Robert Heyderman

University College London, London, United Kingdom

Rob Heyderman is a clinician scientist with skills and experience that bridge clinical practice, disease prevention and the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of infectious disease. He directed the highly successful Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Programme (MLW) for over 8 years, transforming the Programme into a centre of excellence led by Malawian & international scientists, pursuing internationally-leading science, research training & improving the health of people in sub-Saharan Africa. At UCL, he has established a Mucosal Pathogens Research Group which focuses on the microbial and immunological basis of severe infection caused by bacterial and viral mucosal pathogens in the UK and Africa, and their prevention through vaccination. His population-based studies of vaccine-preventable disease in Africa have led to national vaccine implementation, vaccine evaluation and large-scale studies of modified vaccine schedules. Working with WHO AFRO, he is leading the evaluation of COVID19 vaccines in vulnerable adults. He is a member of several guideline committees for the diagnosis & management of meningitis and meningogoccal sepsis. He is a member of the task force for WHO Road Map for Defeating Meningitis. He chairs the Global Meningitis Genome Partnership.