Research News

Top vaccine researcher to speak at CTSI Forum

By CHRISTOPHER SCHOBERT

Published February 26, 2021

Print
“As a co-author on many of the publications on the groundbreaking Moderna mRNA vaccine, Dr. Mascola brings unique, close-up insight into the development and launch of this vaccine that is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 and is already saving lives ”
Timothy Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor and director
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
headshot of John R. Mascola.

John R. Mascola

Internationally recognized vaccine researcher John R. Mascola will be the keynote speaker at the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Annual Forum on March 17.

Mascola, director of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), will take an in-depth look at COVID-19 vaccines during the virtual forum.

Mascola’s talk, “COVID-19 Vaccines: Past, Present and Future,” is the centerpiece of the forum, which will run from 12:30-5 p.m. on Zoom. Register here to watch the forum live.

From quotes in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to television appearances and NIH briefings alongside NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, Mascola has provided frequent insight and analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to overseeing the basic, clinical and translational research activities of the VRC, Mascola serves as a consultant and adviser, both nationally and internationally, on the development of novel vaccine strategies against HIV, influenza and other vaccines of high public health importance.

CTSI Director Timothy F. Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Medicine, highlights Mascola’s work on vaccine development for multiple viruses, including HIV, Zika virus and, most recently, SARS CoV2.

“As a co-author on many of the publications on the groundbreaking Moderna mRNA vaccine, Dr. Mascola brings unique, close-up insight into the development and launch of this vaccine that is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 and is already saving lives,” Murphy says.

Mascola co-authored an article with Fauci and VRC Deputy Director Barney S. Graham, “SARS-CoV-2 Viral Variants—Tackling a Moving Target,” that was published in JAMA on Feb. 11.

The CTSI Annual Forum opens at 12:30 p.m. with a welcome from Michael Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, followed by a “State of the CTSI” presentation from Murphy.

Following Mascola’s keynote, Anne Curtis, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School, will present an overview of the Buffalo Translational Consortium Clinical Research Achievement Awards and Presentations. Presentations from the 2019 and 2020 award winners and finalists will follow.

While past CTSI annual forums were held in person, Murphy believes there are unique advantages to the virtual format.

“Eliminating the need for travel reduces barriers and makes it easier to attract high-level speakers like Dr. Mascola,” Murphy explains. “Another positive is that the chat feature in the remote format tends to encourage more questions and discussion.”

Whether in-person or virtual, the March 17 CTSI Forum is an opportunity to hear from notable speakers, learn more about noteworthy recent studies, and explore the future of clinical and translational research.

“While this past year was like no other,” Murphy says, “the forum once again provides us with an opportunity to look back over the previous year and look ahead to next year.”