Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM)

Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Director of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Deputy Head, Medical Sciences Division and an Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases

Helen McShane is currently Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Director of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Deputy Head, Medical Sciences Division and an Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases. Since 2001, Helen has lead a TB vaccine research group at the University of Oxford. She led the development of MVA85A, the first new TB vaccine candidate to enter efficacy testing. Current areas of focus include the development of controlled human mycobacterial challenge models, aerosol delivery of vaccines and immunomonitoring in clinical trials. She collaborates with several research groups across Africa in TB vaccine clinical trials. Most recently, Helen has been leading the coordination of COVID-19 drug trials within Oxford and nationally and is now leading a programme to establish a controlled human infection model with SARS CoV2 which will allow the evaluation of protective immunity.

 Director of The Pirbright Institute

Prof Charleston obtained a BVetMed from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK in 1982. After a period of time in Large Animal Practice, studied for a Masters degree in Molecular Biology at University College London in 1988, then a PhD degree, as a Wellcome Trust Scholar, from the University of London, UK, in 1991. He then carried out postdoctoral research, as a Wellcome Trust Post-doctoral fellow, at the Royal Veterinary College and the Babraham Institute, Cambridge for three years.

He joined The Pirbright Institute (formally known as the Institute for Animal Health) in 1994 and focused on studies of the immune response to viral infections in cattle. In addition, he has provided advice on studies of the immune response to viral infections in cattle. In addition, he has provided advice and expertise on the design of infectious disease challenge models for a wide range of pathogens in important agricultural species.  His research group’s efforts are focused on understanding the immune response to foot-and–mouth disease virus in cattle to develop novel vaccines.

 Head of Finance, The Pirbright Institute

Susan Williams has been Head of Finance at The Pirbright Institute since 2015. Prior to this, she worked in the property management industry for 17 years, 14 of which were in a managerial position. As Finance & IT manager, Susan was a member of the board, part of the Senior Membership Team and made key decisions regarding the strategic direction of the company. Her team produced over 100 service charge audited accounts per year, managed 200 bank accounts and produced consolidated company accounts. They were also heavily involved in running service charge budget and year end meetings for over 85 property estates across the South-East. Susan also played a key role in implementing a new accounting property management system and enabling the smooth relocation of the company on two occasions.

 Executive Director Strategic Planning, Evidence & Engagement, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Sarah studied for a degree in pharmacology and a PhD in chemoprevention. She has a wealth of experience of the UK research landscape having held senior roles in research council, university, and regional partnership settings. Early in her career she worked at the MRC in research programme management and strategic planning, before moving to Imperial College London. Here her role evolved to Programme Director of Research for both the Faculty of Medicine and partner NHS Trust. She has spent periods of time on secondment to HEFCE (now Research England) to assist with the Research Excellence Framework and with the University of Hong Kong.

Prior to joining BBSRC Sarah was Director of the GW4 Alliance, building strategic, influential relationships with industry, policy makers, funders, and government to deliver collaborative, multidisciplinary projects at scale. As Executive Director at BBSRC, Sarah has responsibility for strategic planning, evidence and evaluation, policy, stakeholder engagement (including oversight of our Strategic Partner Universities and BBSRC strategically supported institute relationships) and the Institutes Assessment Exercise.

Senior Progam Officer, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Nick joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014 as a Senior Program Officer within the Agricultural Development program. Nick is responsible for implementing the foundation’s strategy in animal health, including the development and deployment of products to combat neglected and emerging diseases of livestock, including zoonotic diseases that threaten public health. The foundation’s livestock investments support smallholder livestock keepers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in their efforts to sustainably raise healthy, productive animals. 

Prior to joining the foundation, Nick was a Wellcome Trust Fellow with a focus on veterinary virology and immunology. He has held roles in veterinary practice, academia, vaccine development in industry, and in the UK’s regulatory agency for veterinary drugs and vaccines. Nick holds a degree in veterinary medicine and earned his Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Edinburgh.

Senior Food and Agriculture Adviser in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Alan is a Senior Food and Agriculture Adviser in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), working in FCDO’s Research and Evidence Division. He has worked for the UK Government in agriculture development for over 30 years in Africa and Asia. His background is originally in Fisheries and Aquaculture, and he has PhD in Marine Biology and a Masters in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. He worked on aquaculture development and inland fisheries management in Bangladesh for 8 years for DFID, including three years working in the Bangladesh Agriculture University. He has also worked with Government of Uganda on agriculture policy reform and for the Malaysian Government.

Managing Director, BioVacc Consulting Ltd, Amersham, UK

During his long career in the pharmaceutical industry with Wellcome Biotechnology, Schering-Plough Animal Health and MSD/Merck Animal Health, Dr Michael James Francis has undertaken global responsibility for a broad range of veterinary and human vaccine projects against viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. This has led to the development of successful commercial vaccines for all major veterinary livestock and companion animal species, including three animal coronaviruses, utilising both conventional and novel technologies. He is currently the Managing Director of a specialist vaccine development consultancy, BioVacc Consulting Ltd.

Michael was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and awarded an Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in recognition of his contribution to the field of vaccine R&D and animal wellbeing. In addition, he is currently the Chair of the Scientific Strategy Board (SSB) for CVIM at the Pirbright Institute, a Board Member of the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network, a Trustee for the Jenner Vaccine Foundation, an Independent Member of the UK Science Partnership for Animal and Plant Health, a Member of AgResults Brucellosis Vaccine R&D Pilot Judging Panel, a Member of the Zoonoses and a One Health Approach Advisory Group, a member of the BBSRC Veterinary Vaccinology Expert Working Group and a Member of the UK Vaccine Network.

Managing Director, Bellows Consulting Ltd, Berkhamsted, UK

Nicki is an independent consultant currently acting as the CVIM Centre Manager and responsible for its Operational oversight and delivery. She is the Founder and Director of Bellows Consulting, guiding overarching strategy to translate research from the basic science environment into the clinic and towards the market. She is also an independent Non-Executive Director for the Biotech Growth Trust PLC, a Member of the CARB-X Advisory Board, and a reviewer for Innovate UK.

Previously she was a senior member of the Innovations Division at the Wellcome Trust where she was responsible for the establishment, management and oversight of the Translation Fund, a £30M a year investment. Nicki has previously held positions at AstraZeneca, Global Prior Art, and Brown University.

 Managing Director, BioVacc Consulting Ltd, Amersham, UK

During his long career in the pharmaceutical industry with Wellcome Biotechnology, Schering-Plough Animal Health and MSD/Merck Animal Health, Dr Michael James Francis has undertaken global responsibility for a broad range of veterinary and human vaccine projects against viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. This has led to the development of successful commercial vaccines for all major veterinary livestock and companion animal species, including three animal coronaviruses, utilising both conventional and novel technologies. He is currently the Managing Director of a specialist vaccine development consultancy, BioVacc Consulting Ltd.

Michael was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and awarded an Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in recognition of his contribution to the field of vaccine R&D and animal wellbeing. In addition, he is currently the Chair of the Scientific Strategy Board (SSB) for CVIM at the Pirbright Institute, a Board Member of the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network, a Trustee for the Jenner Vaccine Foundation, an Independent Member of the UK Science Partnership for Animal and Plant Health, a Member of AgResults Brucellosis Vaccine R&D Pilot Judging Panel, a Member of the Zoonoses and a One Health Approach Advisory Group, a member of the BBSRC Veterinary Vaccinology Expert Working Group and a Member of the UK Vaccine Network.

Professor of Vaccinology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and Deputy Executive Director of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya

Professor George Warimwe is Professor of Vaccinology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and Deputy Executive Director of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya. His works focuses on viral infections that are transmitted between humans and animals in Africa and vaccine development for their control. While many of these viruses were first discovered in Africa, very little is known regarding their distribution, associated disease burden and their viral genetic diversity in the continent.

Among other projects, Professor’s Warimwe’s research team are at the forefront of addressing the global shortage in Yellow Fever vaccine supply, work which may have a major impact on the number of doses that can be given based on the current global stock of YF vaccine and the number of doses that are produced for future use. His recent work on COVID-19 serology in Kenya has informed decisions on the national pandemic response and remains one of the most comprehensive COVID-19 seroepidemiological programmes in Africa to date.

 Chief Executive Officer at GALVmed

Dr Carolin Schumacher is the Chief Executive Officer at GALVmed since November 2018. GALVmed’s ambition is to make a significant contribution to the economic development of communities in Africa and South Asia, through improvements in livestock production. The CEO leads and develops the activity of GALVmed in line with its mission, vision and accountability. A veterinarian with a Doctorate degree in Veterinary Virology and Post-graduate training in negotiation, finance, leadership, team development, communication and crisis management. Dr Schumacher has 25+ years of experience delivering to market innovative veterinary medicines and solutions that create value for animals, customers, the private sector and society at large. 

Independent Consultant

David qualified as a veterinary surgeon and worked in general veterinary practice before obtaining postgraduate degrees in immunology from the Universities of Birmingham and London.  He then embarked on a research career in exotic viral diseases of livestock culminating as Head of the Pirbright Laboratory when it was part of the Institute for Animal Health. David subsequently moved into the regulatory area, working at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in the UK before moving to the European Medicines Agency in charge of the Veterinary Medicines Division.  During his career he has published on epizootic diseases of livestock and on regulatory issues, particularly in relation to veterinary vaccines. Since leaving the EMA in 2018, David provides independent advice to governmental and not-for-profit organisations in relation to regulation of veterinary medicines with a particular interest in promoting the availability of vaccines against epizootic diseases of animals.

 Managing Director, PvG Vaccine Bioprocess Consultancy, Sint Anthonis, The Netherlands

Pieter van Gelder has over 35 years of experience in setting up new, high yielding and robust Bioproduction Processes for commercial Vaccines, Scaling Up, Process Transfer into commercial manufacturing and Manufacturing Support (resolving issues). He holds a Master of Science degree in Biology. During his career within the animal health pharmaceutical industry (Intervet International BV, Schering-Plough, MSD-AH) he held positions as Head of Biological Pilot Plant and Director of Bioprocess Technology with global responsibility for establishing over 50 successful commercial vaccine production processes covering a broad range of animal health target species (Pets, Avian, Bovine, Porcine, Fish) applying very diverse types of vaccine technologies (classic live & inactivated, recombinant live vector, baculovirus subunit & VLP, MCA, Rec Protein) and handling very diverse microorganisms (Viruses, Parasites, Intracellular Bacteria, Mycoplasma). As Capital Project Lead he was responsible for several high containment facility construction projects (pilot plant) according to GLP/GMP regulations. He is now since 1.5 years the Managing Director of an independent specialist Vaccine Bioprocess consultancy.

Process Development and Facility Lead, CVIM

Julian Seago is the CVIM Process Development and Facility Lead and responsible for delivery of the science activities within the Centre, across different projects, platforms and disease areas. 

Julian obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford in 2001, where he used D. melanogaster (a species of fly) as a model organism to study components of the protein complex called the exosome that mediates RNA degradation. After finishing a short post-doctoral position at Oxford working on a transcription factor of C. elegans (a type of threadworm), he continued to characterise exosome proteins in Japan as a Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellow. Upon returning to the UK, Julian worked on snake disintegrins (venom proteins) at St. Thomas’ Hospital before joining the research team at The Pirbright Institute in 2004. At the Institute his work has focused on three major animal pathogens, classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). He is particularly interested in the use of reverse genetics to manipulate viral genomes to investigate the virus life cycle and to produce better vaccines.