CEPI has announced updates to its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), an external expert group providing independent scientific guidance across R&D programmes and outbreak preparedness activities.
The SAC continues to play a central role in supporting CEPI’s strategy to transform global preparedness for epidemic and pandemic threats. CEPI’s next strategic phase (CEPI 3.0 - 2027-2031) builds on its ambition to strengthen global readiness for known and emerging viral threats and turn the 100 Days Mission into an operational reality. It will focus on accelerating vaccine development across high-risk viral families, strengthening platform technologies for rapid response, and building integrated global networks for research, manufacturing, and regulatory readiness. This latest formation of the SAC will help us to deliver on this ambition.
Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, CEPI, said: “As CEPI enters its next strategic phase, the challenge is no longer only about accelerating individual vaccine programmes, but about strengthening the underlying system that enables rapid, coordinated response when new threats emerge. The Scientific Advisory Committee brings together a uniquely broad range of expertise across research, regulation, industry and public health, and that breadth will be essential as we work to translate scientific advances into real-world readiness at speed and scale.”
Dr Laura Palomares, CEPI SAC Chair, said: “As the world grapples with new and re-emerging outbreaks on an increasing basis, the role of CEPI’s Scientific Advisory Committee is more important than ever. The complexity of epidemic and pandemic preparedness demands not only scientific excellence, but also strong alignment across disciplines, sectors and regions. The SAC brings together this breadth of expertise to help ensure that CEPI’s investments are guided by the best available science and are responsive to an evolving global risk landscape. I look forward to working with this exceptional group to support CEPI in translating innovation into tangible preparedness.”
New members appointed to the SAC
Eight experts have been appointed following a review process based on expertise, experience, and global representation:
- Dr Vaseeharan Sathiyamoorthy - World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
- Dr Marco Cavaleri - European Medicines Agency (EMA), The Netherlands
- Dr Lin H. Chen - Mount Auburn Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
- apl. Professor Dr Klaus Cichutek - Former President, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Germany
- Dr Joseph D. Santangelo - Takeda Pharmaceuticals, USA
- Professor Petro Terblanche - Afrigen Biologics, South Africa
- Dr Joanke Graveland-Bikker - Independent Consultant, The Netherlands
- Dr William Warren - WKLW Consulting LLC, USA
Five members have been reappointed following completion of their current term:
- Dr Rick A. Bright – Bright Global Health, USA
- Assistant Professor Yunlong Cao – Peking University, China
- Professor Amine Kamen – McGill University, Canada
- Dr Lynda Stuart – Independent Consultant, USA
- Professor George Warimwe – KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya and University of Oxford, United Kingdom
A full list of CEPI’s SAC members can be found here.
CEPI is grateful to the SAC members completing their term and for their contributions to helping CEPI deliver on its mission.
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