Dr W. Ripley Ballou currently serves as Principal Investigator for the ADVANCE Program at IAVI, he also held several leadership positions at GSK Vaccines globally and in the US, and with the Gates Foundation. Rip brings over 30 years of experience in the clinical development of vaccines.

Expertise:
• Experience with multiple clinical development for vaccines against infectious diseases including HIV, CMV, varicella zoster, influenza (seasonal and pandemic), streptococcus, malaria, and tuberculosis
• 30 years of clinical development in international vaccines companies as well as non-profit institutions in both US and Europe
• Deep understanding of U.S and European vaccines approval systems and close relationship with both the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Prior experience:
• Principal Investigator for the ADVANCE Program, IAVI in Washington D.C, MD (2020-current)
• VP and Head of Global Vaccines at GSK Vaccines R&D Center in Rockville, MD (2015 – 2020)
• VP Global Clinical R&D & Head of Translational Science, GSK Vaccines, Rixensart in Belgium (2010 – 2015)
• Deputy Director for Vaccines, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Department of Infectious Diseases (2008-2009)
• VP Global Clinical R&D, GSK Biologicals, Rixensart in Belgium (2003 – 2008)
• VP Clinical Development in Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, MedImmune (1999-2002)
• Chief, Department of Immunology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington D.C, MD (1990-1999)

Education:
• Medical Degree, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
• Degree in Applied Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA