SEA'S ONLY VACCINE CONFERENCE FROM DISCOVERY TO DELIVERY

Dr. Seyed Reza Banihashemi is a Ph.D. in Clinical Immunology from Tarbiatmodares University in Tehran, Iran, and also a Vaccinologist. He is currently the deputy of R&D and Assistant Professor of the Immunology Department at Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. He has extensive experience in vaccine research and development, with a focus on immune responses bacterial and viruses’ vaccines. He is main researcher and developer of the Razi Cov-Pars protein recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (the first intranasal covid-19 vaccine) and he is the manufacturer of the Nano emulsion adjuvant system related to this vaccine. He has published several research papers on topics such as vaccine development, immune response evaluation, and adjuvant and drug delivery system. He is also a reviewer for prestigious scientific journals in the field of microbiology and immunology.

Arindam Ray is a medical epidemiologist with about 30 years of experience in public health management particularly in urban health care, population studies, disease surveillance and immunization. Following his tenure under Government of West Bengal, he joined World Health Organization in 2000. He was National Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person at WHO country office, India before joining Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014. At the Foundation, India office he looks after new vaccine initiatives, immunization systems, disease surveillance and modelling, Gavi projects and polio legacy work. He represents the Foundation at the global urban immunization workgroup, GAVI Asia-Pacific Regional Work Group, WHO SEAR RITAG, India Expert Committees on Rota Viral Vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, HPV vaccine, Typhoid conjugate vaccine and Polio & MR India Expert Advisory Groups.

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As the Director of the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit (MVRU) at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, I lead a research team of > 30 staff including junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.  We are one of a few research groups that consistently work on the P. vivax parasite, which cannot be continuously cultured in laboratory.  I have established the first field-based membrane feeding assay for evaluation of transmission blocking immunity against P. vivax.  This method has been used to evaluate vaccine candidates and naturally acquired immunity in endemic populations. Our capacity to conduct research on P. vivax biology has contributed to the progress on P. vivax transmission blocking vaccine.  The first P. vivax human challenge study in Thailand has been established by my team in collaboration with Oxford University.  This study will increase our capacity to evaluate the new vaccine candidates and drugs against all stages of P. vivax.  To better understand the immune response against malaria infection is important for better vaccine design and evaluation.

Professor Petro Terblanche holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics (Pty)Ltd based in Cape Town, South Africa. Afrigen hosts the WHO Global mRNA technology development and transfer Hub and has developed a mRNA technology platform which is being transferred to 15 partners in LMICs as part of a global program to build capacity and capabilities in LMICs to design, develop and produce mRNA vaccines for access and health security. Prof Terblanche is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and conference papers in public health. Petro holds several Board positions and serves on a number of scientific advisory boards in the academic and public health sector. She was recently acknowledged as one of the legends of science by the Academy of Sciences South Africa.

Prof. Takafumi Tsuboi earned his M.D. from Ehime University School of Medicine in 1980 and his Ph.D. in Parasitology in 1986. He became an Associate Professor in the Department of Parasitology at Ehime University in 1997. In 1998, he identified the first candidate antigen for a Plasmodium vivax transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV), collaborating with Mahidol University in Thailand to develop the TBV. In 2003, he became a Professor at the Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, where he expanded his research to include genome-wide discovery of novel malaria vaccine candidates using an advanced wheat germ cell-free protein translation system.

Dr. Kapil Maithal is currently working as President – Vaccines and Diagnostics at Zydus Lifesciences, India. He has over 25 years of experience in the field of Vaccines, Biologicals and Diagnostics Research, Development and Manufacturing.

He did his doctorate in biochemistry from University of Delhi, followed by post-doctoral research in structural biology from Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. Subsequently, he joined as a faculty at University of Delhi in Biomedical research before moving to industry, where over the years he has led the development of numerous viral, bacterial, toxoid, polysaccharide, conjugate and protein subunit vaccines for human and veterinary use. Recently, he also led the research & development of World’s First Licensed human DNA Vaccine, ZyCoV-D® against COVID-19.

He also has interest in global public health and has served as a member of Independent Review Committee of GAVI Alliance, Geneva, Expert Working Group of “Vaccines & Immunosera for human use” of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and Technical Expert Committee of BIRAC, Govt. of India. He has also been on the recruitment panel of NISCAIR, CSIR; Gujarat Biotechnology University and advisory board for BIRAC -GMP Project of CSIR-IMTECH and School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Dr. Maithal is also a fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and Royal Society of Biology, UK. He has number of patents and international publications in peer reviewed journals to his credit and is also a reviewer to number of peer reviewed journals including Vaccine, NPJ Vaccines, International Journal of Medicine and Medical sciences, PLOS ONE etc.

Dr. Kanitha Patarakul, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor in Medical Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Her research focuses on bacterial vaccine development, particularly for leptospirosis. She has led multiple projects advancing subunit, DNA, and mRNA vaccines targeting key Leptospira antigens. Her work includes immunogenicity and protective efficacy studies in animal models, and the identification of novel vaccine candidates through proteomic and in silico approaches. She also explores adjuvant formulations and delivery systems to enhance vaccine responses. Her goal is to develop effective, next-generation vaccines for leptospirosis and other bacterial infections of public health importance.

Dr. Nirutti Pradubyati is currently responsible for the Medical Affairs strategic direction and oversees the development of optimal scientific research programs, to support Pfizer’s short- and long-term strategic operating plans in cluster of Thailand, Indochina countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos).

With more than 12 years of experiences in Pharmaceutical Industry, Dr. Nirutti lead Medical Affairs and Clinical Development in many areas including Neuroscience, Immunology, Cardiovascular and other Specialty therapeutic area both in country and international (Asia) level.

Beginning his career in academia as a lecturer in Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University. Dr. Nirutti’ s portfolio included experiences in private hospital management as the director of medical services and hospital quality improvement.

Dr. Nirutti holds Medical degree and postgraduate diploma in Biochemistry degree from Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital and Ph.D. from Mahidol University. He is also interested in other discipline with completed master's degree in economics.

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Dr. Saluja is the Head of Clinical Development at International Vaccine Institute (IVI), whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for Global Health. He has 20 years of experience working in industry, academia and resource-limited settings in both patient care and clinical research. He joined IVI in 2017 and his main areas of research includes epidemiology studies, pre-clinical research, and vaccine clinical trials (phase I-IV). In his current role, he is responsible for capacity building in terms of trainings and infrastructure in low- & middle-income countries, designing clinical trials, grant writing, regulatory interactions, overseeing departmental activities like medical writing, study startup, study execution, regulatory submissions, pharmacovigilance and impact evaluation. He has many publications in national and international Journals to his credit. Dr. Saluja has received many awards & recognitions from academia and industry alike.

Luigi Bonfatti is Executive Advisor at RVMC (Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative). As member of RVMC Leadership he is focused on industry and industry associations engagement.

Before joining RVMC, Luigi has been supporting Chiesi Farmaceutici, Italian largest pharma company, in managing the integration of its largest acquisition to date (a fully fledged rare disease company) and adjust its operating and governance business models.

Prior to that, Luigi has spent 25 years at GSK Vaccines in a variety of senior roles in business development, supply, marketing and strategy of growing importance. During the last 8 years at GSK he created and grew a self-standing business unit in charge of integrations, divestments and strategic partnerships. As general manager of this business unit, Luigi was overseeing commercial and industrial partnerships and product transfers allowing him to have a unique end-to-end understanding of the vaccine industry and value chain.

Luigi holds a chemical engineering degree from Polytechnic School of Brussels University as well as an MBA from Solvay Business School.

Dr. Ahmed is a renowned senior public health and management professional with a strong professional experiences in strategic planning, program design, implementation, partnership & capacity building, resource mobilization and policy advocacy with Government, NGOs/CSOs, private sectors. He is working over 30 years in national and international settings with international NGOs, UN Agencies, Government, private sector & leading CSO both in Bangladesh and international assignments with varieties of cross-cultural settings in South and Central Asia. He has provided leadership in health sector including Immunization, maternal, child health & new-born health (MNCH), Sexual & Reproductive health, Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition program & utilization of Digital Health services. He has proven experiences in implementing nationwide immunization, digital health services, program development, performance based framework, fund raising & strengthening health systems.

Zainab Sadat is a senior healthcare executive with over two decades of global leadership experience across pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostics. As General Manager for Southeast Asia and India at Sanofi, she spearheads strategic growth initiatives across diverse and rapidly evolving markets. Prior to Sanofi, Zainab held executive roles at Abbott and GSK. She is recognized as a transformative leader, known for her expertise in P&L management, digital transformation, successful product launches and passion for people development. Her leadership focuses on advancing healthcare access and driving innovation across emerging markets, impacting millions of lives throughout the Asia-Pacific region

Dr. Bussakorn Mahakkanukrauh, MD; is a board-certified physician in Dermatology and Family Medicine with over 25 years of clinical experience. She previously served on an Institutional Review Board and was a training assistant in a dermatology residency program.For the past 11 years, she has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on medical affairs, scientific strategy, and public health. Passionate about turning innovation into real-world impact, she is dedicated to improving health outcomes and access to preventive care.

Dr. Badarulhisam is currently the Chief Scientific Officer at Pharmaniaga Berhad. He is responsible to spearhead product development and regulatory strategies for the company, inclusive of product ideation, development, trial, registration and product life cycle management. Among others, he is currently leading the team for various biopharma and vaccine development program, either through in house development or through technology transfer from several international strategic partners.

Dr Badarulhisam qualified as a Biochemical Engineer. He received his PhD from the Johns Hopkins University, USA and MSc and Advanced Diploma from the University College of London, UK.  His area of expertise is in the fields of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology.  Dr. Badarulhisam developed his early career as a lecturer at the Department of Bioprocess Engineering, University Technology of Malaysia and he is still active academically. He has served as a Professor (adjunct) at Chemical Engineering Department, University Putra Malaysia and he is also a member for the Board of Academic Advisory, School of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a few other universities. He has served as an industrial advisor to several Bioprocess Engineering Programs in major universities in Malaysia and co supervises Masters and PhD students in various aspects of Biopharmaceutical Plant Design, Biologics Drug Development and Process Optimizations.

Pei-Yin is leading the Early Development team at Hilleman Laboratories. She is a trained virologist with more than 10 years of experience in vaccine development. She obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and pursued her postdoctoral training at Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she gained Biosafety level-3 training. Her industry experience started when she joined Sentinext Therapeutics in Malaysia, developing vaccines against enteroviruses. After successfully transitioning an Enterovirus A71 vaccine into Phase I clinical trial at Sentinext, she joined Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR, Singapore to develop therapeutic antibodies against viruses. She joined Hilleman Laboratories in 2021 as a Senior Scientist, and is currently the Senior Manager at Hilleman leading the Early Development team that encompasses Analytical Development and Preclinical teams.

Edwin Simjaya is a distinguished expert in technological innovation with a 15-year track record of driving digital transformation. As the Head of the AI & Software Center, he spearheads the strategic implementation of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, software systems, and Digital Twin technology for a major publicly listed company, turning visionary concepts into impactful, operational realities.

His leadership in corporate innovation is highlighted by his exceptional achievement as the two-time winner of the prestigious Kalbe Innovation Convention, receiving the top honor in both 2023 and 2024.

A firm believer in empowering others, Edwin is also a dedicated teacher and a Certified Coach. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at international and national conferences, known for his ability to demystify complex technologies and inspire audiences with a clear vision for the future of industry.

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Professor Waranyoo Phoolcharoen is a leading expert in plant-based biopharmaceuticals, with academic credentials from Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Arizona State University. Since 2010, she has led pioneering research in molecular pharming at Chulalongkorn University, harnessing plant biotechnology to produce pharmaceutical proteins targeting infectious diseases. In 2018, she co-founded Baiya Phytopharm, a trailblazing company that accelerates drug development using advanced plant-based platforms. This technology significantly reduces production timelines and costs. Committed to innovation and global health, Professor Phoolcharoen’s work continues to transform the field of vaccine and therapeutic protein development in Southeast Asia and beyond

Mr. Vipul Doshi has been in pharmaceutical Industry from more than four decades with diverse leadership and operational expertise across development, manufacturing, R&D, GXP quality assurance (QA) and manufacturing operations (parenterals, solid dosage forms, biotechnology, transdermal, biologics and vaccines).

He has been leading the Quality and Regulatory affairs function in the Pharmaceutical Companies of high credentials. Throughout his career he has been providing passionate global leadership and pioneered in guiding the companies to meet the Global Regulatory, Quality Standards and Compliance requirements.

He has been a Great Contributor in developing and implementing Quality attributes and Culture of Excellence based upon a set of core values and ethical practices, which integrate and improve business operations and enhance the compliance within the Organization.

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Dr. Nakorn Premsri, appointed Director of NVI Thailand in February 2019, has extensive experiences in health promotion, disease prevention and control as well as public health program management, having served 16 years at the Department of Disease Control. As NVI Director, he manages national policies and strategies for vaccine security, research funding, production, and vaccination for national self-reliance. He fosters collaboration with national and international partners, and strengthens vaccine expertise. Dr. Nakorn proposed the ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR) initiative, endorsed in 2019, and coordinates the AVSSR Strategic and Action Plan 2021-2025 to ensure regional vaccine security

Sebastian started his procurement career with HP/Agilent Technologies as the Regional Procurement Manager. He then moved on to join Microsoft & Alcatel Lucent as Head of Procurement to transform their procurement organization in Asia Pacific region.  

Since 2014, Sebastian reports to CEO, Health Promotion Board, Ministry of Health, Singapore as Head of Procurement (CPO). He led a team of supply chain and procurement officers for the nation’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic. In recognition of his contribution to this national effort, he received a Special Mentioned Covid-19 Award from the Supply Chain Asia in 2022 and was conferred a Public Administration Medal by the Singapore Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.

The World Business Research (USA), Insights Success Magazine (Ireland) and Business Social (UK) had interviewed him on various procurement topics ranging from procurement leadership, innovation, transformation, digitalization, etc.  

Sebastian is the Chairman for The Supply Chain & Procurement Council under Supply Chain Asia and sits in the Scientific Committee for the International Public Procurement Conference. He is also a visiting lecturer at NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, S P Jain School of Global Management in Singapore and University of Nottingham, Malaysia.

Alain is leading the R&D department at Hilleman Laboratories. He has been in the vaccine industry over 20 years. Alain has an MD from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He worked for several years as a District Medical Officer under the Ministry of Health of Zambia. Subsequently, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at UT Houston, a Master of Public Health degree at the UT School of Public Health and a Fellowship in Adult Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. Alain held several academic positions in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College in Houston, TX.

His pharmaceutical industry experience started at MSD and GSK Biologicals, he later joined Sanofi Pasteur in December 2006. Alain was located in Singapore from 2008 to 2018 as Regional Head of Clinical R&D/Medical Affairs Asia Pacific. Alain joined MSD in 2018 as Associate VP in Global Clinical Development leading the respiratory vaccine teams. Alain is now CSO at Hilleman Laboratories, a biotech company with the mission to find public health solutions for lower and middle income countries.

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