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Ready to skyrocket
your career?

Your countdown to success starts now… 10, 9, 8
Don’t miss TASK Research Academy’s electrifying 2024 webinar series! Join us for an exhilarating four-part journey where we’ll unveil Stellar Insights and arm you with the tools to confidently Navigate the Clinical Research Universe.

Get ready to blast off – watch the recording of the first webinar now and let’s launch into new frontiers together!

Ready to skyrocket
your career?

Your countdown to success starts now… 10, 9, 8
Don’t miss TASK Research Academy’s electrifying 2024 webinar series! Join us for an exhilarating four-part journey where we’ll unveil Stellar Insights and arm you with the tools to confidently Navigate the Clinical Research Universe.

Get ready to blast off – secure your spot now and let’s launch into new frontiers together!

WEBINAR 1

Clinical research and the life-saving power of vaccines.

It was World Immunization Week 24 – 30 April 2024 and TASK Research Academy celebrated with the world the 50 years existence of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) – recognizing that collective efforts are needed to save and improve countless lives from vaccine-preventable diseases.

In this Webinar recording you’ll gain insight into:

  • Understanding your immune system – explore the intricate network of organs, cells, and proteins that make up our immune system, and learn how they defend against infections, cancer cells, and other invaders.
  • Lessons learned from COVID vaccine development and next generation technology developments.
  • Understanding why vaccines are needed.
  • Gain invaluable insights into the phases of vaccine development as well as the cutting-edge research from two frontrunner Sponsors that sheds light on their latest technologies used in vaccine development for various infectious diseases, from HIV, Tuberculosis to other emerging infectious diseases.

NANOCLUSTERING/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES

Introducing our Stellar Panelists:

Dr. Daryl C. Drummond, Ph.D

Chief Scientific Officer, Akagera Medicines. Akagera Medicines is a company that is developing novel liposomal formulations of antibacterial drugs to treat Tuberculosis (TB). They are also developing novel mRNA vaccine candidates against neglected infectious diseases.

Daryl has 30 years of experience in the research and development of liposomal and lipidic nanoparticle (LNP) based therapeutics and vaccines.

Daryl is currently the Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and Senior Vice President of Akagera Medicines. At Akagera, he is advancing the use of sophisticated lipid-based nanotechnologies to deliver novel and highly potent anti-bacterial agents directly to innate immune cell reservoirs for mycobacterium or gram-positive bacterium and mRNA vaccines, targeting some of the world’s most challenging and neglected infectious diseases.

Daryl also joined Tidal Therapeutics in 2019 as an SAB member, and later as the Interim Head of Research and Development, prior to be acquired by Sanofi in April 2021.  At Sanofi he oversaw the engineering and pharmacology of immune cell-targeted mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

Through June of 2019, Dr. Drummond served as the Head of Research and Senior Vice President of Discovery for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, a public biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, MA, where he oversaw the discovery efforts for Merrimack’s Nanotherapeutics and Biologics-based therapeutics. Dr. Drummond received a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Indiana University in 1997, with an emphasis on membrane biochemistry and biophysics, and later completed a postdoc under the renowned father of lipid-based drug delivery systems, Demetrios Papahadjopoulos at California Pacific Medical Center in 1999.

Dr. Drummond was a principle inventor for a wide range of nanotechnology-based drugs and platform technologies, most notably Onivyde, a highly stabilized liposomal formulation of irinotecan that was approved for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.  He joined Merrimack in 2009 following the merger of Merrimack with Hermes Biosciences.  Overall, Dr. Drummond has more than 30 years of experience in the research and development of advanced drug delivery systems, including five unique drugs or imaging agents that have been tested in various clinical trials, an NDA and EMA approval for Onivyde, >40 issued patents or patent applications, and more than 75 peer reviewed publications. The focus of his research at Merrimack had been in developing targeted nanotherapeutics for treating a wide range of solid tumors.  He successfully developed novel platform technologies for targeting lipidic nanocarriers such as liposomes or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using a range of novel ligands, but most notably Fab’ or scFv antibody fragments.  He has also developed platform technologies for dramatically improving the in vivo drug retention of difficult to stabilize small molecule drugs, and for systemic delivery of nucleic acids.  Three of these nanotherapeutics were studied in clinical trials, including an ErbB2-targeted liposomal doxorubicin which was evaluated in a Phase II study in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancers and a nanoliposomal formulation of irinotecan which was approved by both the EMA and FDA following promising results in a Phase III trial in gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.  Onivyde completed a successful phase III clinical trial in front line pancreatic cancer in combination with oxaliplatin and 5FU in late 2022 and was recently approved by the US FDA for the same indication.  A fourth antibody targeted lipososomal drug (MM-310) was evaluated in a Phase I study in multiple EphA2 overexpressing solid tumors.  In addition, Dr. Drummond previously oversaw the discovery and development of more traditional biologics, such as a stabilized TRAIL-Fc fusion and a monoclonal antibody against the immuno-oncology target, TNFR2.

Dr. Elana van Brakel

Medical Director at IAVI who is translating scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. IAVI is a non-profit that develops vaccines and antibodies for HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases.

Elana van Brakel is a distinguished Medical Director at IAVI with their head offices in New York, USA, leveraging over two decades of experience in clinical development and infectious diseases.

Since January 2022, she has been the medical lead in clinical development of pivotal medical initiatives, including tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 vaccine trials while collaborating with global stakeholders. Prior to her tenure at IAVI, Elana held influential roles at TASK (Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Acquisition & Coordinating Facility) in Cape Town, South Africa, where she orchestrated academic programs, led clinical investigations, and made significant contributions to TB vaccine trials.

With a stellar academic background including an MB.ChB. from the University of Stellenbosch and an M.Sc. in Medicine from the University of Cape Town, where she conducted groundbreaking research on HIV-associated cognitive impairment, Elana’s career epitomises a commitment to medical innovation and global health initiatives.

She has represented TASK at various networking and academic meetings, played a crucial role in planning and implementing TB vaccine trials, and contributed to prominent publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine. Elana’s expertise extends beyond clinical trials, as she has also served as a Scientific Officer, Research Fellow, and Medical Officer at esteemed institutions, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in the field of infectious diseases and clinical research.

Dr. Elana van Brakel

Medical Director at IAVI who is translating scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. IAVI is a non-profit that develops vaccines and antibodies for HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases.

Elana van Brakel is a distinguished Medical Director at IAVI with their head offices in New York, USA, leveraging over two decades of experience in clinical development and infectious diseases.

Since January 2022, she has been the medical lead in clinical development of pivotal medical initiatives, including tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 vaccine trials while collaborating with global stakeholders. Prior to her tenure at IAVI, Elana held influential roles at TASK (Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Acquisition & Coordinating Facility) in Cape Town, South Africa, where she orchestrated academic programs, led clinical investigations, and made significant contributions to TB vaccine trials.

With a stellar academic background including an MB.ChB. from the University of Stellenbosch and an M.Sc. in Medicine from the University of Cape Town, where she conducted groundbreaking research on HIV-associated cognitive impairment, Elana’s career epitomises a commitment to medical innovation and global health initiatives.

She has represented TASK at various networking and academic meetings, played a crucial role in planning and implementing TB vaccine trials, and contributed to prominent publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine. Elana’s expertise extends beyond clinical trials, as she has also served as a Scientific Officer, Research Fellow, and Medical Officer at esteemed institutions, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in the field of infectious diseases and clinical research.

Introducing our Stellar Panelists:

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WEBINAR April 2024

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Don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic discovery – watch the recording now and let’s embark on this extraordinary journey together!