Team

MVP Team

F. Marc LaForce, MD
Project Director

Dr. LaForce joined the Meningitis Vaccine Project as director in August 2001. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry, N.J., and completed his internal medicine and infectious disease training on the Harvard Service at Boston City Hospital. He is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He served as Epidemic Intelligence Service officer in the Meningitis and Special Pathogen units at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. LaForce has published over 150 papers and book chapters in the areas of pulmonary defense mechanisms, clinical infectious diseases, epidemiology, and vaccinology.

Teresa Aguado, PhD
WHO Coordinator for MVP

Dr. Aguado is coordinator of the team dealing with research on bacterial vaccines, new delivery systems and a few viral vaccines (BAC) at WHO, which is part of the Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR). She also serves as WHO coordinator for MVP. Before joining WHO in 1988, she conducted research on autoimmune diseases and immunological tolerance at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, the University of Washington, Seattle and Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, San Diego, California, for over eleven years. She joined WHO to manage a committee on New Vaccination Approaches, and from January 1999 was appointed coordinator of the Vaccine Development Team, whose goals are to promote and coordinate R&D efforts towards new vaccines most needed in developing countries and new technologies to facilitate immunization. She is a biologist and pharmacist, with a PhD in immunology from the University of Barcelona, Spain.

Rodrigue Barry
MVP Advocacy Officer, WHO

Rodrigue Barry joined MVP in May 2005 to develop advocacy and social mobilization activities in Africa. A trained journalist with more than 15 years of experience in the field of health communication, he is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he most recently served as health information and promotion officer at the WHO country office. Previous experience includes news anchor (1987-1988), health reporter (1988-1992), and editor-in-chief (1992-1997) at the National Television of Burkina; and director of the Burkinabè National Broadcasting Company (1997-2000). Rodrigue Barry received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the Center for Information Science and Technologies at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, and post-graduate training in digital media technologies at the International Institute for Communication in Montréal, Canada, and the Centre Transméditerranéen de la Communication in Marseille, France. He specialized in health communication and advocacy at Aboney Calavi University in Benin.

Monique Berlier, PhD, MA
Communications Officer

Dr. Berlier is responsible for developing communication strategies and information materials for MVP. Her expertise lies in intercultural and visual communication. Prior to joining MVP in June 2002, she taught journalism at the University of Iowa and she worked as an editor for Le Soleil de la Floride (Hollywood, Florida) and the Center for International and Comparative Studies at the University of Iowa. Her freelance work focused on short- and long-term projects in the field of communication and communication research. She holds two graduate degrees in communication, including a master of arts degree from the University of Louisiana and a PhD in mass communication from the University of Iowa, USA, and a bachelor of arts degree in Germanic philology from the Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Julie Chaumont
Clinical Research Associate

Julie Chaumont joined MVP in May 2007. She is responsible for assisting with the clinical operations aspects related to the MVP clinical trials in Africa. She contributes to the site selection process and to the clinical protocols; she defines, coordinates, and monitors local training at the clinical trial sites; and she acts as the MVP contact person with contract research organizations. Prior to joining MVP Julie had worked as a clinical research associate for several organizations coordinating clinical studies in the fields of oncology, infectious diseases, dermatology, and cardiology. Her past international experience includes participation in training courses in the United States; site selection in Italy, Spain, and Sweden; and coordination of clinical trials in Belgium and the United Kingdom. In addition to her clinical research positions, Julie has experience in the field of information technology as a product developer and trainer. She holds a degree in molecular biology and biochemistry from Rennes University in France and a degree in computer technology from Nancy University, France.

Dr. Fabien Veh Kessé Diomandé, MD, MSc
Vaccine introduction consultant

A public health physician with many years experience in working within the public health sector at local, national, and international level, Dr. Fabien Diomandé joined MVP in November 2007 as a consultant for the introduction of the meningococcal A conjugate vaccine. He has experience as a HIV/AIDS specialist and technical advisor for the Global AIDS Program, Côte d’Ivoire; as a medical officer/EPI technical officer for the WHO, Nigeria; and as an EPI technical officer, WHO, Niger. Dr. Diomandé has also participated in several exchange fellowships and research programs in the United States, Belgium, and Côte d’Ivoire. He has a doctorate in medicine from the School of Medicine, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and a master of science in disease control from Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. In 2006 he won the Stephen R. Preblud “Excellence in Science” Award and in 2004 he won the Charles C. Shepard Science Award for “Outstanding Scientific Contribution to Public Health.”

Dr. Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, MD, MPH
MVP Epidemiologist, WHO/AFRO

Dr. Djingarey is in charge of the epidemiology unit at the Multi-Disease Surveillance Center (MDSC) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, since March 2002. He designs and conducts applied research aimed at enhancing integrated meningococcal disease surveillance and response implementation in meningitis belt countries. Before joining the MVP in April 2004, Dr. Djingarey served as an inter-country epidemiologist, also at the MDSC, where he supported the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, and Mali. Earlier positions include medical officer and director of the national health information system for the Ministry of Public Health in Niger. Dr Djingarey also provides training to health personnel involved in epidemiology, operational research, epidemic disease management, immunization, health communication and education. He earned his doctor in medicine degree from the University Abdou Moumouni in Niamey (Niger) and his master of public health from the University of California in Los Angeles (USA).

Denis Kandolo, PhD
MVP Surveillance Officer, WHO/AFRO

Dr. Kandolo is based at the Multi-Disease Surveillance Center (MDSC) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he coordinates and supervises meningitis epidemic surveillance in nine African countries. He has over 20 years experience in laboratory management, having held several directorships, including general director, at the Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Prior to joining MVP, he worked at WHO/AFRO in Kinshasa where he was program leader in charge of public health laboratories and traditional medicine. In this capacity, he developed and implemented a rehabilitation plan for provincial labs in DRC, he established a control and quality plan for lab activities, and he evaluated existing surveillance systems in four African countries. Dr. Kandolo earned his degree in laboratory techniques from the Institut Supérieur de Techniques Médicales in Kinshasa (RDC), his bachelor of science degree in biomedical technology and his PhD in microbiology from the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium.

Kim Kertson, MBA
Project Administrator

Kim Kertson is the project administrator for pharmaceutical, clinical, and regulatory activities within MVP. Her activities include overseeing the administrative, financial, contractual, and logistical requirements of the project and providing support to the clinical team. She joined the MVP team in Ferney-Voltaire in April 2006 coming from PATH’s Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Strategic Program in Seattle, where she had worked since 2000. Prior to joining PATH Kim Kertson worked for the United States Agency for International Development, as both a program officer and a project officer, first in Washington, DC, then in Egypt and Sri Lanka. She has expertise in strategic planning, program budgeting, and project evaluation. Previous positions include executive director of a shelter for battered women and director of a child abuse prevention agency. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics and a master of business administration in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management, Glendale, Arizona.

Marie-Paule Kieny, PhD
WHO Senior Advisor for MVP

Dr. Kieny is the director of the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR). IVR is the new embodiment of the vaccine R&D efforts at WHO and UNAIDS, whose mandate is to provide a centralized source of leadership, vision, priority-setting, and coordination with worldwide vaccine R&D efforts. Dr. Kieny has a distinguished career in vaccine research and development. She worked as assistant scientific director of Transgene S.A., where she managed several human and veterinary vaccine projects, including the development of a recombinant rabies vaccine. She earned a PhD from the Montpellier Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie. She has received several scientific awards and was conferred the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite by the French Ministry of Research in 2000. She is the author of over 150 articles and reviews, mainly in the areas of infectious diseases, immunology, and vaccinology.

Kader Konde, MD
Senior Technical Officer, Vaccine Introduction Manager

Dr. Konde leads the vaccine introduction strategy for MVP. He is responsible for establishing a strong network with African officials, public health authorities, and practitioners who will implement and budget for vaccine introduction at the national and local levels. Dr. Konde has extensive experience in developing and implementing health programs and policies in African countries, including Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Niger, Congo, and Burundi. Prior to joining MVP, he was WHO/EPI epidemiologist in Burkina Faso where he strengthened routine immunization programs. Dr. Konde was also deeply involved in meningitis outbreak response in Burkina Faso in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Conakry in Guinea in 1976 where he later returned to teach public health courses (1988-1998). He received post-graduate education in the areas of public health, preventive paediatrics, and health in developing countries (University of Nancy 1, France); nutrition (Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition, Paris, France); and health care economics and management (Boston University, USA).

Clément Lingani
MVP data manager, WHO/AFRO

Clément Lingani is an epidemiologist/data manager with over 20 years experience. Since 2003 he has been based at the WHO Multi-Disease Surveillance Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he is the data manager for the Meningitis Vaccine Project. Clément Lingani has university diplomas in epidemiology, data management/cartography, and statistical analysis, in addition to certificates in community public health and primary healthcare. He received the advanced health technician diploma from the National School of Public Health in Burkina Faso and acted as a consultant for the campaign for national vaccination days against polio and measles. Previous work experience includes being a key contributor to the development of a national surveillance system and the integration of the system into the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health and being a data manager in the epidemic surveillance unit and the AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases surveillance service in Burkina Faso. His overseas experience includes periods of study and work in Angola, Belgium, Canada, France, and Mali. He also conducted many trainings and developed training materials in epidemiology and data management.

Elisa Marchetti, PhD
Clinical Operations Manager

Dr. Elisa Marchetti joined MVP in January 2006. She is responsible for the operations related to the MVP clinical development plan for clinical studies in Africa and India. From 1999 to 2005 she worked with Chiron Vaccines in Siena, Italy, where she had from 2002 the responsibility for coordination of clinical trials with a meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine. Before that she coordinated clinical studies for a pediatric trivalent vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and for a rabies vaccine. She has also monitored clinical studies for vaccines against hepatitis A, diphtheria, and tetanus. Before 1999 she worked as a researcher in the IRIS Research Centre of Chiron Vaccines. Dr. Marchetti has cowritten several articles on Hib and meningococcus serogroup B. She holds a science degree in molecular biology from Siena University and a PhD in vaccinology from Genova University, also in Italy.

Marie-Francoise Makadi
Clinical assistant

Marie-Francoise Makadi provides administrative support to the MVP clinical team including document preparation for ethical review, clinical filing, and meeting coordination. Prior to joining MVP in October 2007 she spent several years at the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research group, providing administrative and travel planning support and meeting coordination. She has also worked for the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and with the International Computing Centre of the United Nations. Marie-France Makadi has a keen interest in clinical research and was a member of the WHO Ethics Review Committee for three years. She is currently completing two web-based courses on clinical research and basic health research ethics. She received a bachelor of arts degree in history and geography from the University of Lyon, France.

Lionel Martellet, MA
Clinical Research Associate

Lionel Martellet joined MVP in December 2005 to provide administrative support to the MVP clinical team. Since December 2006, he has taken responsibility for assisting with the clinical operations aspect of MVP clinical trials in Africa and India. He contributes to the development of clinical protocols and study guidelines, trial site selection, and site training process. He defines, coordinates, and monitors activities with contract research organizations and the clinical sites. Prior to joining the project, he worked for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in a technical and administrative support role for regional workshops in Africa and Asia on issues of trade, development, and competition. He has also worked for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. He holds a master of arts in international relations from Sussex University, UK, and a bachelor in business administration from Temple University in Philadelphia. He is fluent in French and English and is currently learning Mandarin Chinese.

Colleen Ottoson, JD, MPH
Legal Counsel

Ms. Ottoson drafts and negotiates agreements for MVP. She has worked for PATH since March 2001, and she joined MVP in August 2002. Prior to her employment with PATH, she served as in-house counsel to the United States Pharmacopeia and a health maintenance organization, where she specialized in transactional law and health law. She has a juris doctor from the University of Maryland, a master of public health from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor of arts in psychobiology from Oberlin College (Ohio).

William A. Perea, MD, MPH
Epidemiological Officer/Project Leader, WHO

A project leader in the Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response division of the WHO, Dr. Perea is responsible for implementing enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance activities in the African meningitis belt. He has been involved in the field of public health for the past 20 years and has worked in Nicaragua (Centers for Disease Control), France (Epicentre, WHO Collaborating Center), Cambodia (AEDES/UNICEF), New Caledonia (AIDS Committee), Colombia (Territorial Health Direction), Malawi, and Sudan (Médecins sans Frontières). His areas of expertise include project management, operational research, epidemiology of communicable and tropical diseases, epidemiological surveillance, and emergency preparedness and response. He received a doctor of medicine and surgery degree from the Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, Columbia, and a master of public health and tropical Medicine from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He also earned a certificate in applied epidemiology from the Institut pour le Développement de l'Epidémiologie Appliquée and Centers for Disease Control at Veyrier-du-Lac, Haute-Savoie, France.

Jean-Marie Préaud, MSc
Senior Technical Officer, Pharmaceutical Operations

Jean-Marie Préaud has more than 25 years of experience in veterinary and human vaccines. Prior to joining MVP in March 2003, he served as general manager of the Vaccine Center of Shire Biologics in Sainte-Foy, Québec (Canada), where he was responsible for material and human resources management, production, engineering, and industrial development. Other employment includes several positions at Virbac and Rhône Mérieux, two French manufacturers of pharmaceutical and biological products for veterinary use. Jean-Marie Préaud has worked on technology transfer projects in Spain, Poland, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, and the U.S.A. He received a DEUG in chemistry and biology from the Faculté des Sciences in Nantes, France, from which he later received a certificate in structural and metabolic biochemistry. He completed his engineering degree in biology at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Biologie Appliquée à la Nutrition et à l’Alimentation (ENSBANA) at the University of Dijon, France.

Marie-Pierre Préziosi, MD, PhD
Medical Officer at WHO

Dr. Préziosi joined MVP in June 2003 and she contributes documentation of the expected benefits from widespread vaccination with a monovalent A conjugate product, and additional benefits from use of a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine. She comes from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta (Georgia, USA) where she conducted research on the effects of pertussis vaccination. A former epidemiologist at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, she spent several years in Senegal conducting pertussis vaccine trials. Her interest in vaccines started with clinical studies of a Hib conjugate vaccine at Pasteur Mérieux (France). Dr. Préziosi earned her medical degree from Université Claude Bernard in Lyon and her PhD in epidemiology from Université Victor Segalen in Bordeaux. She trained in tropical medicine at the Institut de Médecine Tropicale Prince Léopold in Antwerp (Belgium) and in field epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. She has authored several articles in the field of vaccination and epidemiology of infectious diseases.

Davegnee Servoz
Administrative Assistant

Ms. Davegnee Servoz joined MVP in October 2005 in the position of administrative assistant. She assists the MVP team with filing, archiving, logistics, and organization of meetings. She also provides administrative support to the PATH office in Ferney-Voltaire where she is in charge of the reception, the supplies, and the facilities for the office. Prior to joining MVP, Ms. Servoz served as a receptionist and a administrative assistant with Amkor Technology Euroservices in France. Davegnee holds a commercial and bilingual secretary diploma from the Schulz School in Geneva. She is a native from the Mauritius Island.

Muriel Socquet
Project Administrator

Muriel Socquet joined PATH in November 2001, and she is the project administrator for the pharmaceutical and regulatory activities within MVP since October 2007. Her activities include overseeing the administrative, financial, contractual, and logistical requirements of the project as well as the project strategy coordination and implementation. Muriel Socquet has a background in marketing, market research, and administration and has worked in the private sector both in France and the United States where she helped develop the business department of a Paris-based international company. She received a degree in business from the Lycée St Joseph in Sallanches, France and studied international business and finance at the University of Connecticut.

Gillian Stevens
Administrative Assistant

Gillian Stevens joined MVP in March 2006, as an administrative assistant. She is based in Ferney-Voltaire and provides administrative support to the MVP team. Prior to joining the project, she worked in Geneva as an English teacher for business clients, and she was also responsible for designing English courses. Before that she worked in New Zealand for an international food company where she coordinated activities associated with food manufacture and distribution, participated in the set up of two manufacturing facilities, and wrote and implemented standard operating procedures. She has also worked in the United Kingdom as a laboratory manager and then a development technologist with Dairy Crest. Gillian Stevens holds a Higher National Diploma in food technology from Seale Hayne, England, and a Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults.   

Simonetta Viviani, MD
Vaccine Development Manager

Dr. Simonetta Viviani manages the pharmaceutical, clinical, and regulatory activities for MVP since March 1, 2005. She brings extensive experience in public health, clinical research, and vaccine development to the project after having served as clinical research and medical affairs manager for combined pediatric vaccines at Berna Biotech in Bern, Switzerland, and as medical director at Etna Biotech (Berna Biotech Group) in Catania, Italy. From 1997 to 2002, she was associate director of the clinical research department at Chiron Vaccines in Siena, Italy, where she was in charge of Hib, Hib combined, and meningococcal conjugate vaccines. From 1995 to 1997 she worked for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a WHO project) as an epidemiologist attached to The Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study. She has been a consultant in public health and epidemiology for the Department of Public Health in Florence, Italy, and has collaborated with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità on surveillance of communicable diseases. Dr. Viviani received a medicine and surgery degree from Siena University as well as postgraduate degrees in public health and laboratory. She holds a two-year postgraduate training degree in field epidemiology from the CDC and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. She has published several articles in the field of epidemiology and vaccinology.

Key Consultants

Costante Ceccarini, PhD, MSc
MVP Technical Advisor, Vaccine Research and Development

Dr. Ceccarini brings more than 30 years of academic and industrial experience in vaccine research and development to MVP. He served on the faculty of the City University of New York (1970-1980) and was a visiting professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine during summer 1979. His industrial experience includes several director roles at Sclavo (1981-1990). He also served as director of research and development and director of vaccine development at Chiron (1991-1998). The unit he directed in Siena successfully developed several vaccines, including the Men C conjugate for the U.K. market. Dr. Ceccarini has published 65 papers in international peered-reviewed journals. He received a master of science degree in biology from Oberlin College, Ohio, and a PhD in biochemistry/biology from Princeton University, N.J.

Dan M. Granoff, MD
MVP Senior Advisor, Vaccine Research and Development

Dr. Granoff currently serves as a senior scientist at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Calif., where he is responsible for laboratory research of host responses and identification of new candidate vaccine antigens for prevention of meningococcal disease. From 1993 to 1998, he was vice president of scientific affairs at Chiron Corporation where he supervised the clinical development of several vaccines, including meningococcal C conjugate. A member of the senior management team in charge of project technical evaluation, research and development priorities, and business development, he also liaised extensively with WHO, CDC, and NIH on vaccines and public policy. Dr. Granoff received a bachelor of arts degree and a doctor of medicine degree from Johns Hopkins University. He has authored or co-authored some 160 articles, primarily in the areas of microbiology, host responses and vaccine research, including Neisseria meningitidis.

Katharina Hartmann, MSc
MVP Technical Advisor, Serious Adverse Event Management

Katharina Hartmann brings over 25 years of pharmacovigilance experience to MVP. She has been head of pharmacovigilance and qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance at Berna Biotech Ltd in Bern, Switzerland, since 2003 and is a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical sciences at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETHZ). She is also president of the Examination Board for the Federal Examinations in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Previous work experience includes scientific collaborator/deputy director of the Swiss Drug Monitoring Center SANZ, the spontaneous reporting system in Switzerland (1990-2001), and scientific collaborator at the Scientific Drug Information Center of the Swiss Pharmaceutical Society (1978-1989). Katharina Hartmann studied pharmaceutical sciences at the ETHZ. She has gained a wide range of experience in drug and vaccine safety and is author or co-author of various publications on drug and vaccine safety and of textbook chapters on pharmacovigilance and drug safety, such as annual editions of Meyler’s Side Effect of Drugs, both in German and in English.

Musa Hassan-King, PhD, MSc
MVP Technical Advisor, Clinical Serology

As a consultant to the MVP team Dr. Musa Hassan-King will review and offer advice on the MVP serology strategy. Dr. Hassan-King is broadly recognised as one of the world’s experts, with over 30 years of experience in the field of clinical serology. From 1976 to 2002 he worked for the British Medical Research Council both in The Gambia, as a senior scientist, and in Nigeria, as a research fellow. He also spent some time in Sierra Leone as a research officer. From 2002 to 2006 he worked on the meningococcal ACYW135 project at Chiron's clinical serology laboratory in Marburg, Germany. Dr. Hassan-King has authored or coauthored numerous scientific publications on meningococcal disease and related topics. He received his PhD in clinical microbiology from Ahmadu Bello University Medical School, Nigeria, and he holds a master of science degree in immunology from Brunel University in the United Kingdom.

Jean Petre, PhD
MVP Technical Advisor, Vaccine Research and Develoment

Dr. Jean Petre is an independent consultant who dedicates himself to supporting production and development projects, particularly in developing countries. A trained chemist who specialized in molecular biology, he joined SmithKline Biologicals in 1985. He has worked extensively in the field of vaccine development and has made significant contributions to the development of recombinant Hepatitis B, Acellular Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and several multivalent pediatric combination vaccines. In 1994 he joined Biocine, now Chiron Vaccines, where he developed new presentations of combined vaccines, including glycoconjugates, to suit collaborative projects with developing country vaccine manufacturers. Dr. Petre earned his PhD in chemistry from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium.

Neil Ravenscroft, PhD
MVP Technical Advisor, Vaccine Research and Development

Neil Ravenscroft is an associate professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa. He has established a Bioanalytical and Vaccine Research Unit to assist with the development of carbohydrate-based vaccines through the application of appropriate physicochemical methods of analysis. Dr. Ravenscroft spent his sabbatical leave from UCT assisting MVP in developing the characterization package required to license the meningococcal A conjugate vaccine under development and preparing a draft of the WHO recommendations to assure the quality, safety, and efficacy of group A meningococcal conjugate vaccines. His laboratory continues to provide bioanalytical support to MVP. Dr. Ravenscroft received a PhD in organic chemistry from the UCT. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia, Canada; UCT and Rhodes University, South Africa; and the Max-Planck Institut für med. Forschung, Germany. From 1995 to 1999, he was a senior scientist at Chiron (now Novartis Vaccines) in Siena, Italy, where he initiated their nuclear magnetic resonance program for analysis of carbohydrate vaccines. He has published research articles and reviews on the physicochemical characterization of vaccines and serves on the WHO task force determining the new guidelines for glycoconjugate vaccines. Locally he and his laboratory are involved in the development of a low cost South African Hib conjugate vaccine.

Graciela Spizzamiglio
MVP Technical Advisor, Quality Assurance, Document Validation, Vaccine Licensure

Graciela Spizzamiglio advises MVP on issues relating to quality assurance, document validation, and vaccine licensure. She has more than 25 years working with sera and vaccines and has expertise in the principles of production, quality control, and related regulatory matters within the field of vaccine development. Her career started at the National Institute of Microbiology in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she was a microbiology specialist in enterobacteria and production and quality control of diagnostic kits, sera, and vaccines. In 1995 she became director of the National Center for Quality Control of Biological Products in Argentina, where she was responsible for quality control and standardization of vaccines, sera, and diagnostic kits. She currently serves as a consultant to WHO on issues related to the quality of vaccines offered for supply to UN agencies. The author of several papers, she has made numerous presentations and has given training courses on microbiology and quality assurance. Graciela Spizzamiglio holds a degree in biology from Buenos Aires University, has received training at CDC, and is working on her doctoral thesis.

Caroline Trotter, PhD, MSc
MVP Technical Advisor, Epidemilogy of Meningococcal Disease

Dr. Caroline Trotter provides recommendations for carriage studies of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A in Africa, including the use of mathematical modeling tools to guide data collection and future assessment of the effect of the MVP vaccine on carriage. She most recently served as European meningococcal epidemiologist/modeler at the Health Protection Agency in London where she evaluated the meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccination program in England and Wales in terms of vaccine efficacy, herd immunity, and cost-effectiveness. She also developed and applied transmission dynamic models to predict the direct and indirect impact of MCC vaccination programs in developed countries including England and Wales, Australia, and Spain. Dr. Trotter received a master of science degree in communicable disease epidemiology and a doctorate degree in infectious disease epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine where she is currently an honorary lecturer in the infectious disease epidemiology unit.

Key Advisory Groups

  • Project Advisory Group (PAG)

    • Dr. Richard Adegbola, Head of Bacterial Diseases Programme, Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, The Gambia
    Dr. Aissatou Touré Baldé, Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal
    Dr. Narcisse de Medeiros, Regional Advisor, Communication Programme, Unicef office, West and Central Africa
    Prof. Ogobara K. Doumbo, Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Mali, Bamako
    Dr. Christine Manyando, Medical Epidemiologist, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
    Dr. Idris Mohammed, Chairman, National Programme on Immunization (NPI) Board, Nigeria
    Prof. Francis Nkrumah, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
    Prof. Rasmata Ouédraogo, Center for Training and Research in Health Sciences, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
    Prof. Jeannine Tagliante-Saracino, Faculty of Medicine, University of Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • MVP Expert Panel

    • Dr. Ronald W. Ellis, Senior Vice President, R&D and General Manager, Shire Biologics Inc.
    Dr. Lance K. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, VaxGen, Inc.
    Dr. Emil C. Gotschlich, M.D., V.P. for Medical Sciences, The Rockefeller University
    Prof. Brian Greenwood, Manson Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London
    Prof. Francis Nkrumah, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
    Dr. Regina Rabinovich, Director of Infectious Diseases, Global Health Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Dr. Anne Schuchat, M.D., Chief, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Project Management Committee

    • Dr. John Boslego, Strategic Program Leader, Vaccine Development Strategic Program, PATH
    Dr. Christopher Elias, President, PATH
    Dr. David Heymann, Assistant Director - General, Communicable Diseases, WHO
    Ms. Daisy Mafubelu, Assistant Director - General, Family and Community Health, WHO

Photo Credit: Benoît Lange (left); Benoît Lange (right)
 

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