Seth Berkley is trading an "I" for a "G."
In August Berkley, who founded and directs the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), will take over from the GAVI Alliance, another public-private partnership focused on vaccines, but with the order the larger day of child immunization in poor countries against many diseases. Berkley, an epidemiologist who started working on the formation of IAVI in 1994 and officially launched it two years later, had earlier job with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Carter Center, and the US Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
Although IAVI and GAVI are both vaccine-centric, they differ on several key points. There is no vaccine against AIDS and the IAVI based in New York City tried to push research and development forward by funding innovative collaborations and even building his own laboratory. The Geneva-based GAVI, however, helps countries to buy and deliver existing vaccines. IAVI's budget is $ 93.9 million for 2011. GAVI has committed more than $ 4 billion to poor countries since its inception in 00, the vaccination of nearly 300 million children and save about 5 million lives.
Science Insider Berkley spoke shortly after the board of the GAVI Alliance announced the news today.
Q: Why are you leaving IAVI
S.B :. for two reasons. GAVI has a very important mission and leadership opportunity has come now. From my perspective, GAVI has the ability to be the broad umbrella deal with all these issues of critical vaccines. The second thing is IAVI is a really mature organization now. I've seen it grow from a sapling to a really well-rooted tree, and I feel the organization is strong enough for me to go. I think it's the right time.
Q: What are the challenges to GAVI
SB: There are all these new vaccines out and the challenge is to get them to people in the poorest countries. This requires good immunization systems, affordable vaccines and the sustainability of financing, which means getting vaccines in the budgets of these countries and donor funds to help distribution. GAVI and the challenge is that it must be accelerated.
Q: How will you change GAVI
S.B :. It remains to be seen. My job will be to look at the excellent work and build on it. And what is different with GAVI is it works closely with partners. At present, the world is higher vaccination rates than it has ever been, and there's no reason we can not get these new vaccines to more people. This must be the goal. We also need to complete the eradication of polio and see that vaccine development program for the next generation moves on.
Q: What about funding? Times are tough for everyone
SB :. IAVI is certainly healthy as an organization, but we believe that the science moves so well, especially around areas of neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity could be influenced by the funding. The magnitude of what is spent on vaccines against AIDS is relatively small compared to what is spent on all AIDS.
For GAVI, some delivery problems are much more expensive, but vaccination is the most cost effective way to purchase quality-adjusted life years.
Q: Will you spend more time raising money to GAVI at IAVI
SB: I spent much of my current job fundraising. One of the key things is to get governments to prioritize immunization as the most cost-effective programs. You must fund your immunization program before anything else.
Q :. Any idea who will replace you
SB: The IAVI Board will discuss at its next meeting in a few weeks. I'll stick to June.
Q: Why do you think that this is the right time to leave IAVI
SB: Everyone you said in the advisory management by the time you know you have stayed too long in a job, you've been there too long. I went to IAVI for 17 years. This organization is my baby. I love the challenge and the organization. But it is the nature of the will of a leader to take a new challenge. GAVI's next. And it is where IAVI will look to once we develop a vaccine against AIDS.
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