CEPI invites new experts to join its Scientific Advisory Committee  

CEPI's call for new individuals to join its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)—an external expert group providing guidance and recommendations to CEPI on R&D programmes and broader outbreak response efforts—is now open through 30 June 2023.

CEPI is recruiting approximately 10 senior experts and global health professionals with extensive experience across relevant scientific and product development disciplines to join its SAC, and is particularly interested in those with expertise in the following areas: 
 

• Structural vaccinology/antigen design
• mAb product development experience
• mRNA
• Use of Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning in the development and manufacturing of vaccines/biologics
• Clinical development
• Process CMC development (including QbD, tech transfer and process validation)
• Analytical expertise
• Regulatory strategy
   

SAC member's terms last three years and are renewable, starting in October 2023. Successful applicants' scientific input, guidance and challenge will be critical in the continued implementation of the CEPI 2.0 strategy, which aims to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biological countermeasures to tackle emerging infectious diseases and enhance global preparedness for future threats. 

Interested individuals can apply using our online form linked here. 

Dr Emmanuel Hanon, Chair of CEPI's Scientific Advisory Committee, said: "As Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee, it has been and continues to be a privilege to serve in the company of such a distinguished group of international experts, as we work collaboratively to support CEPI with its mission to prevent a future pandemic. Moving through the CEPI 2.0 period, we recognise that the vaccine development and manufacturing landscape is continually evolving, and as such this call for applications represents an exciting opportunity for us to evolve in tandem and diversify our expertise further. I am excited to see how the addition of ten new innovators with a variety of thoughts, perspectives and areas of expertise will strengthen the Committee's contribution to CEPI's work." 

Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, CEPI, said: "As we progress in implementing our CEPI 2.0 strategy, we are looking to renew, refresh, and expand the scientific expertise of our Scientific Advisory Committee. From building a library of prototype vaccines to nurturing manufacturing innovations, our ambitious plans rely on the invaluable scientific experience and knowledge provided by our Scientific Advisory Committee members from around the world. 

CEPI aims to have a globally diverse and representative SAC and especially wants to encourage persons with relevant expertise from the Global South to apply. We look forward to hearing from those interested in being part of the Committee as we work collectively to build a pandemic-free future." 
 

Advancing vaccines and other countermeasures to stop the next outbreak

Set up after to the West African Ebola epidemic, CEPI launched in 2017 as a public-private partnership to develop vaccines against future epidemics. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. 

Operating as both a funder and facilitator within the vaccine R&D ecosystem, CEPI's initial focus, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was to advance vaccine R&D programmes against its priority diseases: Lassa fever, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Nipah, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever and Chikungunya. CEPI has over 20 vaccine candidates against these pathogens in development. CEPI has also invested in new platform technologies for rapid vaccine development against unknown pathogens (Disease X) and has supported enabling sciences activities, including within epidemiology and biological standardisation efforts, to guide and ultimately accelerate our vaccine R&D efforts. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CEPI played a central role in supporting the development of the world's largest portfolio of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants with a focus on speed, scale and access, as well as co-leading COVAX, the global initiative to deliver fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. CEPI is also the world's leading funder of R&D for broadly protective coronavirus vaccines, which could protect against future variants of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential. 

CEPI has now embarked upon an ambitious US$3.5bn five-year plan — called CEPI 2.0 — to dramatically reduce or even eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics. Central to the plan is CEPI's goal — embraced by the G7 and G20 — to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days. Achieving this ‘100 Days Mission' would give the world a fighting chance of containing a future outbreak before it spreads to become a global pandemic.  
 

Experts to advise and guide the coalition

The SAC is an independent body within CEPI and is one of CEPI's core governance groups alongside the Board, Investors Council, and Joint Coordination Group. 

Working in a personal capacity, members of the SAC meet at least quarterly (twice in person and twice virtually) to provide world-class scientific input and recommendations to CEPI staff and the Board. This includes advising on a diversity of issues related to vaccine research and development and manufacturing to support the effective implementation of CEPI's strategic objectives. The SAC has no executive function in the operations of CEPI, but plays a critical advisory role. 

Requests for guidance from the SAC may include but are not limited to: 
 

• Recommending pathogens against which CEPI will focus vaccine development efforts.
• Advising on change of priorities in the event of public health emergencies or significant events caused by emerging pathogens with epidemic potential.
• Updating the CEPI Leadership on important developments in science and technology relevant to CEPI's mission.
• Advising on the scope, objectives, and approach of Calls for Proposals (CFPs) and the process for selection of fundable proposals.
• Reviewing proposals submitted in response to CEPI CFPs.
• Monitoring scientific and development progress of CEPI's vaccine portfolio and reviewing the overall quality of CEPI's scientific operations.
• Participating in external communications activities designed to raise awareness of, and explain the science behind, CEPI's work.
   

Apply Today

If you would like to apply, please complete our application form here. All applicants must upload an accompanying CV to the application form. 

The review process will begin immediately after closure of the application window on Friday, 30 June 2023, at 23:59 GMT. An Evaluation Committee, including CEPI Secretariat, R&D and Manufacturing Leadership, Board representation and SAC Chairs, will oversee the review. This evaluation committee will then submit a slate of finalists to the CEPI Board for approval at its meeting on 11-12 September. 

Candidates will be notified of their application's outcome immediately following Board approval. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].