Genocea Biosciences Expands Scientific Advisory Board with Appointment of Four Vaccine Experts
– Expert Researchers to Provide Insight, Guidance as Genocea Advances Its Innovative Vaccine Discovery Platform –
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Genocea Biosciences, a vaccine discovery and development company, today announced the appointments of David Bernstein, M.D., M.A., of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; Robert Coffman, Ph.D., of Dynavax Technologies; Patrice Dubois, Ph.D., of the University of Lausanne and Peter Kiener, D.Phil., of Zyngenia to its Scientific Advisory Board.
The appointments of Drs. Bernstein, Coffman, Dubois and Kiener further strengthen Genocea’s Scientific Advisory Board and their backgrounds complement those of the seven notable researchers from industry and academia who currently serve on the Board which includes George Siber,. M.D., Robert Finberg, M.D., Darren Higgins, Ph.D., David Sinclair, Ph.D., Penny Hitchcock, D.V.M., Richard Malley, M.D., and Adel Mahmoud, M.D., Ph.D. Genocea’s Scientific Advisory Board plays a critical role for the Company by providing scientific and industry guidance as the Company progresses its transformational vaccine platform to develop and commercialize vaccines for areas of high unmet medical need.
“It is an honor to add these distinguished scientists to our Advisory Board,” said Staph Leavenworth Bakali, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genocea. “Each is a pioneer in the field of vaccine research and development, and we are fortunate to benefit from their collective counsel, critical knowledge and key scientific insights as we collaborate to advance Genocea’s innovative platform for vaccine discovery and development.”
New Scientific Advisory Board Members
David Bernstein, M.D., M.A.
Dr. Bernstein is the Albert Sabin Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he directs one of eight National Institutes of Health-funded Vaccine Evaluation Units. Dr. Bernstein has expertise in vaccines and antivirals against herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus, and was instrumental in the development of the precursor to the rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix®.
Robert Coffman, Ph.D.
Dr. Coffman is currently the vice president and chief scientific officer of Dynavax Technologies. He shared the William S. Coley Award for Research in Immunology for the discovery of the Th1 and Th2 subsets of T lymphocytes and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Prior to joining Dynavax, Dr. Coffman was a distinguished research fellow at the DNAX Research Institute.
Patrice Dubois, Ph.D.
Dr. Dubois is currently a freelance consultant in vaccine research and development. He was previously with Smith Kline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline), where he worked on the mode of action of adjuvants to evaluate vaccine-induced T cell responses. Dr. Dubois will begin work with the Global Adjuvant Development Initiative at the University of Lausanne in late 2009.
Peter Kiener, D.Phil.
Dr. Kiener is president and chief executive officer of Zyngenia, where he leads business and drug development efforts. Prior to founding Zyngenia, Dr. Kiener was head of research and development at MedImmune; before joining MedImmune, he held senior level research positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr. Kiener’s academic career includes positions on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Maryland; assistant professor at the University of North Texas/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine; research associate in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts; and postdoctoral research assistant at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford University.
About Genocea Biosciences
Genocea Biosciences was founded in 2006 to commercialize key breakthroughs in vaccine discovery and development. The company’s proprietary T cell-directed antigen discovery program represents a broad platform with the potential to generate significant novel vaccines for multiple pathogens with high unmet medical need. Genocea is currently developing vaccines for Chlamydia trachomatis (a sexually transmitted disease agent causing an estimated 90 million cases worldwide), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia is the leading killer of children under the age of five worldwide) and other undisclosed targets. Genocea was recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the “World’s Most Intriguing Startups” for 2009. In 2008, Genocea was selected as “Best Vaccine Startup” at the World Vaccine Congress and was selected one of the 15 most exciting biotech startup companies by FierceBiotech. Genocea is backed by leading investors including Lux Capital Management, Polaris Venture Partners, SR One, Auriga Partners, Cycad Group, Morningside Ventures and Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Visit www.genocea.com for more information.
