Meet Our Experts
Contact usWe are a group of vaccine experts committed to generating unbiased analysis to provide a trusted source of science-based communications and perspectives on progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine. Through engagements with the public, media, health care providers, and public officials, we provide rapid analysis and expert assessment of emerging information, publish commentary and reports, and serve as a respected source for additional information, access to expertise, and resources on the topic.
Meet Our Experts
Mary Bassett, MD, MPH
François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights, Director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights
Prior to her current role, Dr. Bassett served for four years as commissioner of Health for New York City. Her expertise includes internal medicine, public health and health equity.
Norman Baylor PhD
President and CEO, Biologics Consulting
Former Director Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR), CBER, FDA. Expertise in vaccine and other biologics research, development, and regulation, including product characterization, manufacturing and quality.
Luciana Borio, MD
Venture Partner, Arch Venture Partners
Senior Fellow for Global Health; Council on Foreign Relations. Former Director for Medical and Biodefense Preparedness at the National Security Council. Previously Acting Chief Scientist FDA, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Counterterrorism Policy and Director of Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats. Expertise in infectious diseases, medical countermeasure research, development and use.
M. Miles Braun, MD, MPH
Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University School of Medicine and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director, Adolescent & Young Adult Integrative Oncology Initiative. Formerly Director, Division of Epidemiology, CBER, FDA. Expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical trial review, vaccine safety.
Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH
Chief of Global Public Health Strategy, Rockefeller Foundation
Previously Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the National Vaccine Program Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University School of Medicine. Chief of Global Public Health Strategy for The Rockefeller Foundation’s pandemic prevention institute. Expertise in immunization policy and programs, pandemic preparedness, communications.
Jesse L. Goodman, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Attending Physician, Georgetown University
Former Chief Scientist and Deputy Commissioner for Science and Public Health, FDA. Previously Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER, FDA). Prior Chief, Infectious Diseases, University of Minnesota. Expertise in infectious diseases, public health, vaccines, biologics (chair).
John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
General manager of Vaccine Dynamics, editor for Immunization Action Coalition
Previously Global Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Merck Vaccines, and before that led US Department of Defense military immunization program. Expertise in vaccines, epidemiology, pharmacy, immunization programs and delivery, implementation science, vaccine safety (co-chair).
Peter Hotez, MD, PhD
Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Director, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics
Expertise in vaccines, vaccine development, neglected tropical diseases. Speaks and writes extensively on vaccines.
Glen Nowak, PhD
Strategic Communications Advisor to COVAT, Director, Center for Health and Risk Communication, Professor of Advertising, Grady College Center for Health and Risk Communication, University of Georgia
Previously Director of media relations, CDC and communications director for CDC’s National Immunization Program. Expertise in health and risk communications, media relations, health information campaigns and social marketing.
Paul A. Offit, MD
Director, Vaccine Education Center, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Co-inventor of licensed rotavirus vaccine
Co-editor of “Vaccines”. Speaks and writes extensively on vaccines. Expertise in vaccines, pediatric infectious diseases, virology and immunology.
Walter A. Orenstein, MD
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, Global Health and Pediatrics, Emory University, Associate Director, Emory Vaccine Center, Director, Vaccine Policy and Development
Former Deputy Director Immunization Programs, Gates Foundation. Prior, Director, CDC National Immunization Program. Co-editor of “Vaccines”. Expertise in vaccines, public health and immunization programs and policy.
Philip Krause, M.D.
Independent Consultant; Chair of WHO's COVID Vaccines Research Expert Group
Former Deputy Director of FDA's Office of Vaccines. Expertise in infectious diseases, clinical trial design and evaluation, US and international regulation of biologics, vaccine development, translational molecular virology and immunology, and international public health.
It is anticipated that some members of the COVID-19 Vaccine Analysis Team, related to their expertise, may have potential conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict. Any COVAT member’s affiliation with or support from an organization involved in COVID-19 vaccine will be disclosed, including on the website. A member directly involved with a specific product, sponsor or study will not participate in discussions related to that matter, and their non-participation will be noted. Working group members with potential interests not directly related to the product, sponsor or studies under consideration may participate with full disclosure provided other members agree.