Speakers

Bruno Lina
Dr.Lina currently holds the positions of Professor of Virology, Université de Lyon (since 2001); Head of the laboratoire de Virologie Est des Hospices Civils de Lyon (since 2006); Head of the UCBL-CNRS FRE3011 research Lab on Influenza virus (since 2007), Director of the National Influenza Center (NIC), Lyon (since 1999); Member of the French Pandemic planning committe and Comité de lutte contre le Grippe of the Ministry of Health (since 1997); Chair of the Groupe d’Experts et d’Information sur la grippe (since 2005); Chair of the WHO Advisory Group for the sharing of virus and benefits (since 2008); President of the European Society for Clinical Virology (since 2007). Dr.Lina studied medicine at the University of Lyon where he graduated as a MD in 1990 and completed his PhD in 1994.
Dr. Lina is also a member of several professional societies including: American Society for Microbiology, European Society for Clinical Virology, Société Francaise de Microbiologie.
He was awarded Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2010.
He has been the Co-PI of several national and international collaborative projects in the fields of virology in the past 8 years.
Furthermore he holds editorial positions for scientific publications for the Journal of Clinical Virology and the Influenza Research and Treatment Journal. He is the winner of the ASM Young Investigator award (1994), holds several patents, has been the supervisor and mentor of more than 15 PhD students. Over the last 16 years, Dr. Lina is author of more than 100 scientific papers, including reviews, book chapters. He has been the author of a Book on the A(H1N1) pandemic virus and asked for numerous junior scientific review of pandemic viruses in Junior scientific reviews in French.

Albert Osterhaus
Dr. Osterhaus currently holds the positions of Professor of Virology, Medical Faculty, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam (since 1993); Professor of Environmental Virology, Veterinary Faculty, University Utrecht (since 1990); Director of the National Influenza Center (NIC), Rotterdam (since 1993); Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Rotterdam (since 1995); Member of the Dutch Health Council (since 1995); Chairman of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) (since 2000); CSO of ViroClinics BV and of Viroventures BV (both companies of the Erasmus MC holding). He is a member of the AHAW panel of EFSA. Dr.Osterhaus studied veterinary medicine at the University of Utrecht where he graduated as a veterinarian in 1974 and completed his PhD in 1978. From 1978 to 1994 he held various positions at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. He was directly involved in setting up four commercial companies. Dr. Osterhaus is also a member of numerous professional societies including: American Society for Microbiology, Society for General Microbiology, European Scientific Working Group on Influenza, European Society for Veterinary Virology, European Society for Clinical Virology, European Association for Aquatic Mammals, Dutch Society for Microbiology, Dutch Society for Laboratory Animal Science, Dutch Society for Immunology, International Society for Vaccines, American Society for Virology, and European Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences and was awarded the Royal decoration of Commander in the order of the Dutch Lion. He has been the PI of more than 20 major national and international collaborative projects in the fields of virology, viral pathogenesis and vaccine development in the past 15 years and has discovered more than a dozen new human and animal viruses. Furthermore he holds many editorial positions for scientific publications, is the winner of several scientific awards, holds several patents, has been the supervisor and mentor of more than 40 PhD students and from 1980 onwards has held over 50 consultancy positions. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Osterhaus has identified more than a dozen “new” viral pathogens and he is author of more than 700 scientific papers.

Kristin Nichol
Dr. Nichol is Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis. Dr. Nichol’s research has focused on issues relating to adults vaccines with a special emphasis on influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. She has pursued observational studies and clinical trials in such areas as successful delivery strategies, determinants of vaccination behavior, side effects associated with vaccination, and the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of vaccination. Dr. Nichol has authored more than 100 publications in these areas and has given presentations at numerous national and international meetings.
Dr. Nichol is Chairperson of the Minnesota Coalition for Adult Immunization – a position she has held for 20 years. This group provides leadership for enhancing adult vaccination for the entire state of Minnesota. She also served for 15 years as the Department of Veterans Affairs ex officio member of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Dr. Nichol received her MD and MPH degrees from the University of Minnesota and her MBA from the University of St. Thomas. She pursued her internal medicine training at the University of California in San Francisco and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Nichol is boarded in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine.

Ted van Essen
Dr. G.A. (Ted) van Essen has been a General Practitioner since 1976 and Vocational Trainer since 1981 in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. He is also Assistant Professor (since 1992) at the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht. He was President of the Dutch College of General Practitioners from 2000-2004.
Dr. Van Essen was educated at the University of Groningen (M.D. and G.P.) and at Utrecht University were he received his Ph.D. Dr. Van Essen was a member of the Dutch Influenza Foundation, the Dutch Pneumococcal Foundation and different local, regional and national GP organisations. He is a member of the Influenza Vaccination Committee of the Dutch Health Council.