Senior Project Leader, GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Italy

Roberto Adamo, PhD, is currently Senior Project Leader in GVGH. He has a 17 years industrial career in Novartis V&D and GSK. Expert in glycoconjugate vaccines and other platforms, over the last years he has served as Technology and Project Leader enabling progression into clinical studies of different vaccine candidates.

Clinical epidemiologist, Director, Science - Site Strategy and Implementation Unit- CHAMPS Network, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine/KEMRI, Kenya

Dr. Victor Akelo is the Director of Site Strategy and Implementation for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network project, leading surveillance and pathology-based research on causes of stillbirths and infant deaths, including invasive Group B Streptococcus identified through minimally invasive tissue sampling and population studies to inform prevention strategies.

Professor of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, retired, United States

Dr. Baker’s research has comprised all aspects of perinatal GBS infections., especially prevention. Her studies and advocacy led to USA policy for routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis of GBS carriers since 1996. She became the first advocate for maternal immunization after her discovery that lack of maternal immunity was crucial for infant disease in 1976.

Head of Maternal & Newborn Health Interventions, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya

Hellen Barsosio is a Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellow and heads maternal and newborn health studies under the KEMRI-LSTM collaboration. She leads the Gates Foundation-funded Maternal Immunisation Readiness Network Africa/Asia (MIRNA) across nine countries and co-leads maternal immunisation safety surveillance in Kenya and Ghana.

CEO, Omniose, United States

Timothy Cooke has over thirty years of business leadership and public policy experience in the vaccine industry, working in small entrepreneurial and multinational biopharmaceutical companies. Omniose is developing preclinical-stage bioconjugate vaccines against Group B Streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and has an exclusive research collaboration with AstraZeneca.

Scientific coordinator, Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (Wits-Alive), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Clare Cutland serves as Scientific Coordinator for Wits-ALIVE, managing the MSc Med in Vaccinology and the Afro-ADVAC vaccinology course. She is an experienced clinical trialist focused on maternal and infant immunization, contributes to global vaccine safety standards, and has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications.

Research Director Wits VIDA, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

Ziyaad Dangor is the clinical research director at the world-renowned Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA) at the University of the Witwatersrand. As a researcher, Ziyaad completed his doctoral thesis on the clinical and immunological epidemiology of Group B Streptococcal (GBS) disease. His research is dedicated to "saving young lives" by investigating the causes of mortality, advancing health advocacy, and vaccines for pregnant women to protect newborns from disease. Ziyaad serves on a number of local and international committees including the WHO Technical Advisory Group on GBS Vaccine Development.

Deputy Director, Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Jane Daniels is a clinical trialist, and Chief Investigator of GBS3, a massive cluster randomised trial of routine testing for GBS versus a risk factor-based strategy. The results of GBS3 will inform UK screening policy for GBS and have worldwide implications. She has also evaluated the accuracy of point-of-care GBS tests and acceptability of testing.

Senior Policy Manager, Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, Argentina

Ignacio Esteban is a pediatrician and public health professional trained in infectious disease epidemiology and vaccine policy, with expertise in maternal immunisation, new vaccine introductions, and a focus on equitable vaccine access. He has conducted research across LMICs, including as Research Associate and Head of Pharmacovigilance at the Infant Foundation, and in roles at Johns Hopkins IVAC. At Gavi, he leads maternal immunisation efforts, including future GBS decisions and RSV programme design, to support and promote the introduction of these vaccines in low-income countries.

CEO, MinerVax ApS, Denmark

Per Fischer holds a D.Phil. from University of Oxford within immunology and infectious diseases. He has 30 years’ experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry within product development and business development, where he has founded and run several biotech companies. Since 2010 he has been the CEO of MinervaX, developing a protein-based vaccine against Group B Streptococcus, which has completed Phase 2 clinical trials across Europe and Africa.

Principal Researcher - Epidemiology; Technical lead - Maternal Immunisation Readiness Network in Africa and Asia, University of the Witwatersrand’s Vaccines & Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA), South Africa

Michelle Groome has 20 years’ experience in the field of infectious diseases and vaccinology, including conduct of vaccine trials, respiratory and diarrhoeal disease surveillance, and vaccine impact and effectiveness studies. She is technical lead for the Maternal Immunisation Readiness Network in Africa and Asia (MIRNA) which aims to develop readiness for provision of new maternal vaccines.

Senior Staff Scientist - Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom

Dorota Jamrozy is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, specialising in bacterial genomics. She has contributed to numerous genomic studies of human-associated bacterial pathogens. Her current research focuses on the genetics and evolution of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), and she serves as the project manager and scientific lead for the Juno study, a global genomic survey of GBS.

Professor, International Health and Pediatrics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, United States

Ruth Karron is a pediatrician, trained in infectious diseases, who co-led MIRI (Maternal Immunization Readiness Initiative) to help lay the groundwork for introduction of new maternal vaccines, including GBS. She is a member of the WHO GBS Technical Advisory Group and of WHO SAGE.

Director of Pneumonia & Pandemic Preparedness, Gates Foundation, United States of America

Keith Klugman directs pneumonia, meningitis, neonatal sepsis, antimicrobial resistance, and epidemic preparedness programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An Emory University Emeritus Chair and honorary professor in South Africa, he is a leading infectious-disease expert, National Academy of Medicine member, and 2024 Sabin Gold Medal recipient whose pneumococcal research and vaccine work have saved millions of lives worldwide.

Director, Laboratory for Specialized Clinical Studies (LSCS), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, United States

Gaurav Kwatra, PhD, MPH, is Director of the Laboratory of Specialized Clinical Studies, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. With over 15 years of experience in GBS research, his work centers on maternal-newborn immunology, vaccine development, and identifying correlates of protection. He has led multi-country GBS epidemiology study across Africa and South Asia and serves on the WHO Technical Advisory Group for GBS vaccine development.

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant, UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom

Shamez Ladhani PhD MRCPCH(UK) MSc(distinction) MBBS(hons) BSc(hons) is a paediatric infectious diseases consultant at St. George's Hospital, professor of paediatric infectious diseases and vaccinology at St. George's University of London and consultant epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), where he is the clinical lead for a number of national vaccine preventable bacterial infections. He has published extensively in the field of paediatric infectious diseases, including Group B Streptococcal disease.

Professor of Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom

Joy Lawn is a Ugandan-born, paediatric/neonatal clinician, and perinatal epidemiologist with 35 years’ experience notably in sub-Saharan Africa including trials, complex evaluation of newborn and child health services, and epidemiological burden estimates for WHO and UNICEF. She has published >380 peer-reviewed papers with a H-index of ~130, including Lancet series, and been in the top 1% of cited scientists worldwide since 2017. She led novel estimates on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) burden with WHO and others and was the Carol Baker 2023 prize winner.

Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology, City St George's, University of London, United Kingdom

Kirsty Le Doare is a Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology and WHO focal point for GBS vaccines in pregnancy. As chief investigator for CSG@MUJHU, she leads maternal vaccine and seroepidemiology studies. Her teams in Uganda and the UK investigate neonatal GBS pathogenesis and immunity to inform maternal immunisation and clinical vaccine trials.

Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witswatersrand, South Africa

Shabir Madhi has been involved in research on the clinical, molecular and sero- epidemiology of GBS for the past 25 years. Furthermore, he has been involved in number of studies aimed at establishing serological thresholds of risk reduction of invasive disease for polysaccharide and protein antigens. He has led multiple studies on multi-valent GBS polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccines in pregnant women.

Lecturer, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Kenya

While preparing for a class with postgraduate students, Anne Maina discovered that there was limited information about GBS among pregnant women in Kenya, and that prenatal screening was not being conducted. This is despite its critical importance in causing neonatal sepsis. One postgraduate student took up the challenge and did his dissertation on this resulting in a highly referenced article.

Principal Regulatory Officer, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya

As a Principal Regulatory Officer at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya’s national regulatory authority, Martha Mandale works in pharmacovigilance and vaccine safety, supporting the regulation and post-authorization monitoring of maternal and neonatal health interventions. Her work contributes to evidence-based safety surveillance and regulatory decision-making relevant to Group B streptococcus prevention strategies.

Clinical coordinator for GERMS-SA lab-based surveillance programme on bacterial and fungal infections, Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a division of the National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa

Susan Meiring is the clinical coordinator for GERMS-SA, a national surveillance programme on bacterial, fungal and vaccine-preventable diseases – including invasive group B streptococcal infections. A medical doctor and epidemiologist, she focuses on infectious-disease burden in vulnerable populations. She works at the NICD and holds a PhD through the school of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand.

Senior Social Scientist, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya

Violet Naanyu works at Moi University, Kenya, and is an adjunct at the Center of Excellence for Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Kenya, where she is a social scientist on the PROTECT Project Work Package 4 on Vaccine Confidence. She has extensively used community-engaged research and human-centred designs.

African Scientific Lead PROTECT project, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda

Eve Nakabembe (MD, PhD) is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, clinical researcher- focusing on assessing safety and immunogenicity of vaccines administered during pregnancy and academic based at Makerere University School of Medicine. She is the African Scientific lead for research on the preparation of phase III and IV GBS maternal vaccine trials in Africa (PROTECT project).

Associate Professor, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

Imran Nisar is an infectious disease researcher with a focus on neonatal sepsis, maternal immunization, and perinatal surveillance in low- and middle-income countries. His work includes epidemiology and implementation research on Group B Streptococcus to inform prevention strategies and to generate policy-relevant evidence.

Study Manager, Maternal Immunization Readiness Network in Africa and Asia (MIRNA), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya

Julie Nyanchama Nyamao leads KEMRI’s MIRNA study on Maternal Immunization Readiness across Africa and Asia, advancing maternal and newborn health through vaccination research. She also serves as a Ministry of Health consultant for Kenya’s 100-Day Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative (MNH-RRI) and is a community health advocate, driving GBS maternal immunization strategies, health policy strengthening, and Maternal-Newborn mortality reduction in Kenya.

Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Alfred Osoti is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Epidemiologist with more than 19 years of clinical and research experience. Research interests in global women’s health and averting preventable maternal and perinatal mortality in Low- and Middle-Income settings. A Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator in multinational clinical trials. Has published more than 100 articles and has more than 5000 citations. Evaluated GBS prevalence and serotypes, screening and prevention practices in Kenya.

CEO / Cofounder, Group B Strep International, United States

Marti Perhach's connection to the GBS world began in 1998 when her daughter Rose was stillborn due to group B strep. She turned to advocacy to help find the purpose in their experience, contributing significantly to the collaborative efforts to successfully campaign for universal screening in the US and then cofounding Group B Strep International.

Associate Professor, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), Brazil

Tatiana Pinto is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) spans diagnostics, surveillance, genomic epidemiology, virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccinology. She has contributed to identifying emerging GBS lineages in Brazil - revealing possible interspecies transmission routes with public-health implications - and is currently involved in efforts to evaluate GBS vaccines.

Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support, United Kingdom

Jane Plumb founded Group B Strep Support after losing her middle child to group B Strep infection. A recognised leader in maternal and newborn health advocacy, she drives national change, influences policy, and empowers families and clinicians with clear, evidence-based information to prevent devastating infections in babies.

Advocacy & Information Manager, Group B Strep Support, United Kingdom

Oliver is the Advocacy & Information Manager at the UK charity Group B Strep Support. His brother died from a GBS infection in 1996. Oliver’s work focuses on influencing UK policy and strategy, engaging with NHS bodies, parliamentarians, and other stakeholders.

Epidemiologist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States

Namrata Prasad is an epidemiologist in CDC’s Pneumonia and Streptococcus Epidemiology Branch, where she leads studies on Group B Streptococcus epidemiology to inform prevention strategies. Her work draws primarily on CDC’s Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs), alongside complementary data sources. She joined CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer in 2021.

Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom

Simon Procter is an Assistant Professor at LSHTM working across health economics, modelling, and infectious disease epidemiology. I have a particular interest in cost-effectiveness of maternal immunisation including RSV and GBS vaccines. I previously led health-economic analyses of GBS vaccines for the WHO Full Value of Vaccines Assessment and the Gavi 6.0 Vaccine Investment Strategy.

Director of Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Fiona Russell is a paediatrician, epidemiologist, global vaccine researcher and WHO SAGE member, focused on prevention of maternal and infant infections, including Group B Streptococcus disease through maternal immunisation strategies and vaccine impact evaluations. She leads child health research influencing WHO policy and vaccine implementation in low- and middle-income settings.

Expert consultant (retired CDC), United States of America

Stephanie Schrag is an infectious disease expert and adjunct faculty at Emory University. She spent 25 years leading CDC programs on Group B Streptococcus and neonatal sepsis, co-led CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness team, and contributed to major global studies and WHO guidance. A former Marshall Scholar, she has authored more than 180 publications.

Professor of Vaccine Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom

Anthony Scott is a medical epidemiologist based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya. My primary research interest is Streptococcus pneumoniae but I have a generic interest in vaccine-preventable diseases of children. I work in vaccine policy on the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts in Immunisation.

Principal Officer, Maternal Immunization, Product Development and Surveillance, Gates Foundation, United Kingdom

Dr Anna Seale leads the Gates foundation’s efforts to support new maternal vaccines in low- and middle-income countries, including the first maternal vaccine for group B streptococcus (GBS). Before this, Anna was a professor of public health at the University of Warwick in the UK, and a scientific advisor for the UK Health Security Agency. Her research career focussed on the epidemiology of perinatal infection, particularly Group B Streptococcus.