Policy Exchange: Pandemic Preparedness and Response – Are We Learning the Right Lessons?
You’re invited to attend a virtual session for prospective students to learn more about the Schar School of Policy and Government and our graduate programs.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how vulnerable the world was to the spread of a novel contagious pathogen. The United States found itself unprepared and unable to respond effectively to the pandemic. Join five Schar School professors, who are distinguished experts in global health security and pandemic response, for an interactive discussion about whether we are learning the right lessons and how to prepare for the next pandemic.
This session is ideal for students interested in the Schar School’s Master’s in Biodefense and Graduate Certificates in Global Health and Security, Science, Technology, and Security, and Terrorism and Homeland Security programs, but all prospective students are welcome to register.
DATE: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET (Virtual Event)
FEATURING: Professors Robert V. House, Lauren Quattrochi, Saskia Popescu, and Katalin Kiss
ABOUT THE PROFESSORS
Professor Robert V. House, PhD, MSPH is senior vice president of government contracts at Ology Bioservices Inc., a company that develops and manufactures biopharmaceutical products, including medical countermeasures (MCM), for the US government and commercial companies. Prior to Ology Bio, Dr. House was President and Chief Scientific Officer at DynPort Vaccine Company, which was also engaged in developing MCM for the US government.
Professor Lauren Quattrochi, PhD, MA, MA is currently a principal biotechnologist at MITRE Corporation leading national-level scientific and biosecurity initiatives within the US government. Classically trained as an electrophysiologist and neuro-pharmacologist, she has worked within the biopharma industry, non-profits, and for the past 4 years, in support of the government. Dr. Quattrochi serves as a technical advisor on both Hantavirus and COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing programs.
Professor Saskia Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, a Schar School alumna, is an infectious disease epidemiologist and infection preventionist with a focus on hospital bio-preparedness and the role of infection prevention in health security efforts. She currently serves as a member of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Coronavirus Taskforce and is a member of the Committee on Data Needs to Monitor Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
Professor Katalin Kiss is senior manager at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a global biological materials resource and standards organization. She teaches the BIOD 604 Emerging Infectious Diseases 1 - Bacteria and Toxins course in the Master's in Biodefense program.