Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.

Biography
Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding is the President and CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), a non-profit organization that builds public-private-patient biomedical research partnerships to address important medical challenges in support of the NIH mission. She also co-chairs the CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security. Dr. Gerberding formerly served as President of Merck Vaccines and as Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer at Merck Co., Inc. From 2003-2009, Dr. Gerberding led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her current board service includes HilleVax, Mayo Clinic, National Health Council, and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gerberding is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the adjunct faculties of the University of California, San Francisco, and Case Western Reserve University.

Biography
Dr. Joseph, focus on Surgical, Gastrointestinal and Molecular Pathology. Her clinical and research interests are centered around improving the accuracy of tumor diagnoses and classifications by integrating molecular data with traditional histologic and immunohistochemical approaches. Dr. Joseph's significant contributions to the field are demonstrated through her active efforts in both clinical and research endeavors at UCSF. Her work, particularly in gastrointestinal and molecular pathology, has led to numerous influential publications that guide current practices in pathology and diagnostic methodologies.

Biography
Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding is the President and CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), a non-profit organization that builds public-private-patient biomedical research partnerships to address important medical challenges in support of the NIH mission. She also co-chairs the CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security. Dr. Gerberding formerly served as President of Merck Vaccines and as Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer at Merck Co., Inc. From 2003-2009, Dr. Gerberding led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her current board service includes HilleVax, Mayo Clinic, National Health Council, and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gerberding is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the adjunct faculties of the University of California, San Francisco, and Case Western Reserve University.

Biography
Christopher Woods holds professorships in Medicine and Pathology, and serves as Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostic Innovation (CIDDI). He is Executive Director, Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health and Chief, Infectious Diseases at the Durham VA Medical Center. A graduate of Yale University, he received his MD from Duke University School of Medicine in 1994. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine (1994-1997) and fellowship in Infectious Diseases (1999-2002) at Duke University Medical Center. He earned a Master of Public Health degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Board-certified in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and medical microbiology, Dr. Woods has a particular interest in emerging infections, epidemiology, and development of diagnostic technologies. His research has significantly contributed to understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance and bioterrorism threats, with over 280 peer-reviewed publications. He is involved in numerous global health projects aimed at improving diagnostics and addressing infectious disease challenges.

Biography
Dr. Helen Y. Chu is Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Washington. She studies respiratory viruses and vaccines, and has conducted clinical trials of vaccines and therapeutics, including maternal flu vaccine in Nepal, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and antivirals for treatment of COVID-19. As part of the Seattle Flu Study, she designed a prototype pandemic preparedness platform, conducting home-based testing for respiratory viruses with home delivery of antivirals. This study first identified COVID-19 community transmission in the US. Early in the pandemic, she established a cohort of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 to understand vaccine and infection-induced immunity, and factors that predict long COVID. She is a member of multiple NIH and CDC expert working groups on respiratory viruses and vaccines. For her work on the pandemic response, she received the 2021 Washingtonian of the Year award from the Governor of the State of Washington.

Biography
Dr. Victor Nizet is an infectious diseases physician-scientist and leading figure in the field of host-pathogen interactions. At UCSD, he serves as a Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair for Basic Research in the Department of Pediatrics, and holds a joint appointment in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences. He leads the Division of Host-Microbe Systems Therapeutics, where his pioneering research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis and the innate immune response.Dr. Nizet's scientific efforts (550 manuscripts) have identified several novel targets for antibiotic development and immunomodulatory therapies, offering new hope in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other infectious diseases.In addition to his research, Dr. Nizet is a dedicated educator and mentor, training the next generation of scientists and clinicians in infectious disease research. His career contributions have been recognized by election to the ASCI, AAP, AIMBE, AAAS, AAM, and the National Academy of Medicine.

Biography
Dr. Brad Spellberg is a leading expert in infectious diseases, currently serving as the Chief Medical Officer at the Los Angeles General Medical Center and as a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He earned his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine, followed by residency and fellowship training in infectious diseases at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.Dr. Spellberg's pioneering research focuses on developing new antibiotics and strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. He has authored over 270 peer-reviewed articles and several influential books, including "Rising Plague" and "Broken, Bankrupt, and Dying." His work addresses critical challenges in modern medicine, particularly the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.Visit his official website and his book: www.bradspellberg.com

Biography
Dr. Mylynda Massart is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine. She graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry Molecular Biology from University of Utah, Salt Lake City and as MD from Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR. She completed Family Medicine Residency at Providence Milwaukie Family Medicine, Milwaukie, OR. Dr. Massart completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Molecular Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR. Currently she is the founder and Medical Director at the UPMC Primary Care Precision Medicine Center Center integrating genomics into Primary Care. Dr. Massart has a joint appointment at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and is a Co-Investigator on the All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program and Co-Investigator of the Pitt + Me Discovery Biobank. She is the MPI of the national Community Engagement Consultative Resource for the NHLBI CEAL program.

Biography
Nevan Krogan is a distinguished molecular biologist with a focus on understanding the mechanisms of complex diseases. His work has been instrumental in mapping intricate networks of molecular interactions, providing invaluable insights into various diseases and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Krogan's commitment to global scientific collaboration was evident during the COVID19 pandemic, where he played a pivotal role in the formation of an international alliance of scientists dedicated to understanding the biology of SARSCoV2 and identifying potential therapeutic targets. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, Dr. Krogan was awarded France's highest honor, the Legion of Honor, in 2022, and the ResearchAmerica Discovery Innovation Health Prize in 2023. These prestigious accolades celebrate his exceptional efforts in fostering FrancoAmerican scientific collaborations, particularly during the COVID19 pandemic, where his leadership facilitated rapid, coordinated responses to the global health crisis.

Biography
Dr. Margaret Riley is a Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, where she is renowned for her pioneering work in the field of antimicrobial therapies. Her research focuses on bacteriocinsnaturally occurring antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteriawhich hold significant potential as alternative therapies to traditional antibiotics, particularly in the fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Dr. Rileys interdisciplinary approach combines microbiology, evolutionary biology, and clinical applications, making her a leading figure in the development of novel strategies to manage infectious diseases. Her work has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how alternative antimicrobials can be harnessed to target specific pathogens while minimizing harm to beneficial microbiota

Biography
Dr. Melody Smiths research is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with a particular focus on immune reconstitution and preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). She explores innovative therapeutic strategies to enhance immune recovery and reduce post-transplantation complications. Dr. Smith earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from Northwestern University. Her research, published in respected journals, advances the field of cellular therapy, aiming to improve patient care and outcomes.

Biography
Dr. Adi V. Gundlapalli, serves as the Senior Advisor for Data Readiness and Response at the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His role focuses on enhancing data systems and response capabilities for public health emergencies. Dr. Gundlapalli has a background in infectious diseases, epidemiology, and public health informatics, contributing to the advancement of data-driven strategies to improve public health outcomes. He has played a crucial role in integrating technology and data readiness into the CDC's public health initiatives.

Biography
Dr. Nye has extensive expertise in clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostics, and leads scientific and operational strategies for infectious disease and other key diagnostic areas at Labcorp.In her role, she oversees the development and implementation of innovative diagnostic technologies, including metagenomics, which involves the use of genomic sequencing to identify and characterize pathogens from clinical samples. This approach is particularly valuable for monitoring emerging infectious disease threats, as it allows for the rapid detection of known and novel pathogens without the need for specific prior knowledge of the organism.Dr. Nye is also deeply involved in establishing partnerships that enhance the monitoring of infectious diseases. These collaborations focus on integrating metagenomic data with public health efforts, enabling more effective surveillance and response strategies during outbreaks. Her work is critical to advancing the field of infectious disease diagnostics, particularly in the context of global health security and pandemic preparedness.

Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.

Biography
Dr. Yvonne A. Maldonado is a renowned expert in pediatric infectious diseases, global child health, and epidemiology. She serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Stanford University School of Medicine and as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Dr. Maldonado has led significant research in vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal and child health, and global public health interventions. Her extensive work has been pivotal in shaping policies and strategies for disease prevention and treatment on a global scale.

Biography
Rangarajan Sampath, PhD, is Senior Vice President and Head of Center for Innovation in Diagnostics (CID) at Siemens Healthineers, where he leads innovation and new product development in the areas of oncology, neurology, cardiometabolic and infectious diseases. CIDs focus is to drive disruptive next-generation innovation, development, and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostics, automation, and digital health solutions. Prior to this, Dr. Sampath was Chief Scientific Officer at Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), a non-profit organization focused on bringing cutting-edge diagnostics to low- and middle-income countries. In the first 2 decades of his career, Dr. Sampath was a co-founder of Ibis Biosciences and co-inventor of a novel PCRESI-MS technology that revolutionized pathogen detection and surveillance and worked on sepsis and infectious disease diagnostics. He is currently serving on the board of Sepsis Alliance and is working with the World Economic Forum on setting up a public-private partnership for pandemic preparedness.

Biography
Sivan is a recognized innovator and entrepreneur in artificial intelligence who has dedicated two decades to pioneering the development of complex computational and data platforms. His key contributions include the development of novel machine-learning models tackling significant challenges in human disease. At Karius, he spearheaded the development of the foundational computational platform underlying the Karius Test, elevated the biomarker discovery program, and was central to forming and nurturing key strategic partnerships, furthering the companys impact in the medical field. Prior to Karius, Sivan was a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Lifecode, where he led the development of the analytical platform and validation of several clinical assays across oncology and rare diseases. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and continued to Stanfords Artificial Intelligence Lab to pursue his post-doctoral research.

Biography
Robert's work focuses on development and adoption of advanced technologies in microbiology and infectious disease. Currently a VP and Distinguished Scientist at Illumina, his work focuses on advancing infectious disease diagnostics and developing innovative methods for identifying pathogens using state-of-the-art techniques, including next generation sequencing and related data analysis solutions. He co-developed the Explify metagenomics platform at IDbyDNA, where Robert was a founder and the Chief Medical Officer before its merger with Illumina in 2022. Previously, Robert was a Medical Director in Infectious Diseases at ARUP Laboratories, a faculty member in Pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and a postdoc at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health. Robert received medical degrees from the University of Wuerzburg, Germany and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University where he also trained in clinical pathology and served as Chief Clinical Pathology Resident. Robert is a board-certified Clinical Pathologist and Medical Microbiologist.

Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.

Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.

Biography
Dr. Catherine Hogan is a medical microbiologist, infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist with a passion for innovative diagnostic methods. Her research focuses on infectious diseases diagnostics, clinical impact assessment of diagnostic methods including metagenomics, and tropical medicine. Her work has been recognized through several awards including the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada. Furthermore, she serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Virology, and is an Editorial Board member for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Biography
Dr. Mauldin has extensive experience leveraging sequencing technologies to characterize novel and emerging infectious diseases. In his current position, Dr. Mauldin works to enhance public health laboratory capabilities and capacities through strategic partnerships and innovation. Recent efforts have included evaluating the utility of agnostic methods, such as metagenomic sequencing to identify pathogens in complex samples to support early warning and clinical capabilities. Dr. Mauldin leads the Office of Readiness and Responses Threat Agnostic Sentinel Surveillance (TASS) pilot, which leverages cross-sector partnerships to build metagenomic sequencing capabilities and capacities in public health laboratories. He also supports various implementation pilots exploring how these technologies may be leveraged to augment existing surveillance networks.

Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.

Biography
My lab has worked on the evolution of pathogenic RNA viruses and blood transfusion safety. Starting in 2005, initially using shotgun Sanger sequencing, we also pioneered laboratory and computational methods to enrich and characterize the genomes of previously unknown viruses. We since used these metagenomics NGS approaches for viral discovery in human, animals, pharmaceutical, and environmental samples. As NGS and bioinformatics tools have greatly improved in cost and speed, future uses should include more rapid metagenomics response to unusual infectious disease outbreaks worldwide. Extensive longitudinal sampling of large human and farmcompanionwild animal cohorts will also provide their baseline viromes and help identify emerging pathogens from cross-species transmissions.

Biography
Dr. Chaz Langelier is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCSF. His work seeks to advance the understanding and management of pneumonia, sepsis, and other infectious and inflammatory diseases. His laboratory combines host gene expression profiling, metagenomic pathogen detection and profiling of the microbiome to develop novel molecular diagnostics, study host pathogen biology, and advance methods for emerging infectious diseases surveillance.

Biography
Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, Director of the UCS-FAbbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center (VDDC), and Associate Director of the UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Chiu currently leads a translational research laboratory focused on clinical metagenomic sequencing assay development for infectious diseases and genomic investigation and surveillance of emerging pathogens, including the SARSCoV2 coronavirus. He also uses RNASeq transcriptome profiling to develop predictive models using machine learning for host response based diagnosis of COVID19 and other infections. Chius work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), philanthropy, and the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. He has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications (20 on COVID19), holds over 15 patents and patent applications, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Mammoth Biosciences, Danaher Dx, Biomesense, and Flightpath.