Gary Kobinger, Founder and CEO of GUARD
Gary Kobinger is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Director of the Research Centre on Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba. His work focuses on developing and testing new vaccine platforms and immune treatments against emerging and re-emerging viruses of high consequences to public health.
Bruce D. Clark PhD, President and CEO, Medicago Inc.
Dr Clark is currently the President and CEO of Medicago Inc. a company that uses a plant-based technology to develop and manufacture novel biotherapeutics with broad application to immunologically related disorders. These therapeutics include Virus Like Particle (VLP) vaccines, antibodies and various antigen display platforms. The company is based in Quebec City.
Dr Clark’s has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and related industries. His experience includes:
- January 2013 to February 2017; Vice President Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Philip Morris International, responsible for global registration strategies for reduced risk products, external scientific engagement efforts, R&D Quality assurance and regulatory compliance
- From August 2004 to December 2012; Senior Vice President Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for Apotex Inc. with global responsibility for regulatory and medical affairs including bioclinical and clinical development, R&D QA, project management and pharmacovigilance
- Previous roles were as President of Medexus Inc., a Canadian specialty pharma company focused on rheumatology and women’s health, Vice President, Scientific Affairs for Sanofi Synthelabo Canada and Director, Regulatory Affairs, Glaxo Wellcome Inc. Canada
Marc-Antoine de La Vega, Secretary, Treasurer, and Scientific Coordinator
Marc-Antoine received a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the Université de Sherbrooke and is currently completing a Ph.D. in Microbiology-Immunology at the Université Laval, focusing on the transmission of Ebola virus. Under the umbrella of Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization, he has also been deployed on multiple occasions to Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi, to assist local authorities with both Ebola outbreak response and outbreak preparedness.
Following the completion of his Ph.D., Marc-Antoine’s goal is to use his position within GUARD to facilitate commercialization and access to novel therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, to those most in need.
Larry Zeitlin, Ph.D., President Mapp Biopharmaceutical and LeafBio, Inc.
Larry received a B.A. in Biophysics and his doctorate in Reproductive Biology from The Johns Hopkins University. After serving as a Research Scientist at ReProtect, LLC (Baltimore, MD), and a Senior Scientist at Epicyte Pharmaceutical (San Diego, CA), together with Dr. Kevin Whaley, he co-founded Mapp Biopharmaceutical and LeafBio, Inc. (San Diego, CA). He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University since 2004. Larry’s career focus has been on the development of monoclonal antibody based products to address unmet public health needs in infectious disease.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Brad Goble, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Brad has over 30 years experience working with public and private health and security organizations, both domestically and internationally. He has been an active leader within the G7 multilateral health security organization, the Global Health Security Action Group (GHSAG), and has acted as a senior advisor to the WHO on key global health security initiatives. Mr. Goble provides leadership in the development of strategies to enhance global capacity to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, including improved medical countermeasures capacity and consortia aimed at their development. He has also worked closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, particularly in dealing with the issues and challenges facing Canada’s leading scientific facility, the National Microbiology Laboratory. Mr. Goble has an extensive breadth of knowledge regarding the entire spectrum of public health and emergency preparedness and response, including biosafety and biosecurity-related issues.
Mr. Goble is a retired officer from the Canadian Forces with an honours degree in Economics and Commerce from the Royal Military College of Canada and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University. He is a founder and past member of the Board of Directors at the International Federation of Biosafety Associations and currently sits on the Board of GUARD (Global Urgent and Advanced Research and Development).
_______________________________________________________________________________
Philippe Boutin, Director of Operations
Philippe Boutin a complété un B.Sc. en Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Il a part la suite fait le passage vers le monde de l’administration en complétant un certificat en Administration des Affaires et en débutant une maîtrise en Intervention et Changement Organisationnel, toujours à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Philippe est fier de se joindre à l’équipe de GUARD et de travailler pour l’avancement de l’accessibilité de traitement pour tous.
Philippe Boutin completed a B. Sc. In Molecular Biology from Université de Sherbrooke. Afterwards, he made the shift to the administration world by completing a certificate in Business Management and by starting a Master’s Degree in Intervention and Organizational Change, still at Université de Sherbrooke. Philippe is proud to join GUARD’s team and working for the advancement of accessibility of treatment for all.