Kathleen Neuzil

American medical researcher From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kathleen Maletic Neuzil is the Director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019.

AlmamaterUniversity of Maryland, College Park
Johns Hopkins University
AwardsElected to the National Academy of Medicine
InstitutionsUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
Quick facts Alma mater, Awards ...
Kathleen Maletic Neuzil
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, College Park
Johns Hopkins University
AwardsElected to the National Academy of Medicine
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
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Early life and education

Neuzil studied zoology at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated summa cum laude in 1983.[1] She was a medical student at Johns Hopkins University, where she was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed her residency at Vanderbilt University, where she specialised in internal medicine in 1987.[1] She was made a Fellow in infectious disease at Vanderbilt University in 1991.[1] After completing her fellowship, Neuzil started a Master of public health and graduated in 1998.[1]

Research and career

Neuzil works on vaccine development and policy.[2] After her fellowship Neuzil joined the University of Washington School of Medicine, where she served as Director of PATH's Influenza Vaccine Development Project.[3][4] PATH is a Seattle-based nonprofit global health organisation, where Neuzil worked on the rotavirus, human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.[5][6] In 2008, Neuzil partnered with Lentigen Corporation to research the pandemic influenza vaccine.[3] Their early work considered the development of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 and H5N1 virus-like particle pandemic influenza vaccines.[3] Virus-like particle vaccines offer immunogenic, strain-specific recombinant antigens that can be produced at scale.[3] In 2008 Neuzil was made Chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Pandemic Influenza Task Force.[1]

In 2015, Neuzil joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine.[4][7]

At the Center for Vaccine Development, Neuzil has developed and deployed vaccines to protect against a range of diseases including typhoid fever, shigellosis, malaria and cholera.[5][8] She has also considered emerging pathogens such as the Zika and Ebola viruses.[5][9][10] The center is also part of the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC),[11] a collaboration between the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development.[12] The typhoid conjugate vaccine created by TyVAC was demonstrated as a cost-effective strategy to protect people in low- and middle-income countries from typhoid.[13] In 2018, phase 2 clinical trials began on the Influenza A virus subtype H7N9 vaccine.[14]

In 2019, Neuzil and the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine announced a seven-year $200 million contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.[15] The research program tests seasonal influenza vaccines and features clinical trials with populations including pregnant women, children and the elderly.[5] She has spoken about the need for the public to have an influenza vaccine (flu shot), ideally by the end of October.[16][17][18][19]

Alongside her academic positions, Neuzil serves on the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and previously on the advisory group of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[5] Dr. Neuzil is central to the domestic and global response to COVID-19. As a Co-PI of the NIH-funded Leadership Group for the Vaccine & Treatment Evaluation Unit Network, Dr. Neuzil is part of the strategic team evaluating COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in the US.

Awards and honours

Her awards and honours include:

Selected publications

Personal life

Neuzil is married with three children.[23]

References

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