In this PSI Seminar, Dr Bassam Hallis from the UK Health Security Agency will introduce the Vaccine Development Evaluation Centre (VDEC). The session will be hosted by PSI and chaired by Rachel Kenneil. The seminar will take place from 12:00 to 13:00, followed by a sandwich lunch and an opportunity to network with attendees.

About the speaker
Bassam Hallis, PhD, 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 to large number of Projects primarily associated with immunogenicity and efficacy evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics for high consequences infectious diseases including Influenza and COVID-19. These included projects from early-stage antigen discovery up to post licensure and incorporate in-vitro and in-vivo activities at containment level 2, 3 and 4.

Seminar outline
The UKHSA VDEC was established to utilise its unique capabilities to support development and licensure of countermeasures. We work with academia, not for profit and pharma to provide access to our regulated facilities including in vitro and in vivo up to BSL4. We also work globally to enhance capabilities in global south. Please join Dr Bassam Hallis, Head of VDEC, to understand more on its capabilities and partnerships.