Kathleen M. Neuzil

USA, University of Maryland

As the director of CVD, Dr. Neuzil leads an academic vaccine research and development enterprise that is engaged in the full range of vaccinology—from basic laboratory science research through vaccine development, early clinical evaluation, large-scale pre-licensure field studies and post-licensure assessments. Dr. Neuzil’s own research career has focused on epidemiology and clinical trials for vaccine-preventable diseases, with an emphasis on viral pathogens including influenza, RSV and rotavirus.

Before joining the University of Maryland in 2015, Dr. Neuzil held an academic appointment at the University of Washington School of Medicine directed PATH’s activities in vaccine access and delivery, which focus on developing and advancing strategies, technologies and interventions that help move research achievements in immunization into routine use in the field. Dr. Neuzil provided strategic leadership, direction and technical guidance for a variety of vaccine projects and studies, including work on vaccines against rotavirus, HPV, Japanese encephalitis and influenza.

Dr. Neuzil has extensive experience in domestic and international policy, including membership on the Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Pandemic Influenza Task Force for the Infectious Disease Society of America. Dr. Neuzil has worked with the World Health Organization as a technical advisor on diarrheal diseases, member of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts rotavirus vaccine working group, and member of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety working group on the safety of vaccines in pregnancy.

She has contributed more than 160 scientific papers on vaccines and infectious diseases. She is currently an Associate Editor of the journal Vaccine and on the editorial board of npj Vaccines.

Dr. Neuzil received her BS in zoology from the University of Maryland, her MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her MPH from Vanderbilt University. She received her training in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.