Experience in Translational Research and Product Development

Jim is an internationally recognized vaccine R&D leader with over 30 years of experience in the industry, including exposure to partnerships with private sector, government and international agencies. Jim is experienced and respected for creating and leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver business objectives, address complex problems, especially towards developing and licensing products in the veterinary and human vaccine areas. Jim is recognized for strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and team management skills within matrix organizations, with a proven track record in vaccine R&D, general management, project leadership, strategic planning and execution, and stakeholder relationship management. 

In his current role as Global Head of Development and LCM, Jim oversees a vaccine portfolio of 25 projects extending from phase I/II through LCM in the areas of influenza, pediatric combination vaccines, RSV, rabies, Yellow Fever, pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines. In his role, Jim is currently based in Swiftwater, PA, USA. In his over 30 years tenure with Sanofi, Jim held positions of site head for R&D at the Toronto site and various portfolio leadership roles. 

Prior to joining Sanofi Pasteur-Canada in 1999, Jim held the position of Executive Director of Research at Virogenetics Corporation of Troy, New York, a former subsidiary of Sanofi Pasteur. While at Virogenics, he helped develop the poxvirus vector technology as an immunization vehicle for both veterinary and human application, including HIV and cancer. 

Education & Training

• Postdoctoral fellow, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology – Nutley, New Jersey (1987)
• Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albany Medical College – Albany, New York (1985)
• B.S. in Biology, Bucknell University – Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (1981)

Employment / Affiliations / Other Career Highlights

• Head Vaccine Development & Life Cycle Management, Sanofi (November 2021 to present)
• Head of New Vaccine (NV) Portfolio Strategy and Execution Function, Sanofi Pasteur (January 2014-November 2021)
• North American Head of NV Projects, Sanofi Pasteur (January 2010 – December 2014)
• Global Program Project Leader Head, Sanofi Pasteur (September 2007 – December 2009)
• R&D Site Head Toronto, Sanofi Pasteur (July 2002 – July 2010)
• Research Head Toronto, Sanofi Pasteur (January 1999 – July 2002)
• Executive Director of Research, Virogenetics Corp, Troy, N.Y. (March 1996-August 2000)
• Senior Scientists / Asst. Dir. Research, Virogenetics Corp, Troy, N.Y. (May 1987-December 1989)
• Inventor of 20 patents related to vaccines
• Co-authored over 150 publications in area of molecular virology and vaccines
• Participates as associate editor/reviewer for peer-reviewed journals
• Serves as expert contributor to Faculty of 1000 in area of Infectious Disease
• Served on various scientific advisory panels and help certain board positions, i.e. Biotechnology Toronto, Connaught, Ltd.

Most Significant Contributions: Translating Science into Public Health Impact

• Licensure of 7 veterinary vaccines for companion animals and a number of human vaccines in areas of influenza, meningococcal disease, pediatric combination vaccines and adolescent and adult booster vaccines
• Significantly advancing areas of RSV prevention (registering RSV Mab in preventing RSV disease in newborns, initial licensure Q4.22)
• Advancing HIV vaccine field by being a key driver in the RV144 phase 3 trial that has been the only HIV study that has demonstrated that an HIV vaccine can reduce the risk of HIV acquisition