Past Event! Note: this event has already taken place.
| When: | Monday, September 11th, 2023 |
| Time: | 1:30 pm — 2:30 pm |
| Location: | Teraanga Commons, 274-275 Conference Rooms |
| Audience: | Anyone |
Please note this event has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Accelerating the response to Disease X: Successes and failures with COVID-19
The first part of the talk will cover the work on Disease X undertaken in 2018. Disease X is caused by Pathogen X, an infectious agent that is not currently known to cause human disease, but that could result in a future outbreak with epidemic or pandemic potential. Dr. Ajoy Chakrabarti leads a team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (with support from PricewaterhouseCoopers) that looked at preparations for Disease X. They identified crucial areas for acceleration in medical countermeasure product development and international coordination. The relevance of this work increased significantly in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The second part of the talk will cover the successes and failures that were seen in the pandemic from a product development perspective, with a focus on vaccine development. Dr. Chakrabarti will conclude by outlining how various organizations are trying to address vaccine access, highlighting some novel approaches to vaccine manufacturing.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Ajoy C. Chakrabarti
Meet Ajoy C. Chakrabarti, a distinguished individual with a rich background in both science and business. Dr. Chakrabarti holds a PhD and an MBA, and he proudly identifies as a Carleton University alumnus, with a special connection spanning two generations as his father served as a Chemistry professor here. During his academic journey, Dr. Chakrabarti collaborated with Ken Storey for his MSc studies.
Ajoy Chakrabarti, Portfolio & Platform Lead, Polio, Global Health Program
Dr. Chakrabarti’s career has been marked by his dedication to solving global health challenges. He spent over two decades in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, accumulating a wealth of experience. For the past seven years, he has been a driving force at the Gates Foundation, where his primary focus has been on eradicating Polio. His role involves providing strategic guidance across multiple polio vaccine initiatives, contributing to the global campaign against this devastating disease.
Having experienced over 25 years of diverse product development endeavors, Dr. Chakrabarti brings a unique perspective to the table. His leadership extends to various facets of the field, including bio-defense therapeutics, vaccines, marketing, portfolio management, decision analysis, forecasting, and product development. His professional journey has encompassed a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, from biodefense products to infectious diseases, oncology, and metabolic diseases.
Dr. Chakrabarti’s expertise is not confined to academia and research alone. His proficiency extends to business development, international alliance management, and government grants and contracts. He’s also well-versed in the intricacies of internet marketing and has played pivotal roles in successful pharmaceutical product launches.
Dr. Chakrabarti’s passion for addressing global health crises is further demonstrated through his upcoming talk titled “Accelerating the response to Disease X: Successes and failures with COVID-19.” This topic holds particular significance as Dr. Chakrabarti and his team published a paper on it in the Lancet Infectious Diseases in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was emerging.
For further details about Dr. Chakrabarti’s journey, you can also explore his LinkedIn profile.
Join us on September 11th on campus to hear Dr. Chakrabarti share his insights and experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional who has dedicated his career to making a positive impact on global health! Register below.