Panelist Bios:
Dr. Ward is Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the CDC in Atlanta Georgia with responsibility for planning and directing national and international research, surveillance and public health programs related to viral hepatitis prevention and control. In addition to his work in viral hepatitis, Dr. Ward's experience includes 14 years in the field of HIV/AIDS conducting early studies of AIDS transmission, natural history and diagnosis, evaluating prevention measures to protect the blood supply and directing national HIV/AIDS surveillance. Dr. Ward has also served as Editor of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), CDC's primary health publication. Dr. Ward has authored over 100 scientific publications and recently served as Editor for Silent Victories, a history of public health in the 20th century published in 2007 by Oxford University Press. Dr. Ward received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Alabama Hospitals with additional postgraduate training at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service and the infectious diseases fellowship program at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Ward holds a clinical faculty appointment with the Department of Medicine, Emory University.
Dr. Gregg Sylvester MD, MPH, is the senior director of the newly merged Adolescent and Adult Vaccines Medical Affairs group at Merck Vaccines and Infectious Diseases. His primary responsibility is leading a worldwide team of physicians focusing on Merck's new cancer prevention vaccine, GARDASIL®
Dr. Sylvester received his medical degree from Albany Medical College, completing his pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo, where he was a Chief Resident. He completed his preventive medicine residency and received his Master of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he was elected to Delta Omega, the honor society of public health. He is a fellow in both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Preventive Medicine. He has worked as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC, as a Public Policy Fellow in the US Senate and as a Chief of Community Health for a state health department. He has also served as the Director of Public Health and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services Department in the State of Delaware. Dr. Sylvester has a diverse background in health policy, public health and HPV vaccines. He has traveled extensively throughout the world meeting with governmental officials, regulatory agencies and presenting at national and international congresses on Merck's clinical trials for their Human Papillomavirus vaccine, GARDASIL®.
Dr. Robert Nordgren is currently the Head of Research, Technology Acquisition and Biological Development for Merial, Ltd., a global animal health industry leading company. His educational and professional positions include: Researcher, United State Department of Agriculture/Animal Research Services, Veterinary Toxicology and Entomology Research Laboratory 1984-1985; Scientist, Senior Unit Manager Avian Product Development, Solvay Animal Health, 1986-1996; Vice President, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Global Biologics Research & Development 1996-1999; Head of Biologics Research & Development 1999-2001; Head, Merial Ltd., Research & Technology Acquisition 2001-2003. As Head of Research & Technology Acquisition he has directed over more than 120 staff members in all phases of discovery, research, development and commercialization of Biological, Biotherapeutic & Pharmaceutical Research projects and platforms. A total of 12 of the 18 next generation (recombinant class 2 and 3) vaccines licensed and on the market in the world come from Merial Limited. Specifically, his role within the project is to coordinate the prioritization, resources, and output of the activities required to make the material requiring Merial output/capabilities available and on time.
Dr. Andrew Mellor, Medical College of Georgia
Immunotherapy Center Director and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Immunogenetics
Immunotherapy Center - Vision and Mission The Immunotherapy Center is a new center of research excellence at the Medical College of Georgia. Many diseases develop because the immune system is over-active, as in autoimmune diseases (e.g. type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus etc.), or under-active, as in cancer and chronic infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis, TB, Listeria, etc.). The primary role of the immune system is to eliminate microbial infections that cause pathogenic disease. To perform this key function immune cells must recognize and respond to 'foreign' molecules (antigens) expressed by invading pathogens leading to the destruction of pathogens and of cells they infect. The
mission of the MCG Immunotherapy Center is to discover fundamental molecular mechanisms and cellular processes that control the immune system and to translate this new knowledge into innovative approaches to prevent and treat clinical disease. To achieve this goal, scientists using cell and animal model systems are working with clinical investigators and clinical faculty to increase understanding of immune system function and to apply this knowledge to treat disease in the clinic. In recognition of the critical role of the immune system in cancer etiology, the Immunotherapy Center will be relocated to the new Cancer Research Center in 2006, which is equipped with new research facilities to support basic and clinical research, including new facilities essential to promote studies on patient materials for pre-clinical research and experimental clinical trials.
Immunotherapy Center - Research Programs Research at the Immunotherapy Center is focused on fundamental mechanisms that regulate immune system activity, which help to prevent autoimmune diseases, but allow tumors and chronic infections to persist. Research goals are to discover how to manipulate these mechanisms to stimulate the immune system to attack tumors and infected cells, and to prevent the immune system destroying healthy cells and transplanted organs and tissues.
Immunotherapy Center - Leadership and Administration The MCG Immunotherapy Center is lead by Drs. Mellor and Munn who founded the Center in 2002.
Dr. Ward is Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the CDC in Atlanta Georgia with responsibility for planning and directing national and international research, surveillance and public health programs related to viral hepatitis prevention and control. In addition to his work in viral hepatitis, Dr. Ward's experience includes 14 years in the field of HIV/AIDS conducting early studies of AIDS transmission, natural history and diagnosis, evaluating prevention measures to protect the blood supply and directing national HIV/AIDS surveillance. Dr. Ward has also served as Editor of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), CDC's primary health publication. Dr. Ward has authored over 100 scientific publications and recently served as Editor for Silent Victories, a history of public health in the 20th century published in 2007 by Oxford University Press. Dr. Ward received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Alabama Hospitals with additional postgraduate training at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service and the infectious diseases fellowship program at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Ward holds a clinical faculty appointment with the Department of Medicine, Emory University. Dr. Gregg Sylvester MD, MPH, is the senior director of the newly merged Adolescent and Adult Vaccines Medical Affairs group at Merck Vaccines and Infectious Diseases. His primary responsibility is leading a worldwide team of physicians focusing on Merck's new cancer prevention vaccine, GARDASIL®Dr. Sylvester received his medical degree from Albany Medical College, completing his pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo, where he was a Chief Resident. He completed his preventive medicine residency and received his Master of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he was elected to Delta Omega, the honor society of public health. He is a fellow in both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Preventive Medicine. He has worked as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC, as a Public Policy Fellow in the US Senate and as a Chief of Community Health for a state health department. He has also served as the Director of Public Health and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services Department in the State of Delaware. Dr. Sylvester has a diverse background in health policy, public health and HPV vaccines. He has traveled extensively throughout the world meeting with governmental officials, regulatory agencies and presenting at national and international congresses on Merck's clinical trials for their Human Papillomavirus vaccine, GARDASIL®.
Dr. Robert Nordgren is currently the Head of Research, Technology Acquisition and Biological Development for Merial, Ltd., a global animal health industry leading company. His educational and professional positions include: Researcher, United State Department of Agriculture/Animal Research Services, Veterinary Toxicology and Entomology Research Laboratory 1984-1985; Scientist, Senior Unit Manager Avian Product Development, Solvay Animal Health, 1986-1996; Vice President, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Global Biologics Research & Development 1996-1999; Head of Biologics Research & Development 1999-2001; Head, Merial Ltd., Research & Technology Acquisition 2001-2003. As Head of Research & Technology Acquisition he has directed over more than 120 staff members in all phases of discovery, research, development and commercialization of Biological, Biotherapeutic & Pharmaceutical Research projects and platforms. A total of 12 of the 18 next generation (recombinant class 2 and 3) vaccines licensed and on the market in the world come from Merial Limited. Specifically, his role within the project is to coordinate the prioritization, resources, and output of the activities required to make the material requiring Merial output/capabilities available and on time. Dr. Andrew Mellor, Medical College of Georgia
Immunotherapy Center Director and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Immunogenetics
Immunotherapy Center - Vision and Mission The Immunotherapy Center is a new center of research excellence at the Medical College of Georgia. Many diseases develop because the immune system is over-active, as in autoimmune diseases (e.g. type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus etc.), or under-active, as in cancer and chronic infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis, TB, Listeria, etc.). The primary role of the immune system is to eliminate microbial infections that cause pathogenic disease. To perform this key function immune cells must recognize and respond to 'foreign' molecules (antigens) expressed by invading pathogens leading to the destruction of pathogens and of cells they infect. The
mission of the MCG Immunotherapy Center is to discover fundamental molecular mechanisms and cellular processes that control the immune system and to translate this new knowledge into innovative approaches to prevent and treat clinical disease. To achieve this goal, scientists using cell and animal model systems are working with clinical investigators and clinical faculty to increase understanding of immune system function and to apply this knowledge to treat disease in the clinic. In recognition of the critical role of the immune system in cancer etiology, the Immunotherapy Center will be relocated to the new Cancer Research Center in 2006, which is equipped with new research facilities to support basic and clinical research, including new facilities essential to promote studies on patient materials for pre-clinical research and experimental clinical trials.
Immunotherapy Center - Research Programs Research at the Immunotherapy Center is focused on fundamental mechanisms that regulate immune system activity, which help to prevent autoimmune diseases, but allow tumors and chronic infections to persist. Research goals are to discover how to manipulate these mechanisms to stimulate the immune system to attack tumors and infected cells, and to prevent the immune system destroying healthy cells and transplanted organs and tissues.
Immunotherapy Center - Leadership and Administration The MCG Immunotherapy Center is lead by Drs. Mellor and Munn who founded the Center in 2002.