Bassam Hallis | Head of Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre
UK Health Security agency

Dr Bassam Hallis OBE is the Deputy Director and the lead for the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre. Bassam has over 35 years’ experience working with public sector, industry and academia in the development and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics. He provides scientific and operational leadership in the evaluation of immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics for high consequences infectious diseases including Influenza and COVID-19. Bassam’s research and expertise span the life cycle of countermeasures from early stage antigen discovery up to post licensure and incorporate in-vitro and in-vivo activities at containment level 2, 3 and 4. Bassam collaborates across academia, industry and not for profit to develop pandemic preparation capabilities. Bassam supports the development of scientific capabilities globally especially in the Global South.

Appearances:

Pre-Congress Workshops (19th October) @ 16:15

Panel: From Early Signals to Decisions: The Future of Outbreak Intelligence

Bassam Hallis, Head of Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security agency

Ankur Mutreja, Director of External Affairs and Health Security, South Asia-PATH

Anja Schreijer, Medical Director Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center, Erasmus MC

Hamilton Bennett, Global Health Security R&D and Partnerships, Moderna

Day 2 (21st October) @ 10:45

Panel: Emerging Outbreaks at the Front Line: From Early Signals to Real-World Response

How do we spot outbreaks earlier in practice, not just in theory? What role do surveillance, genomics, community reporting, and data sharing really play on the ground? the critical role of medical interventions, particularly vaccines, in managing and containing emerging and infectious disease outbreaks.
What role do medical countermeasures, particularly vaccines, play in recent outbreak responses (e.g. hantavirus, Bundibugyo virus, avian influenza), and how are these experiences shaping preparedness around speed, coordination, and decision-making under uncertainty?
Where are the biggest gaps right now, funding, manufacturing readiness, regulatory pathways, or last-mile delivery, and who needs to act first?

Moderator: Bassam Hallis, Head of Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security agency

Marcus Lacey, Exec Director Global Pandemic, CSL Seqirus

Teresa Lambe, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology & Professor of Vaccinology & Immunology, University of Oxford