Rino Rappuoli

Rino Rappuoli, PhD is known globally for his work in vaccines and immunology. He co-founded the field of cellular microbiology, a discipline combining cell biology and microbiology, and pioneered the genomic approach to vaccine development known as reverse vaccinology.

Dr. Rappuoli led Chiron Corporation's development of adjuvanted influenza vaccines, MENJUGATE(R) conjugate vaccine against meningococcal-C disease and the first recombinant bacterial vaccine against pertussis. Currently, Dr. Rappuoli is actively involved in the research and development of further vaccines against meningococcal disease and avian and pandemic influenza.

Dr. Rappuoli joined Chiron as head of European vaccines research in 1992 with the acquisition of Italian vaccines company Sclavo SpA, where he served as head of research and development. Dr. Rappuoli earned his doctoral and bachelor's degrees in biological sciences at the University of Siena. He has also served as a visiting scientist at the Rockefeller University in New York and at the Harvard Medical School. Rappuoli, currently the Global Head of Vaccines Research for Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (Siena, Italy) [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/extract/103/29/10831]

Dr. Rappuoli is a member of numerous international associations, including the European Molecular Biology Organization and the American Society for Microbiology, and is recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. He also serves as a member of the research directors group of the European Commission and was recently elected to National Academy of Sciences.

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