved to mRNA technology and was appointed as the head of Process Development at Quantoom Biosciences. Recently She was nominated as the Head of Co-Development Projects at Univercells. Hela holds a Ph.D in biotechnology obtained at INPL in France.
    Tackling thermostability and biodegradation challenges in mRNA vaccine through rapid onsite microfluidic assembly (ROMA) technology
    VIF World 2024
    Jiang Xu
    Senior Scientiest, Virogin Biotech, China
    Dr. Jiang Xu has served as a senior scientist at Virogin Biotech since 2021, leading the microfluidics group. Prior to this, he worked at Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral and held a PI scientist position at Boston Molecules Inc. Dr. Xu earned his cotutelle Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Bordeaux and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Xu is particularly passionate about the multidisciplinary research of fluid dynamics, soft matter, and biomedical engineering. He has contributed to reputable journals such as Nature Communications, Small, Physical Review Fluids, etc. Notably, his work has garnered recognition from a series of prestigious funding and awards, including Harvard Catalyst Fellowship (2021), European Erasmus Mundus Fellowship (2012, Ph.D.), NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) grant (2020, PI), and Shanghai Rising-Star program (2023, PI).
    Innovating and digitalising mRNA vaccine and therapeutics production platform processes
    VIF World 2024
    Zoltan Kis
    Lecturer, University of Sheffield, UK
    Dr. Zoltán Kis is a Lecturer at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Sheffield, and an Honorary Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. Zoltán is leading a multidisciplinary team that is innovating and digitalising RNA vaccine and therapeutics production platform technologies. His work is addressing the challenges of producing large volumes of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, rapidly, at high quality and at low cost in a disease-agnostic manner. Zoltán has previously worked as a Research Associate in the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub at Imperial College London. He obtained his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, UK, holds an M.Sc. in Applied Biotechnology and a B.Eng. in Chemical with Biochemical Engineering.
    Systems biology based rapid response to emerging infectious diseases -Developing immunotherapeutic interventions
    VIF World 2024
    Kar Muthumani
    CSO, GeneOne Life Science, USA
    Dr. Muthumani has been working on basic immunology and translational science, especially in vaccine and immunotherapy areas. He completed his MS and Ph.D. at the Madurai Kamaraj University and post-doctoral fellowship at the Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA, focused on viral pathogenesis, nucleic acid vaccines, and immune therapies. He has directed a translational research laboratory focusing on synthetic nucleic acid technology to develop novel vaccines and immunotherapies for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases at The Wistar Institute, PA-USA, as part of preclinical studies using small animals and non-human primates and facilitated the translation of several vaccine candidates into the human clinical trials. In addition, he was associated with, as an investigator or co-investigator, several grants, including the prestigious NIH-HVDDT program grant for HIV-1 vaccine development, a highly selective NIH directors translational grant for universal influenza vaccine development, Sponsored Research Agreement grant for studying the virus and host receptor interactions (Dengue, MAYV, POWV, and CHIKV), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), WW Smith grant, and Emerson Collective Cancer Research grant regarding immunotherapeutics. Over the years, his laboratory developed, evaluated, and demonstrated the efficacy of vaccine immunogens for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), ZIKA, Nipah, POWV, MAYV, and SARS-CoV2 virus. Notable was that the synthetic nucleic acid vaccines MERS- Coronavirus (NCT03721718), Zika virus (NCT02887482), and SARS-CoV-2 (NCT04336410) were the first vaccines into human clinical testing. As a significant contributor to the vaccine literature, he has published 128 highly cited peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, with a Google H-index of 39. In addition, the research articles appeared in scholarly journals, awarded 22 patents, and filed 25 patents (total of 47) for the work. Given his stellar scientific background and accomplishments, Dr. Muthumani is uniquely positioned to lead and tackle new challenges for emerging and reemerging diseases of public health importance or relevance.
    Therapeutic DNA vaccine development (TBC)
    VIF World 2024
    David Weiner
    Executive Vice President, The Wistar Institute, USA

    Dr. David Weiner directs a translational research laboratory at The Wistar Institute in the area of Molecular Immunology. His group is one of the pioneering research teams in establishing the field of DNA vaccines and immunotherapies. Important reports from his lab include the first DNA vaccine studied for HIV as well as for cancer immunotherapy, the early development of DNA encoded genetic adjuvants including the particularly relevant IL-12, advances in gene optimization, and advances in electroporation (EP) technologies resulting in improved gene delivery among others. His group worked with collaborators to become the first to move DNA technology into human study. His laboratory’s work helped revitalize the field through advancement of new synthetic DNA design and modification of EP delivery approaches resulting in potent immune induction as well as the first successful Phase IIb DNA efficacy study (for HPV immunotherapy) in humans. Dr. Weiner is the recipient of numerous honors including election as a fellow to both the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2011 and the International Society for Vaccines in 2012. He is the recipient of the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award and received the Vaccine Industry Excellence Award for Best Academic Research Team in 2015 at the World Vaccine Congress. Weiner was honored with the prestigious Hilleman Lectureship in 2015 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Grand Rounds session and received a Stone Family Award from Abramson Cancer Center for his groundbreaking work on DNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. In 2019, Dr. Weiner was honored with the Scientific Achievement Award from Life Sciences PA (LSPA). Dr. Weiner returned to Wistar in 2016 from his position at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. From 1990 to 1993, Weiner held a joint position as assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The Wistar Institute and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Weiner is a co-founder of Inovio Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Weiner graduated with a B.S. in biology from SUNY at Stony Brook, N.Y., a M.S. in biology from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. in developmental biology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

    mRNA vaccines against Clostridium difficile
    VIF World 2024
    Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
    Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania , USA
    mRNA Vaccine : Pandemics and Beyond - for Vaccine Equity
    VIF World 2024
    Kiat Ruxrungtham
    Director of Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chulalongkorn University
    Kiat Ruxrungtham, is a Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; and Scientific Chair of the Chula Vaccine Research Center (ChulaVRC); and Director of the Covid19 Vaccine Development Program, ChulaVRC. He is providing teaching and patient care on Allergy -Clinical Immunology and HIV Medicine at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; and is mentoring junior researchers on HIV medicine at HIVNAT, TRCARC; vaccine and Immunology (at Chula Vaccine Research Center); and also on clinical trials. He is currently leading the Chula-Covid19 mRNA vaccine development program at ChulaVRC. Honors: He has received several awards: 2006 Outstanding Internist Award on Medical Academy, Royal College of Physicians, Thailand 2007 Outstanding Researcher Award, and the Highest Citation Award, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand 2011 Senior Research Scholar Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2011 Outstanding Researcher Award, National Research Council, Thailand 2015 Senior Research Scholar Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2015 Outstanding Research Award, the Thailand Research Fund 2022 A Royal Award “Contributors to the development of the country’s vaccines” from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the 10th Vaccination Conference Publications: He has published more than 370 peer review papers on HIV, immunology, allergy, and vaccine. Contributions to national and international academics and professional organization: 1. Former President of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Association, Thailand (AAIAT) 2. Former President of the Thai AIDS Society (TAS) 3. Co-chair of the Co-chair of the APAACI and APAAAPARI 2018, Bangkok, Thailand 4. Co-chair of the World Allergy Congress 2023, Bangkok, Thailand 5. Chief-editor, Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology (APJAI)
    茶歇
    Vaccine science and design for future pandemic 100 days mission
    VIF World 2024
    Ken Ishii
    Director, International Vaccine Design Center, Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan
    Novel mRNA technology and cancer vaccine development
    VIF World 2024
    Hangwen Li
    CEO, Stemirna, China
    Dr. Hangwen Li holds a Ph.D from MD. Anderson Cancer Center. He was Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Therapy of MD Anderson Cancer Center and successively received grants and awards from the US Department of Defense. He is currently a distinguished researcher of Dongfang Hospital of Tongji University, a member of the Vaccine International Cooperation Promotion Branch of the China Association For Vaccines, and a permanent member of the Nucleic Acid Vaccine Branch of the China Association For Vaccines. Dr. Li has more than 19 years of experience in the field of RNA and cancer immunotherapy. His research fields include tumor immunotherapy, RNA drugs and cancer stem cells. He has published more than 30 SCI articles and publications, and his articles have been cited for more than 3000 times. In 2021, he won the National Science and Technology System's award for Distinguished Individual in Fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic, and in 2022, he won the “Gold Gathering Award” in the Shanghai Global Talents Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. In 2016, Dr. Li returned to China and founded StemiRNA, which is the first company in Asia that focuses on the research and development of innovative mRNA drugs and vaccines. StemiRNA has now developed into a global leader and the first domestic platform innovative drug enterprise for mRNA vaccine and drug research and development in China. Its self-developed lipid polymer nano carrier (LPP) technology platform has been granted patents in Europe, America and other places. StemiRNA’s pipelines include mRNA vaccines and drugs for a series of infectious diseases (including COVID-19, influenza, etc.), tumors, and rare diseases.
    Novel prime-boost strategy with mRNA and intratumoral oncolytic virus therapy for advanced cervical cancer
    VIF World 2024
    Kuan Zhang
    Senior Scientist, Virogin BioTech
    Dr. Kuan Zhang is the Senior Scientist at Virogin BioTech, specializing in anti-cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development. With a Ph.D. and postdoctoral research completed at VIDO-InterVac (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) and OHRI (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute) respectively, she brings extensive expertise to her role in cancer immunotherapy research. Currently, Dr. Zhang leads the mRNA cancer therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic virus discovery pipelines in Virogin's R&D Department. She has received prestigious awards including the National High-Level University Graduate Program for Overseas Study, Mitax Accelerate Internship, Innovation Award from SK Province, and the Shanghai Key Industries Talent Special Award, among others.
    SynNeogen® immunotherapy platform— New strategies for clinical development of therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B and prostate cancer
    VIF World 2024
    Eric Yuenian Shi
    CEO, Chimigen, China
    Over 35 years of experience in biomedical research and development specializing in cancer research and translational medicine. Prior to founding Chimigen Bio, Dr Shi was Co-founder/CEO of OncoVent, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. OncoVent’s leading candidate, Oregovomab, is a First-in-Class cancer immunotherapeutic drug belonging to the therapeutic cancer vaccine, currently in the global phase III stage. He was Vice President of the Academy of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine in Jiangsu Province since 2011. He led 4 research projects sponsored by the China National Science Foundation and 1 cancer early diagnosis research sponsored by the National Key Technology R&D Program for the 12th Five-year Plan of China. Prior to that Dr Shi was a full Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, where he led 12 national research programs funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and American Cancer Society. Dr Shi received his doctorate degree in biochemistry in 1989 at Dartmouth Medical School. Upon graduation from Peking University School of Medicine in 1983, Dr Shi was admitted into CUSBEA (China-U.S. Biochemistry Examination Application), a very selective and competitive program leading to graduate study at Dartmouth.
    Clinical trial of an immunotherapy for the treatment of COVID-19
    VIF World 2024
    Mingi Chang
    R&D Director, Advagene, China
    • Director of Research and Development, Advagene Biopharmaceuticals Inc • Director of Biologics Division, RuenHuei Biopharmaceuticals Inc. • Research Fellow, Protein Drug Project, Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB). • Assistant Professor. Section of Immunology, Department of Medicine, Tzu Chi University
    Inhalable SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for single-dose dry powder aerosol immunization
    VIF World 2024
    Guanghui Ma
    Professor/Academician,Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
    Guanghui Ma is a professor of the State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering (SKLBCE), Institute of Process Engineering (IPE). She is an academician of CAS in China and AIMBE fellow. She is serving as Director of the State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering. She received Bachelor degree from Gunma University, Master and PhD degrees from Tokyo Institute of Technology, respectively. She joined SKLBCE as a professor in 2001 and was promoted to the director in 2012. Her research interests focus on the preparation of uniform microspheres and microcapsules and their applications in biochemical engineering and biomedicine engineering, such as biochemical separation media, drug carriers, vaccine adjuvants (vaccine delivery systems), microcarriers for cell culture, and enzyme immobilization carriers. She has published over 500 papers, including Nature, Nat. Mater., Nat. Nanotechnol. Nat. Biomed. Eng., Nat. Commun., Sci. Adv., JACS, Adv. Mater., etc. She has more than 90 patents authorized, the technology and products have been commercialized in companies, and have been used in more than 500 affiliations in the world. She has received the State National Invention Award (2nd Class; 2009), the Beijing Science and Technology Award (1st Class; 2005), the Basic Research Achievement Award (1st Class prise of Science and Technology Award; 2020) of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Natural Science Award (1st Class; 2020) of the Chinese Society of Particuology.
    Self-amplifying RNA vaccines: growing evidence to support differentiation
    VIF World 2024
    Igor Smolenov
    Chief Development Officer, Vaccines,Arcturus Therapeutics, USA

    Igor Smolenov is the Chief Development Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics. Dr. Smolenov is an infectious disease physician dedicated to the clinical development of novel vaccines, with a proven record of accomplishment in both small biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies. He contributed to the successful development and licensure of several innovative vaccines.

    Before joining Arcturus, Dr. Smolenov was the Executive Vice President at Clover Pharmaceuticals, where he built a robust team able to rapidly generate pivotal clinical data leading to adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine authorization. Prior to that, Dr Smolenov served as Therapeutic Area Head, leading the development of several seasonal influenza vaccines in Seqirus (CSL), and Head of Clinical Development in Moderna Therapeutics, leading the initiation of the first clinical trials of mRNA vaccines in humans. At Novartis Vaccines, Dr. Smolenov contributed to the development and global licensure of meningococcal vaccines (Menveo, Bexsero, and MenABCWY) and the overall commercial success of the meningococcal vaccines franchise.

    Igor Smolenov graduated from Volgograd State Medical University, Russia, and holds MD, Ph.D., and Doctor of Science (Habilitation) degrees from this university. Before starting his career in the industry, he passed multiple academic steps from junior researcher to professor and head of the Allergy/immunology department of the university. He is the author of more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals in clinical pharmacology and vaccine development.


    Africa’s new public health order: lessons from covid-19 pandemic
    VIF World 2024
    Nicaise Ndembi
    Chief Science Advisor, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia
    Dr. Nicaise Ndembi is Senior strategic Advisor on Sciece and Policy to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General and currently Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. Dr. Ndembi is a graduate of Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Department of Viral Infection and International Public Health, Japan and a Research Professor within the same Institution. He is a Principal Investigator on numerous grants including US National Health Institute (NIH). He has authored/co-authored more than 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA), AIDS Research and Therapy (ARTY), and serves on various WHO and US NIH Advisory Groups.
    Key points and considerations for non clinical evaluation of inhaled vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Haifei Zhang
    Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.

    Haifei Zhang, PhD, DABT, Associate Professor

    Senior Director, Inhalation& International Toxicology, JOINN Laboratories (Suzhou) Inc.

    Committee member of Chinese Safety Pharmcology Society

    Committee member of Chinese inhalational toxicology Society

    PhD in Pharmacology and MS in Toxicology.

    Got Diplomate of American Board of Toxicology in 2016. Set up a comprehensive platform for inhalation toxicology & safety pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology studies. Conducted toxicity, safety pharmacology and pharmacodynamic studies for over 200 IND to NMPA or FDA. Participated in key new drug research projects of the 12th national five-year plan and 13th national five-year plan and got 3 patents.


    Building the Respiratory Disease Vaccine Pipeline based on the Trimer-Tag Platform
    VIF World 2024
    Wei Tan
    SVP, Head of China Research and External Collaboration, Clover Biopharmaceutical

    Dr. Tan is responsible for drug discovery, preclinical development, translation research and external collaboration in China. Dr. Tan got his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from UT Health Science Center San Antonio and received his Postdoctoral training with Dr. Michael Karin at UC San Diego. Dr. Tan worked in Pfizer and Novartis for 9 years, specialized in drug discovery and translational research, bridging preclinical research to early clinical trials. Dr. Tan worked at Biosion Biotech and Coherent Biopharma before he joined Clover. Dr. Tan was selected as Jiangsu Innovation and Entrepreneur Talent and Suzhou Innovation and Entrepreneur Leading Talent.

    茶歇
    Research on in vitro titer methodology of human vaccine
    VIF World 2024
    Le Sun
    CSO, Jing Tiancheng Biotechnology

    Beijing special expert, Beijing COVID-19 prevention and technology talent, Beijing Normal University adjunct professor, Tsinghua University doctor, Oregon State University postdoctoral. Dr. Sun Le studied under Professor G. Sato, a member of the American Academy of Sciences, scientific Advisor to President Nixon, inventor of monoclonal antibody drugs, and Professor Zhao Nanming, former Dean of the School of Life Sciences and Medicine of Tsinghua University. Formerly Director of production and scientific research at Upstate/Merck USA; Founded A&G Pharmaceuticals in the United States in 2000 and served as President. Having undertaken a number of major national and Beijing science and technology projects, Jingtiancheng, as a key enterprise in Beijing's infectious disease emergency prevention and control platform, has played an important role in the fight against rabies, hand-foot-mouth EV71, avian influenza H1N1/H7N9, new Pornia virus, Norovirus, Ebola virus and novel coronavirus. Established a huge library of infectious disease pathogens antibodies, including pneumonia 18, HPV9, meningitis 4, DPT, rabies, Bunya Virus, EV71, CA16, HBV, HCV, HEV, HIV, IPV, rubella virus, RSV, RAV,JEV mouse mab thousands of species. In this outbreak, Dr. Sun Le was supported by the Major COVID-19 Emergency Project of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Gates Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Project respectively.

    Using non-changeable against changeable strategy to develop pan-HCoV vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Xinling Wang
    Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University

    Dr. Xinling Wang received her Ph.D. degree in 2021 and was then engaged in postdoctoral research at Fudan University. In October 2023, she as a Young Investigator (eq. to an Associate Professor) joined the Shanghai Institute of Major Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Fudan University and master's supervisor. Her research focuses on the entry mechanism and prevention/treatment strategies of emerging viruses. In the past five years, she as the first or co-first author has published 18 papers in Cell Research (IF=44.1), Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (IF=39.1, x3), Cell Discovery (IF=33.5), Trends in immunology (IF=16.8) and other SCI journals. She as a co-inventor has participated in 4 patent applications, one of which was successfully licensed by a company. As a PI, she has obtained the Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and as a project-leader in 2023 Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan, and as a key researcher in two National Science and Technology Major Projects

    RSV vaccine development (TBD)
    VIF World 2024
    Bin Wang
    Founder, Advacccine, China

    Dr. Bin Wang is the Co-founder, Chairman of Advaccine Biotechnology Co LTD. He is also holding a distinguished professor position at the Fudan University School of Basic Medical Sciences and serves as the chairman for the Nucleic Acid Vaccines branch of the Chinese Vaccine Society. His research area is focused on the effects of therapeutic vaccination to activate T cells and the mechanism of immune regulations. He has developed novel adjuvants and recombinant vaccines, novel DNA vaccine delivery, and led to several developed vaccines being tested in human clinical trials. He received his Ph.D. from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in 1990. He completed his postdoc training in virology and immunology at the Wistar Institute in 1992 in Philadelphia. He became an instructor and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School from 1993 to 1998. He was a professor and served as the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology for six years at the College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University before he joined Fudan University. He was one of the very early DNA vaccine technology inventors in the 90’s and performed the first-in-human DNA vaccine trials in 1994-1996. He has been involved in several clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines against chronic HBV infections in recent years and invented a novel prophylactic RSV vaccine currently under clinical phase II testing. He has published over 160 peer-review articles and awarded 35 US and 30 Chinese patents. He serves as an editorial board member for several international journals and executive member in several professional societies.

    Inhaled vaccine, new platforms for respiratory infectious diseases
    VIF World 2024
    Tao Zhu
    Co-founder and CSO, Cansino Bio, China

    Dr. Tao Zhu, Ph.D. the University of Pittsburgh

    Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CanSino Biologics Inc. 


    Dr. Zhu is a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the “Healthy China Construction” professional committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. 


    Dr. Zhu focuses on the research and development of biological products. He established multiple core technology platforms, including viral vector, polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine, VLP recombinant vaccine and mRNA vaccine technology at CanSino. Multiple projects led by him have been selected as national “Major Science and Technology Projects for New Drug Creation” and “Major Science and Technology Projects for Infectious Diseases”. 


    Dr. Zhu has led the team to develop a series of vaccine products, of which 6 vaccine products have been registered and marketed, another 7 vaccine products are in different stages of clinical studies. He co-developed the adenovirus vector-based Ebola virus vaccine (2018), the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Convidecia, 2021), the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine for Inhalation(Convidecia Air, 2022), and the Recombinant COVID-19 XBB Vaccine for Inhalation(2023), with the team of Academician Chen Wei of the Institute of Bioengineering, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, all of which have been marketed. Especially, Convidecia Air is the first developed inhalation vaccine product in the global. Menhycia, which was approved in 2021, is currently the only quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine on the market in China. Dr. Zhu also holds over 50 patents and 70 publications, including 15 papers from The Lancet publishers.


    Structure-Based Immunogen Design for Effective mRNA Vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Baoshan Zhang
    Staff Scientist, Vaccine Research Center, NIH
    Dr. Baoshan Zhang is a Staff Scientist at Vaccine Research Center, NIH. He has broad experiences in vaccine development with a focus on structure-based immunogen design. Dr. Zhang leads optimizing and advancing methodologies that impact the development of novel molecules and proposes investment in alternate technologies. He is one inventor of the prefusion RSV F vaccine immunogens that are licensed to several major pharmaceutical companies. His ground-breaking work on RSV prefusion F molecules is the basis for mRNA1345 RSV vaccine developed at Moderna. Dr. Zhang currently focuses on vaccine development for infectious diseases as well as for non-communicable chronic diseases.
    mRNA Nano-vaccines against EBV-positive Tumors
    VIF World 2024
    Xiangrong Song
    Co-Founder, Westgene
    Xiangrong Song is a full professor at Sichuan University and a pharmaceutical scientist at National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy. The Song lab has developed the targeted delivery systems for gene drugs and small molecules to treat tumors, atherosclerosis, ocular diseases, infection or brain diseases. Two novel drug candidates (IND) have been approved for phase I clinical trials. She has authored more than 100 papers and is an inventor of more than 50 issued / pending patents worldwide. The technologies that Dr. Song and her colleagues have developed formed the basis for the launch of 2 biotechnology companies. The two companies are translating the aforementioned academic innovations toward commercialization and societal impact. In 2019, she was a recipient of the first prize of Science and Technology Award in Chinese National Medicine Association, for the research on immune function of Yi nationality's medicine. In 2022, she was named as the elite of science and technology in China.
    Nano-drug assembly and control technologies
    VIF World 2024
    Heinrich Hass
    CTO, NeoVAC, UK

    Heinrich Haas, Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz Mainz, Germany. Ph.D. in the group of Prof. Dr. Helmuth Möhwald at Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz. Researched lipid membranes and organized bio-molecular systems. In pharmaceutical industry (Munich Biotech, Medigene, BioNTech) developed different types of nanoparticle products to clinical stage. Focus on advanced approaches for nanoparticle development and control.

    Assessment of LNP Quality & Encapsulation Efficiency by Nano-Flow Cytometry
    VIF World 2024
    Huijie Zhu
    Application Engineer,NanoFCM INC.
    After graduating from the University of New South Wales,she has been responsible for the application development and pre-sales technical support of nano-flow cytometry, with solid theoretical foundation and rich experience in LNP characterization.
    AstriVax, a novel vaccine platform committed to address real world vaccinology challenges
    VIF World 2024
    Hanne Callewaer
    CEO, AstriVax, Belgium

    July 2022 - current : AstriVax

    CEO and Co-founder


    July 2021 – July 2022: KU Leuven

    Entrepreneur in Residence


    June 2018 – August 2022: Oxurion

    Head Regulatory Affairs

    Business Development

    Chief Operating Officer


    March 2009 – May 2018: GSK Vaccines

    Regulatory Affairs

    Vaccine Development Leader


    Sept 2008 – Feb 2009 – Gevers Patents

    Trainee patent attorney


    About

    Diverse experience in the life science industry exhibiting a unique capability to merge operational execution and strategic development - implementation. Global industry experience in large pharmaceutical industry as well as into smaller biotech environment. Strong experience in development of commercial, late or early stage vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, peptides and small molecules. Regulatory affairs, drug and vaccine development expertise blended with business and corporate development. Proven track record to build up and lead diverse teams. Innovative mindset, with demonstrated ability to think beyond commonly accepted boundaries, understanding well different personalities and able to perform complex and challenging tasks and capable to distil the essence from the noise.



    茶歇
    Virogin's mRNA vaccines: from infectious disease to cancer
    VIF World 2024
    William Jia
    CSO, CNBG-Virogin, Canada

    Biography :

    n  Senior Scientist, Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada (09.1994-07.2019)

    n  Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, UBC (tenured) (09.1994-07.2019)

    n  Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder of Virogin Biotech Ltd (05.2015- present)

    n  Chief Scientific Officer, CNBG-Virogin Biotech Ltd (2019- present)

     

    Dr. Jia obtained his PhD in neurobiology from University of British Columbia (1991), MSc. Psychology (1987) from Dalhousie University in Canada, and BSc. Biology from Fudan University (1982) in China. In 2015, Dr.Jia co-founded Virogin Biotech, an oncolytic virotherapy company in Canada. He is currently the chief scientific officer of Virogin and CNBG-Virogin to develop oncolytic viruses and novel vaccines.


    Assays for respiratory vaccines evaluation
    VIF World 2024
    Emanuele Montomoli
    Co-founder& CSO, VisMederi, Italy
    Emanuele Montomoli was graduated in Life Sciences at University of Siena in 1997. Since November 2016 he was appointed by the Department of Molecular Medicine of University of Siena as full Professor on Public Health. Since April 2018 to 2021 he was nominated in the Executive Board of the Toscana Life Sciences Foundation. Since 2010 he he was elected as President of the Board for the “Master in vaccinology and drug development” at University of Siena. Since 2019 he was nominated in the Executive Board of Eurocine vaccines AB. In 2008 he funded VisMederi srl, an enterprise involved in laboratory activities for vaccines and antiviral drugs clinical trials. Actually, he has a role of Chief Scientific Officer in VisMederi srl. Since 1994 he has carried out epidemiological research, surveillance networks for infectious diseases and serological assays for clinical trials for vaccines. In 2015 he was appointed as scientific coordinator for a project funded by EU-IMI (Innovative Medicine Initiative) titled “Standardization and development of assays for assessment of influenza vaccine correlates of protection”. He is the author of more than 200 papers, as well as numerous abstracts and letters, published in international scientific journals.
    Research and development of a novel human DNA vaccine platform
    VIF World 2024
    Xia Jin
    CEO/Co-founder, Cure Bio Tech, China

    Xia JIN,MD, PhD is currently an executive director and Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure BioTech Ltd., Hong Kong. He has hold a number of academic positions previously, including Professor of Fudan University Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, and its Director of Vaccine & Immunology Center; Distinguished Professor of the Chinese Academy of Science(CAS), and Deputy Director of Vaccine Research Center of the Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, and Deputy Director of CAS Molecular Virology & Immunology Key Lab. Before returning China, he has been a tenure-track Associate Professor of University of Rochester. His research focuses on the immune pathogenesis of human infectious diseases such as HIV and Dengue, and pre-clinical and clinical development of vaccines against these and other human pathogens.  He has published in 140 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Science,J. Exp. Med.,J. Clin. Inv.,Nat. Commn., J Virol., Vaccine etc..

    Developing a thermal stable mRNA RSV vaccine and beyond
    VIF World 2024
    Yuanqing Liu
    CSO China, Immorna Biotherapeutics

    Dr. Liu Yuanqing graduated from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University and was a surgeon at Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital. He completed his PhD in Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and was one of the pioneers on myeloid-derived suppressors in tumors. He was previously a senior research lead at Sanofi Pasteur French headquarter, where he contributed to various vaccine projects, including cancer vaccines, vaccines against infectious diseases, pediatric vaccines, adjuvants, etc. Dr. Liu is an industry veteran with extensive experience in the development of innovative vaccines for international market. He was a member of the EU Innovative Medicine Initiative. Since 2021, he has been the Chief Scientific Officer of Immorna Biotechnology. He is based in Shanghai where Immorna has established a high-standard R&D site aiming to accelerate the development of mRNA vaccines and drugs in China.

    Harnessing germline immune memory for enhancing vaccine efficacy: new molecular mechanisms controlling memory establishment and persistence
    VIF World 2024
    Diana Boraschi
    Distinguished Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    Diana Boraschi is an immunologist that built her experience in academic institutions and industrial settings in her home country (Italy) and abroad (USA, France, Austria, Korea, Brazil). She is Senior Associate Researcher at the Italian National Research Council (where she served as Institute Director) and at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Napoli, Italy, and Academician of the Accademia dei Fisiocritici. She is currently serving as Distinguished Professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technologies (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Shenzhen, China. She is author of over 200 peer-reviewed research articles in immunology (h-index 67, over 16000 citations), in addition to many books and book chapters, and inventor in eight patents. In 2017, she has received an honorary PhD degree by the University of Salzburg (Austria), in 2020 the High-Level Talents Program Award for Foreign Scholars, and in 2022 the Chinese Government Friendship Award. She is listed within the first 2% scientists worldwide since 2017 and in the first 1% since 2020. Her area of expertise is innate immunity and inflammation, in particular in relation to autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases, and vaccine development. Her focus on macrophages and cytokines of the IL-1 superfamily (a bioactive IL-1 domain is known as the “Boraschi loop”), and the interaction of engineered nanomaterials with immunity in humans and environmental species. She is particularly involved in higher education training activities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, with a focus on poverty-related diseases.
    Repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens induces exceptionally broad and potent neutralizing immunity to major sarbecoviruses in humans including SARS-CoV-1
    VIF World 2024
    Linqi Zhang
    Professor, Tsinghua University
    Professor Linqi Zhang is the Director of the Comprehensive AIDS Research Center at Tsinghua University. Prof. Zhang's research focuses on HIV-1 pathogenesis and vaccine development, and has recently expanded to the field of emerging and re-emerging human viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-1/2 and MERS-CoV. Using cutting-edge antibody and combinatorial antigen library techniques, Prof. Zhang’s research aims to characterize protective antibody immunity in infected humans and rational design of effective vaccines and therapies against the viral infection. Professor Zhang is the recipient of the National Outstanding Young Scientist Award, privileged Changjiang Professorship, and Bayer and Vanke Chair professor. He has published extensively and is among the most cited Chinese researchers in the field of microbiology and immunology. Professor Zhang has also served as a member of national expert and advisory board to the Chinese government and several international organizations on HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases,and was recently elected as a Foreign Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.
    Rational design of a cross-type HPV vaccine through immunodominance shift guided by a cross-neutralizing antibody
    VIF World 2024
    Shaowei Li
    Professor, Xiamen University
    Shaowei Li Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Vaccinology, Xiamen University Shaowei Li is a tenured Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Vaccinology in the School of Life Sciences with a joint appointment in the School of Public Health, Xiamen University, China. He is the vaccine group leader in the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in infectious diseases (NIDVD), one of the academic leaders in the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Diagnostics, deputy director in Fujian provincial Xiang An biomedicine laboratory. Dr. Li has inter-disciplinary research interests focusing on structural vaccinology, resulting in more than 120 peer-reviewed papers. He also has translational experience in vaccine development against infectious diseases—such as Hepatitis E vaccine and HPV vaccine, especially in aspects of immunogen design, process development and antigen characterization. Dr. Li has won two of China’s National Science and Technology Awards and been listed in the Top 20 translational researchers of 2016, ranked by Nature Biotechnology. He has served on the Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee (PDVAC), World Health Organization (WHO) since 2022.
    Novel vaccine development
    VIF World 2024
    Aldo Tagliabue
    Chief Scientist, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, China
    Aldo Tagliabue has been active for more than 4 decades in research, development, management, strategic planning and establishing facilities for innovative vaccines. After a long career as experimental immunologist and as manager of large cooperation R&D projects in public-private partnerships funded by the European Commission, Aldo Tagliabue has been involved in the creation of start-up companies in the field of human vaccines, such as AchilleS Vaccines Srl, a company of the Siena Vaccine Hub (Italy), and BCGene in São Paulo (Brazil). He has recently founded Veterna Srl, to develop mRNA vaccines for veterinary infections. His scientific background is based on early experience in the public sector, including a postdoctoral period at the NCI/NIH in Bethesda, MD, USA, from 1976 to 1979, and an internship at the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1981. This was the basis for his subsequent experiences in industry. In 1982, he joined the Sclavo Research Center in Siena (Italy) as Head of Immunology, and in 1990 he became R&D Director at the pharmaceutical company Dompé in L’Aquila (Italy). In the early 2000s, he was Deputy Director at the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul (Republic of Korea), a WHO and UN initiative, and also served as a member of the Programme/Policy Committee of the GAVI Alliance Board. In 2011, with Rino Rappuoli he created the Sclavo Vaccine Foundation, whose mission is to sustain and promote vaccines for poverty related diseases. From 2014 to 2017, he was Director General of the Regional Foundation for Biomedical Research in Milan, the funding agency of the Lombardy Region (Italy) for health sciences. He was Adjunct Professor of Immunology at the University of Bologna (Italy) from 1996 to 2006, and Adjunct Professor at the Seoul National University from 2003 to 2005. He is author of more than 120 publications in immunology and vaccinology and inventor in 10 patents. Since 2017 is Senior Associated Scientist of the Italian National Research Council. In September 2021 he moved to China, at the Shenzhen Institute for Advanced Technology, as Visiting Professor supported by Chinese Academy of Science with a President International Fellowship. Recently he was awarded with a professorship in the Yangtze River Scholar Fellowship Program for his experience in vaccinology.
    茶歇
    Strengthening Innovation in Vaccine R&D for Global Health Access
    VIF World 2024
    Raman Rao
    CEO, Hilleman Laboratories

    Dr. Raman Rao joined as the Chief Executive Officer at Hilleman Laboratories in February 2020. Dr. Rao has more than two decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines for infectious diseases in global pharma and biotech companies. Prior to joining Hilleman Laboratories, Dr. Rao served as the Vice President of Global Product Operations with Takeda, Singapore, where he enhanced the global product portfolio while successfully leading an international team across Japan, Singapore and the United States. The teams worked in the areas of dengue, norovirus, zika, polio and other vaccines.

    Dr. Rao started his career in 2002 with Shantha Biotechnics Limited, part of Sanofi Aventis Group in India, in Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs. He holds a MD in Medical Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

    He plans to carry forward Dr. Maurice Hilleman’s legacy for providing effective solutions for global health, especially those impacting low- and middle-income countries.


    Genetically engineered innovative bacterial vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Rong Xu
    CSO, Delonix Bioworks, China

    Dr. Xu Rong has over 20 years of experience in innovative vaccine research and development and in leading vaccine R&D teams within multinational corporations. She particularly excels in preclinical vaccine research and evaluation, the development and validation of immunological methodologies, and the CMC development of vaccine products.

     

    Before joining Delonix, Dr. Xu held the position of Senior Vice President of Preclinical Vaccine R&D at Clover Biopharmaceuticals. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President of R&D at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States, where she led the CMC development, clinical immunology assay development and validation, and non-clinical safety and efficacy studies of vaccines. Additionally, she has held several key vaccine R&D and team management roles at Profectus Biosciences, Pfizer (Wyeth), and the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute.

     

    In 2016, Dr. Xu was honored with the Distinguished Female Scientist Award by the Westchester Association in New York, recognizing her outstanding contributions to vaccine research and development. Dr. Xu holds a Bachelor degree in Medicine from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.


    Broad spectrum influenza vaccine : challenges and progresses
    VIF World 2024
    Yuelong Shu
    Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology,CAMS & PUMC

    Prof. Yuelong Shu

    Director, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He was selected as the first batch of ‘National Science and Technology Innovation Leader’and‘2014 Top Ten Scientific and Technological Innovators’, and is the winner of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the China Youth Science and Technology Award. He has been honored with the National Science and Technology Progress Grand Prize, First Prize, Second Prize, the National Medical and Health System Advanced Individual, the National Innovation Award, the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Development Contribution Award, etc. He is currently the Chairman of the Branch of Medical Virology of the Chinese Medical Association and the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI). He was the founding dean of the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen), the editor-in-chief of the Chinese Journal of Virology, the deputy director of the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the director of the National Influenza Center, and the director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza.

    Shu has long focused on influenza prevention and control research, and has made outstanding achievements in the discovery of new viruses, the development of detection reagents, and the pathogenesis of infection. Through the systematic establishment of new influenza detection and surveillance technology, it was found for the first time in the world that a variety of new avian influenza viruses such as H7N9, H5N6 and H10N8 can lead to human infection and death; The first successful development of pandemic H1N1 2019 and H7N9 avian influenza detection reagent; The origin, evolution and infection mechanism of H7N9 and other avian influenza viruses were clarified, which provided key scientific and technological support for the successful prevention and control of the epidemic in China. He has published nearly 200 papers in Science, Nature, NEJM, Lancet and other academic journals as a corresponding author. The research results were selected as one of the ‘China’s 100 most influential international academic papers in 2013’and ‘2013 Top Ten Scientific Advances in China’.


    B-cell responses in vaccinated people versus infected ones
    VIF World 2024
    Fan Yang
    Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS
    Dr. Fan Yang, professor at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Yang earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Computational Biology from the University of Toronto and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University. Her work primarily focuses on leveraging nulti-omics techniques and big data analysis algorithms to reveal the pathogenesis of diseases such as respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases, as well as the characteristics of related adaptive immune responses. Dr. Yang has published in Science, Cell, Nature Medicine, and Cell Host & Microbe and many other top articles, totaling over 4700 citations. She also acts as a peer reviewer for journals such as Genome Research, Frontiers in Oncology, PLoS Computational Biology, and Scientific Data, and served as an editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology, a Program Committee member and reviewer for ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) conferences, and a committee member of the International Workshop on Computational Mathematical Models in Cancer (CMMCA).
    Next generation pneumococcal vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    George Siber
    Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School Visiting Researcher, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences President, Siber Biotechnologies LLC

    Dr. Siber is an infectious disease trained physician with more than 40 years of experience in developing vaccines and antibody products. From 1996 to 2007, Dr. Siber served as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Wyeth Vaccines (now Pfizer) where he led the development and approval of multiple innovative childhood vaccines, including Prevenar 7 and 13, the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccines,  Rotashield, the first rotavirus diarrhea vaccine, Meningitec, the first meningococcal meningitis conjugate vaccine and FluMist, the first nasal influenza vaccine. Prior to Wyeth, Dr. Siber was Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Medicine at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Biologic Laboratories where he developed multiple vaccines and immune globulins, including Respigam, the first antibody licensed for respiratory syncytial virus. Dr. Siber most recently was a Co-founder and Board Member of Affinivax which developed a 24 valent pneumococcal vaccine and was acquired by GSK in 2022. Dr. Siber currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of AdVaccine, CanSino, Clover, Everest Medicines, ILiAD, Valneva, Vaxart and Vaxxinity and has been a consultant to the NIH, EU, WHO and the Gates Foundation. Dr.Siber was member of the Board of  Trustees of the International Vaccine Institute. Dr Siber has received multiple awards including the 2016 Albert Sabin Gold Medal in vaccinology. Dr. Siber holds an MD degree from McGill University in Canada, received post‑doctoral training in Internal Medicine at Rush‑Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and training in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School.



    WuXi Vaccines, Enabling Partners with Evolving and Continually Innovative Platforms
    VIF World 2024
    Yao Pan
    MSAT lead, Wuxi Vaccine
    Dr. Yao Pan joined Wuxi Vaccine as MSAT lead and mainly responsible for process technology transfer and process validation. Before joining Wuxi Vaccine, she worked at WuXi Biologics Germany GmbH responsible for DP MSAT and project management departments. She has more than 8 years development and manufacturing experiences with vaccines, biologics as well as molecular diagnostics. Her expertise covers early development, new technology platform establishment, project management, process technology transfer and process validation. Before industrial career, she obtained her ph. D at Universität für Bodenkultur Wien and finished her post-doc at NIOO-KNAW.
    New Strategies for Vaccine Immunization Evaluation System——ReadVac scRNA-seq Service Technology Platform for Vaccine Evaluation
    VIF World 2024
    Chongyang Liang
    Prof., Jilin University;Scientific Advisor, ProMab Forethought;

    Professor Liang is dedicated to the development of large molecular drugs in the field of recombinant protein. He has been engaged in the research of drug action mechanism-related structural biology and physicochemical analysis for many years, leading the development of multiple innovative monoclonal antibody drugs and subunit vaccines. Through the transformation of achievements and cooperation with enterprises, he has promoted the approval of clinical trials or market launch by the US FDA and China NMPA.

    茶歇
    The thermophilic filamentous fungus, C1 - an extraordinary platform for the production of prophylactics for humans and animals
    VIF World 2024
    Ronen Tchelet
    CSO, Dyadic International
    Ronen Tchelet, PhD: Ronen Tchelet joined Dyadic in May 2014 and has been Dyadic’s Vice President of Research and Business Development since January 2016 and later on became Dyadic’s CSO. Dr. Tchelet received his Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology from Tel Aviv University in 1993 and did his postdoctoral as an EERO fellow at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG) in Switzerland. In the late 2000’s, he joined the API Division of TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries LTD., where he served as a Chief Technology Officer of Biotechnology. Dr. Tchelet leaded and directed the Research and Development Biotechnology department of TEVA’s fermentation plant in Hungary. In his work he managed and organized Biotechnology and Biosimilar projects that combined multidisciplinary areas such as development, operation, and production of API and biologics. In addition, from 2000 – 2005, Dr. Tchelet was the QA manager of COPAXONE® the flag ship TEVA¹s innovative drug. From 2007 through 2013, prior to joining Dyadic, Dr. Tchelet became the founder and the Managing Director of Codexis Laboratories Hungary kft. (CLH) and a Vice President of Codexis Inc. At CLH, he established a state-of-the-art laboratory for strain engineering and all aspects of fermentation work including process optimization and scaling up. It was during this time that Dr. Tchelet engaged with the C1 technology that was successfully developed for the Biofuel and the Bio-Industrial enzymes fields.
    Pharmaceutical Research of immunoprophylaxis for antimicrobial resistant superbug
    VIF World 2024
    Quanming Zou
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    Quanming Zou Professor & Director National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Army Medical University Dr. Quanming Zou is a professor and the director of National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Army Medical University. He received his PhD degree in immunology from the Third Military Medical University and research experience in University of Hannover (GER). He serves as Member of Subjects Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee, State Council, Member of the 12th Pharmacopoeia Commission of China, Vice director of Biochemical and Biotech Medicine Professional Committee of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Vice director of Vaccine Research and Development Committee of the China Association for Vaccines and Vice Chairman of Chongqing Pharmaceutical Association. Dr. Zou has engaged in researches on innovative vaccines and pathogenic mechanisms and immune response of serious resistant bacteria. Prof. Zou successfully developed the Oral Recombinant Helicobacter Pylori Vaccine, which was approved with national innovative drug license. The other novel Staphylococcus Aureus Vaccine directed by Prof. Zou, have conducted the Clinical Trial phase Ⅲ. He published over 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Lancet, Gastroenterology, Gut, Nature Communication,Autophagy, J Immunol, etc., and got 32 patents granted as first inventor. He won the Second prize of National Award for Technological Invention by the State Council, Outstanding Contribution to the Science and Technology Program Award by Ministry of Science and Technology, Frist prize of Chongqing Science and Technology Invention Award, Frist prize of Chongqing Natural Science Award by Chongqing Municipal People's Government, and Merit Citation Class II.
    Helicobacter pylori vaccine development
    VIF World 2024
    Fan Fan
    Vice president of Chengdu Olymvax Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Head of Olymvax R&D institution
    Fan fan has nearly ten years experience in the biological industry and has made remarkable achievements. In 2016, she completed the in-licensing of Class I new drugs from Griffith University in Australia, which is the first aligned biological drugs project between universities in Queensland and enterprises in China. In June 2020, she was identified as the urgently needed talents and high-end talents by Chengdu High-tech Zone. She also serves as the standing committee member of Supply Chain Management Branch of China Association for Vaccines and the member of Meningitis Prevention and Control Branch of China Association for Vaccines. In September 2020, she was awarded the Advanced Individual against the epidemic by Sichuan Provincial Working Committee of Jiusan Society, and made her due contribution to the fight against the epidemic. In June 2021, she was awarded the Golden Panda "Talent Award" of Chengdu High-tech Zone.
    Development of polyvalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal diseases
    VIF World 2024
    Jeff Zhu
    CEO, Ruizhou Bio
    Dr. Jeff Zhu is the founder and CEO of Shanghai Reinovax Biologics co., Ltd., a fast-growing biotech company focusing on discovery and development of innovative vaccines and other biologics. Dr. Zhu has over 20 years’ industrial experience on discovery and development of small molecules, recombinant proteins, antibodies and vaccines from the early discovery to clinical trials. He played an important role in moving multiple drug candidates from the initiation to the clinical trial stage during his 13-year tenure at Pfizer’s R & D center in San Diego. Dr. Zhu moved back to China in 2011, and served as CSO and head of the R & D at Hualan Biological Engineering Inc., and two years later worked as senior director and department head in USP, Shanghai. Dr. Zhu published earned his Ph.D. degree on biological sciences from UC, Irvine, M.S. degree on biochemistry from Georgetown university, and B.S. degree on chemistry from Tsinghua university.
    Development of a monovalent XBB.1.5 mRNA Vaccine in China
    VIF World 2024
    Andrew Wong
    General Manager, Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology, China

    Andrew Wong is General Manager of Shanghai Wotai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary company of Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a public listed and leading vaccine development, and manufacturing company in China, where Andrew held a position as Director of Business Development until recently. Andrew had managed Walvax's global business activities including product global registration, sales & marketing, tech-transfer and licensing-in/out for more than 4 years till August 2024.. 

    By participating in Walvax’s efforts to become a global vaccine manufacturer, between September 2015 and March 2020, Andrew managed a three collaboration projects under a combined sum of USD 8.5 million funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development of bivalent, nona-valent HPV vaccines and recombinant COVID-19 vaccine for developing countries. Representing Walvax, Andrew participated in the efforts with Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a Walvax subsidiary in Shanghai, to secure grants more than USD 20 millions from CEPI to support the preclinical and clinical development of the variant recombinant COVID-19 vaccine.  Currently, Andrew leads his teams to work on Walvax’s global business expansion through licensing-in/out and international product registration and distribution.

    After academic trainings from China, Canada and United States in clinical medicine, immunology, molecular biology,  and business administration with an MBA from UCLA Anderson School, Andrew Wong, MD, MBA has almost three decades’ experiences in biopharmaceutical research, business development and general management, including close to 12 years’ work experience at the world’s largest biotech company - Amgen Inc. in USA, by engaging in recombinant antibody therapeutics and anticancer small molecule drug research and development.


    Vaccine Clinical Trial Strategy in SEA Market
    VIF World 2024
    John Mo
    General Manager, Shanghai SDM

    John Mo is the general manager of Shanghai SDM and has 17 years of experience in vaccine clinical trials.

    l  He used to be the director of Guangxi Disease Control and Vaccine Research Institute, a member of the Expert Committee for Drug Registration and Evaluation of the State Administration of Medicine, a member of the Vaccine Research and Development Expert Group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Scientific Research Team of the State Council, a member of the National Immunization Program Technical Working Group, and a member of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association Vaccine Member of the Standing Committee of Clinical Professional Committee, former national and provincial GCP inspector.

    l  Participated in the compilation and discussion of relevant regulations and technical guidelines for vaccine clinical trials in many countries. As a PI, he co-chaired more than 70 vaccine clinical trials, including the world's first human diploid cell EV71 inactivated vaccine, the first domestic mRNA new crown vaccine, HPV vaccine, rotavirus vaccines, microcard vaccine, rabies vaccines, IPV, bOPV, influenza, pneumonia vaccines, and meningococcal vaccines.

    l  Participated in the compilation and discussion of regulations and technical guidance principles for vaccine clinical trials in multiple countries, and has been involved in special projects of major new drug creation science and technology for many times. Published nearly 30 SCI papers in international journals. He is an editorial board member for the translation of the seventh edition of vaccinology, and an editorial board member for the design and implementation of clinical trials.

     


    Overseas vaccine registration process and declaration information requirements
    VIF World 2024
    Yan Liu
    CEO, MEDLEADER

    Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics - Chongqing Medical University

    Master of Drug Delivery - Aston University, UK

    Bachelor of Clinical Medicine - Chongqing Medical University

    Practicing Physician

    Member of the Standardization Committee of the China Association for Vaccines

    Member of the Professional Committee of the Chinna Safety Pharmacology

    Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Laboratory Animal Technology Association

    Dr.LIU Yan has extensive experience in the R&D of new drugs, especially in the field of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in clinical research of new drugs.


    Evaluation on mucosal respiratory COVID -19 vaccines in clinical trials
    VIF World 2024
    Jingxin Li
    Deputy Department Head, Jiangsu CDC, China

    Jingxin Li, PhD, Professor, is working at Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Her research is focused on vaccine clinical evaluation and immunization strategy. She has participated in a lot of epidemiology investigations and a series of clinical trials of novel vaccines, including Enterovirus type 71 vaccine, recombinant human Ad5 vectored Ebola vaccine, and Covid-19 vaccines. She has got National Natural Science Outstanding Youth Founds and Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Funds for Distinguished youths, and hosted or participated in seven National Natural Science Founds or National Science and Technology Major Projects. She has published over 25 articles in medical journals on vaccine clinical studies, including Nature Med, Lancet Respir Med, Lancet Glob Health, etc.


    Randomized double blind Clinical Trial on Covid-19 vaccine
    VIF World 2024
    Raza Shah
    Professor and Director University of Karachi, Bangladash
    Prof. Shah is working in the area of Nanomedicines and clinical trials. He has authored six books (Elsevier) and also edited four books (Elsevier), along with 12 chapters in books and more than 460 research articles in international journals with impact factor more than 1700. He has several US patents to his credit too. He has supervised and co-supervised 34 Ph.Ds. and 44 M.S/M.Phil scholars. The research projects of Dr. Shah is funded by both National and International funding agencies. He was declared top scientist for the year 2019 by the government of Pakistan. He received the Civil award Tamgha-i-Imtiaz-2015 (Medal of Distinction) from President Islamic republic of Pakistan. Atta-ur-Rahman gold medal-2006 and Dr. Raziuddin gold medal-2015 by Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He received the Abdus Salam (Nobel Laureate) award, and was selected TWAS Young Affiliate in 2010 by The World Academy of Sciences. One of his authored books was declared best book of the year 2017 by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He is fellow Pakistan Academy of Sciences, fellow Islamic world academy of sciences, fellow International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), fellow the Chemical Society of Pakistan and fellow Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. He remained a member in the panel of inspectors for Evaluation of Clinical Trial Sites from Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). He conducted 28 Phase-1 clinical-trials (BE-PK) along with 04 phase-II clinical-trials for Multinational pharma as PI. He led the vaccine (COVID-19) phase-1 clinical trial of Sinopharm company in Pakistan. He led the DRAP approved clinical trial for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with traditional Chinese medicines. Various Research Projects Sponsored by International Funding Agencies such as OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Netherlands), COMSTEC-ISECO (Saudi Arabia), International Foundation for Science (Sweden), Third World Academy of Sciences (Italy), DTRA (USA) and European Commission National Funding like HEC and PSF
    茶歇
    Regulatory strategy to accelerate vaccine approval (TBC)
    Driving R&D towards global public health and health equity for Vaccine: RIGHT foundation’s approach
    VIF World 2024
    Hoon Sang Lee
    Chief Strategy Officer, RIGHT Foundation, Korea

    Dr. Hoon Sang Lee is a medical doctor and a global health expert, and currently the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of the RIGHT Foundation (Research Investment for Global Health Technology Foundation) and an adjunct professor at Yonsei University School of Public Health in Korea. Dr. Lee is also a member of Health Sector Advisory Committee of KOICA and a founding member of the Board for Korea Society of Global Health. Previously, he has worked as a health adviser for KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) for bilateral health projects in various countries of Africa and Asia. Prior to KOICA, Dr. Lee worked as a medical officer at Korea CDC, managing national hepatitis B and measles immunization programme, and was involved in North Korea health programme for immunization support. Dr. Lee studied Economics and Public Policy at University of Chicago, received MD and PhD from Yonsei University School of Medicine and received MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.


    QS-21 for Advanced Adjuvants and its impact on modern vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Hao Wang
    CEO vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLC
    CEO,vuRoyal pharmaceutical company LLC(葳瑞医药), USA and China Dr. Hao Wang is currently the CEO of vuRoyal Pharmaceutical. He received his Ph.D. from MIT and MPA from Harvard University. Previously, Dr. Wang served as the vice president of the largest university-related research foundation, the Research Foundation for the State University of New York, and the chief information officer of the United States' largest comprehensive university system, the State University of New York. Hao was a partner/managing director of Accenture, a global 500 company, and served as vice president of Accenture China, leading Accenture's healthcare practice in Greater China. He had also served as deputy commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. A graduate from Peking University, Dr. Wang served as an adjunct professor in several leading research universities such as Columbia University, Tsinghua University, University at Albany, and Xian Jiaotong University.
    VIF World 2024
    Damian Hiley
    Director, Desert King International
    Damian Hiley Product Manager for Vaccine Adjuvants, Desert King International, USA Since joining Desert King in 2012, Damian Hiley has played a crucial role in revolutionizing QS21 Vaccine adjuvants, leading to the pivotal launch of GMP QS21 in 2017. Beyond his substantial contributions to vaccine science, where his work underpins all commercially available vaccines with AS01 or Matrix M, Damian has spearheaded the company’s commitment to responsible forestry practices and the development of clonal plantations. His strategic oversight of the Pharmaceutical Exipient factory in Chile reflects his multifaceted expertise. Holding an MBA, Damian’s vision for sustainable innovation and leadership in global health advancements exemplifies his dedication to both environmental stewardship and medical progress.
    Evolution of flagellin adjuvant towards clinical application
    VIF World 2024
    Joon Haeng Rhee
    Professor, Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea
    Dr. Joon Haeng Rhee is a graduate of Chonnam National University Medical School and received PhD from the same university. He has been working on molecular microbial pathogenesis and vaccine biology for more than 30 years. His team was the first reporter of the whole genome sequence of V. vulnificus, which became one of the most widely used standard strains in the Vibrio research field. Vaccine study was first started aiming the high mortality V. vulnificus infections. During the vaccine research, his team came across the finding that a flagellin protein of V. vulnificus has an excellent mucosal adjuvant activity in late 1990s. Now flagellin is applied to the development of effective vaccines and immunotherapeutics against diverse diseases such as cancers, allergies, and Alzheimer’s disease. He served the president of Korean Vaccine Society (KVS) from 2013 to 2015. He was elected as an ISV Fellow and serves a member of ISV Executive Board. He is currently the director of Clinical Vaccine R&D Center and Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy Research Center of Chonnam National University. As of November 2023, he has more than 170 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and named as an inventor on 40 patents.
    Interferons and inflammasomes in adjuvant induced immune responses
    VIF World 2024
    Ed Lavelle
    Professor, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
    Professor Ed Lavelle is the current Professor of Vaccine Immunology in Trinity College Dublin He was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA) in 2021 is currently President of ECI2024 and former President of the Irish Society for Immunology and head of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He graduated with a BSc in Microbiology from University College Galway and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Plymouth and carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham, Rowett Research Institute, Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin on vaccine adjuvants and immunomodulation. He was appointed at Trinity College Dublin as a lecturer in 2004, associate Professor in 2012, Professor in Immunology in 2015 and Professor of Vaccine Immunology in 2022. His research has led to the development of adjuvants suitable for inclusion in injectable and mucosal vaccines for infectious diseases and resolving their mode of action. The lab is also focused on developing therapeutic vaccines for cancer and investigating vaccine strategies that promote immunogenic cell death, leading to enhanced protective immunity.
    Mucosal adjuvants
    VIF World 2024
    Elizabeth Norton
    Associate Professor,Tulane University, USA
    Dr. Elizabeth B. Norton is an immunologist with 20 years of experience in evaluating immunity, vaccines, and microbial infections. The focus of her research is on immunity, including drivers of diversity and therapeutic interventions. She has a public health and research background and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Dr. Norton began her training at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA identifying correlates of sepsis in children and assisting in field studies in African hospitals. In her doctoral and post-doctoral programs, she evaluated innate immunomodulation and mucosal delivery techniques, the latter in the laboratory of Dr. John Clements at Tulane University. A focus of her lab’s research is using mucosal adjuvants derived from heat-labile toxin (e.g., dmLT) as a strategy to improve memory responses to vaccines. This has involved adjuvanted enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), polio and tuberculosis vaccines sponsored by NIH and Gates Foundation. Recently, she is also pursuing novel dmLT adjuvant combinations for oral vaccination. The Norton lab has also pioneered a derivative intranasal adjuvant called LTA1 for Klebsiella pneumoniae, opioid, and influenza vaccines and is preparing for an NIH-sponsored clinical trial with the former. Part of this research involves correlates of protection from clinical trials with these adjuvants or licensed vaccines. Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, her lab is also a key part of the Tulane University Convalescent Antibody and Immunity Network (TUCAIN) evaluating cellular and memory responses to SARS-CoV-2 or other infections and vaccinations in healthy adults or special populations.
    Advances in adjuvants, protein expression, and delivery technologies continue to give protein vaccines the edge; Advax-CpG adjuvant
    VIF World 2024
    Nikolai Petrovsky
    Founder, Vaxine, Australia
    Professor Nikolai Petrovsky is a physician and vaccine researcher. He is the founder of Vaxine, an Australian biotechnology company applying novel approaches including artificial intelligence to vaccine and adjuvant development. His research has been awarded multi-million dollar contracts from the US National Institutes of Health and he has authored over 200 peer-reviewed research papers. He developed SpikoGen®, a vaccine against COVID-19 that received emergency use authorization in the Middle East in October 2021, making it the first recombinant protein vaccine against COVID-19 to achieve regulatory approval.
    茶歇
    Intranasal vaccination can build effective mucosal immunity wall against Omicron infection
    VIF World 2024
    Ling Chen
    PI, Guangzhou Laboratory

    Dr. Chen has been a Professor at the State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University since 2013. Dr. Chen received a medical degree from Shanghai Medical College in 1984. He obtained a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Chen completed his postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School.  From 1997-2001, Dr. Chen served as a Senior Research Fellow at Merck Research Laboratories, where he was the first inventor of Merck's Ad5-based AIDS vaccine that entered clinical trials worldwide. Dr. Chen served as Vice President of R&D for GlaxoSmithKline in 2009-2011 and as Vice President at Sanofi Pasteur in 2012. Dr. Chen has over 200 publications in infectious diseases, vaccine research, and cancer research. His current research is focused on vaccine and antibody research on adenovirus, influenza virus, and emerging viruses. Since 2020, Dr. Chen has been working on developing user-friendly intranasal vaccines and mucosal immunity.

    TLR5 pathway-based mucosal adjuvant for design of subunit mucosal vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Huimin Yan
    Professor, Fudan University

    Dr. Yan graduated and earned his B.S. and Ph.D at Wuhan University. He continued to work as a teaching staff member in College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University until 1998. From 1998 to 2002, he worked with Prof. Michael E. Lamm as a Research Associate in Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and conducted scientific research on mucosal immune functions of IgA in relation to virus infections. He returned to Wuhan University in autumn 2002 and joined in the newly established Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University as an associate professor. In 2006, he moved to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he was appointed as a professor and group leader to set up an independent research lab named Mucosal Immunity Research Group. His lab is a group member of the State Key Laboratory of Virology in China. He has continued his research on the mucosal IgA functions against virus infections and focused more on the intra-epithelial activities of IgA against viral non-surface and non-structure components, which helps to reveal novel anti-viral mechanisms of IgA antibodies. His lab demonstrated that measles virus (MV) non-surface protein such as matrix protein (M), non-structural protein such as phosphoprotein (P) specific IgA can interact with viral newly synthesized proteins during IgA transport through the viral infected epithelial cells, and inhibit viral replication intracellularly. He also extended his study in developing optimized recombinant flagellin as mucosal adjuvant for designing novel subunit mucosal vaccines. He obtains 3 patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and 4 patents issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC related to novel flagellin adjuvants as well as anti-caries vaccine and anti-RSV vaccine. His research is mostly funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.

    Engineered design of mucus penetration nanoparticles for inhalable vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Bingbing Sun
    Professor, Dalian University of Technology, China
    Dr. Bingbing Sun received B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology (DUT), and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington. He had his postdoctoral training at the University of California's Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC-CEIN) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He starts his academic career in the School of Chemical Engineering at DUT in 2016. Currently, he is a full professor and serves as the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at DUT. His research interest includes vaccine adjuvants, formulation, biomaterials, nano-bio interface, and immunoengineering. He serves as earlier career researchers editorial board of BMEMat.
    Innovative and High-Performing Lipids for mRNA Delivery
    VIF World 2024
    Yongming Chen
    Professor, Sun Yat-sen University
    Yongming Chen received his Ph.D. on polymer science in 1993 from Nankai University. From 1994 to 1998, he was Postdoctoral Researcher and later Research Assistant at the Institute of Chemistry, CAS. Then he spent the period 1998−2001 as Postdoctoral Researcher in University of Düsseldorf and University of Mainz. Since 2001, Chen was Professor at the Institute of Chemistry CAS. He moved to Sun Yat-sen University in 2013. He obtained “Distinguished Young Scholars” by National Science Foundation of China (2006). He served for Polymer, an Elsevier journal, as an Associate Editor during 2007 to 2018. He also was in Advisory Board Panel of Macromolecules and ACS Macro Letters, the ACS Publication. Professor Chen’s research interests are in the areas of biomaterials chemistry and biomaterials application in delivery of proteins and nucleic acids, specifically application in immune attenuation. He has published over 260 research articles in Science Advances, Nature Communication, Biomaterials, Nano Letters et al and obtained 10 more licenced patents.
    Synthetic lipopeptides as vaccine adjuvants
    VIF World 2024
    Haibo Li
    Professor, Army Medical University, China
    Dr. Haibo Li is a professor in the National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University). He obtained his PhD in biological technology from Third Military Medical University in 2013. His current research activities focus on integrating chemical synthesis and immunology to discover novel mucosal vaccine adjuvants. He developed an original strategy to rationally design novel lipopeptides as mucosal adjuvants by mimicking the active sites of the bacterial lipoproteins. Dr. Li has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and several books and book chapters. Now he is a council member of Chongqing Pharmacological Society.
    Adjuvant& delivery technology
    HIV Vaccine:Update, Immune CoP and Impact
    VIF World 2024
    Shan Lu
    Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA;Emeritus President,International Society for Vaccines(ISV)
    An update of vaccine development on Heptatis E
    VIF World 2024
    James Wai Kuo Shih
    Senior Advisor, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, China
    James W. Shih is a senior advisor at the Innovax Biotech Inc. Xiamen, China and Professor Emeritus of the School of Public Health, Xiamen University, China since 2016. For over 10 years, he was Professor of Microbiology at the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in infectious diseases at the Xiamen University. He retired from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA in 2006. While at NIH, he was a senior investigator and served as the Chief of Lab Study, Infectious Disease Section and Supervisor of the Transmission Transmitted Virus Lab at the Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH Clinical Center. Prof. Shih is a microbiologist with over 40 years of experience in the biomedical field. Most of his career is associated with the development and the understanding of hepatitis viruses and their clinical implications. He has managed active research programs in viral discovery and the development and evaluation of vaccines against hepatitis B and hepatitis C. He has extensive experience in development and clinical evaluation of serological and molecular diagnostics in infectious diseases. Currently, he is engaging in developing international collaborative projects one of them is the evaluation of hepatitis E vaccine.
    lnvestigation of virus-like structure vaccine based on technological strategy of lipid delivery
    VIF World 2024
    Qihan Li
    Professor, Weirui Bio, China
    Combination vaccine development
    VIF World 2024
    Kutub Mahmood
    Scientific Director at PATH, USA
    Senior biotech executive professional with expertise in viral vaccines with 30yrs experience in vaccine development. Currently at PATH, leading projects for vaccines and biologics including product development strategies for compliance with GMP and/or GLP practices as applicable for national and international regulatory framework compliance (WHO, FDA, EMA,DCGI, NMPA). Experience in national regulatory approvals and for achieving WHO pre-qualification for vaccine products. Currently project lead for polio vaccines development and scaleup for OPV and IPV related work. Current and past projects at PATH includes work related to measles-rubella, influenza, RSV, Yellow fever, live rotavirus, and SARS-CoV2 with technologies including whole virion, inactivated, vectored, live attenuated, VLPs and subunit vaccines. Holds national and international patents on VLP technology for influenza and RSV vaccines, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Presently serves as scientific advisory panel for companies and on several scientific panels for national and international vaccine meetings. Besides, serves as scientific reviewer for manuscripts submitted for publications in journals including Vaccine, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Human Vaccines & Therapeutics.
    Development of in vitro - assembled multivalent VLP vaccine for norovirus infection
    VIF World 2024
    Deog-Young Choi
    CEO, InThera, South Korea
    2016.05 – Present InThera Inc. CEO 2010.01 – 2015.12 LG Life Sciences, Ltd Director of Vaccine Development & Business 2000.07– 2009.12 LG Life Sciences, Ltd. R&D Center Head of Research Team 1995.09 – 1999.12 State University of New York at Stony Brook Ph.D. in Biology
    茶歇
    Progress toward AIDS vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Feng Gao
    Professor & Director, Jinan University
    Dr. Feng Gao is a professor and director of the Institute of Molecular and Medical Virology at Jinan University. Dr. Gao has a long-standing interest in elucidating the origin, evolution and genetic variation of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV/SIV) as well as in studying gene function, pathogenesis and vaccines of HIV/SIV from the evolutionary perspective. He has published over 200 scientific research papers, including many in the top tier journals such as Cell, Nature and Science. He discovered that origin of HIV-1 in chimpanzees. He developed the consensus gene vaccine approach for induction of cross-subtype immune responses by reducing the distances between epidemic HIV-1 strains and vaccine immunogens. He also studied the coevolution of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and HIV-1 in the same infected host and discovered a cooperative mechanism between different bnAbs to drive maturation of the bnAb lineage. His publications have been cited over 31,000 times and his h-index is 83. Currently, his research mainly focuses on pathogenesis of viral infections, vaccines, transmission mechanisms, drug resistance, oncolytic viruses, ultra-sensitive detection and development of fetal immunity.
    Vaccination with Span, an antigen guided by SARS-CoV-2 S protein evolution, protects against challenge with viral variants in mice
    VIF World 2024
    Ke Xu
    Professor, Wuhan University

    Professor Xu focuses on the pathogenesis of respiratory RNA viruses (influenza, coronavirus) and the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines. More than 40 SCI papers have been published in internationally influential academic journals such as Science Translational Medicine, Cell Research, PNAS, Nature Communications, Protein & Cell, and PLoS Pathogens, cited more than 3300 times (including 5 ESI high-cited papers). The research results have been selected as a highlight or cover story by Science, Cell Research, Protein & Cell, Journal of Virology, and the China Science Foundation.

    The group made a series of progress in the mechanism of respiratory virus co-infection and broad-spectrum vaccine or drug candidates, promoted one antiviral drug into multinational clinical trials, and transformed a universal vaccine to deal with antigen drift. The above research results provide candidate strategies for epidemic prevention and control.



    Developing a ‘One Health’ Nipah virus vaccine to protect animal and public health
    VIF World 2024
    Simon Graham
    Professor, The Pirbright Institute, UK
    I am a veterinary immunologist with an interest in understanding mechanisms of protective immunity and its application to vaccine development. My early career focussed on parasitic diseases, I developed a natural cattle model for testing vaccines against onchocerciasis (river blindness), which provided the first proof-of-principle for vaccine-induced protection. I identified and evaluated vaccine candidate antigens from the apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva, which were designed to induce protective bovine CD8 T cell responses. More recently, my research has focussed on porcine viruses, such as classical swine fever (CSFV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) viruses. I informed discussions on the use of emergency vaccination to control future CSF outbreaks by demonstrating that live attenuated CSFV prevented transmission of divergent CSFV strains after only 3 days. I showed that this rapid protection was associated with broadly reactive CD8 T cell responses, opening new avenues to develop DIVA vaccines for outbreak settings. For PRRSV, I contributed to the study of the enhanced pathogenicity of Eastern European strains, highlighting the threat these viruses pose; and contributed to vaccine development efforts through the identification of conserved T cell antigens. My current research is largely focussed on PRRSV and we are pursuing complimentary approaches to improved vaccine development. I am also leading research aimed at developing a Nipah virus vaccine for pigs and supporting COVID-19 vaccine development by using the pig as a preclinical model for assessing immunogenicity of vaccine candidates.
    The Importance of specific antibodies in the Development of VLP based vaccines
    VIF World 2024
    Huichen Guo
    Professor, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, China

    Dr. Raman Rao joined as the Chief Executive Officer at Hilleman Laboratories in February 2020. Dr. Rao has more than two decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines for infectious diseases in global pharma and biotech companies. Prior to joining Hilleman Laboratories, Dr. Rao served as the Vice President of Global Product Operations with Takeda, Singapore, where he enhanced the global product portfolio while successfully leading an international team across Japan, Singapore and the United States. The teams worked in the areas of dengue, norovirus, zika, polio and other vaccines.

    Dr. Rao started his career in 2002 with Shantha Biotechnics Limited, part of Sanofi Aventis Group in India, in Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs. He holds a MD in Medical Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

    He plans to carry forward Dr. Maurice Hilleman’s legacy for providing effective solutions for global health, especially those impacting low- and middle-income countries.


    Targeting Chimeric Subunit Vaccines against Porcine Respiratory Pathogens
    VIF World 2024
    Frank Chang
    CSO, Reber Genetics, China

    Dr. Frank Chia-Jung Chang obtains his Ph.D. from Life Science and Institute of Genome Science department of Taiwan Yang-Ming Medical University in 2012. He received his postdoctoral training at Molecular Biology Institute of Academia Sinica (Taiwan) and worked as visiting scholar in Frances H. Arnold’s laboratory (Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner in 2018), Chemical Engineering Department of Caltech (U.S.). He joined Reber Genetics as the supervisor of R&D Division in 2014. From 2017, Frank also works for business development and strategic layout of vaccine products (technology included).

     

    Dr. Chang has considerable expertise in virology, microbiology, reverse vaccinology and protein engineering for industrial production. His group has successfully developed novel subunit vaccines of swine PRRSV, pan-PCV, Mycoplasma, CSFV and PEDV in Reber Genetics, furthermore, also support the study of safe vector vaccine against ASF with external partners.


    茶歇
    mRNA based vaccine development for animal diseases
    VIF World 2024
    Caiyi Fei
    Co-founder& VP, Therarna
    Next-Generation High-Yield Baculovirus/Insect Cell Protein Expression System—qBac® Bacmid
    VIF World 2024
    Xiaodong Xu
    Prof., Northwest A&F University
    Xu Xiaodong, currently a professor and doctoral supervisor in the School of Life Sciences of Northwest A&F University, holds a master's degree in China Agricultural University and a doctor's degree in virology from the University of Reading, UK. He is mainly engaged in the research on the gene function and molecular biological mechanism of baculovirus, the optimization of baculovirus/insect cell expression system and the application and development of protein products. More than 10 domestic invention patents and 1 PCT international invention patent have been applied. In 2019, Xu Xiaodong led a team to discover prions in viruses for the first time in the world. The relevant scientific research results were published in the internationally renowned journal Nature Communications. Xu Xiaodong, as the founder of qBac® baculovirus/insect cell protein expression system, has improved the protein yield by the level of grams per liter by knocking out many genes that affect the protein yield, inserting siRNA to inhibit the apoptosis of host cells, and fine-tuning the expression level of transcription factors.
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    Vaccine company&Academia&Gov)-Due to Feb. 8, 2024
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    2024-02-08 18:00
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    Book more than 3, save RMB 2080! Available only for vaccine companies, academias&gov to apply. Tickets will include one conference pass, 2 lunch pass and access to 1-on-1 meeting system during the event.
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    2024-02-08 18:00
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    Vaccine company&Academia& Gov
    6,080
    2024-03-23 00:00
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    Available only for vaccine companies, academias&gov to apply. Tickets will include one conference pass, 2 lunch pass and access to 1-on-1 meeting system during the event.
    Solution Providers-After Feb.8,2024
    9,080
    2024-03-23 00:00
    Past Events
    For international solution providers. Tickets will include one conference pass, 2 lunch pass and access to 1-on-1 meeting system during the event.

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