IRIDS Virtual Science Talks

Professor Prof. Dr. Velavan is a Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital Tübingen, where he leads the Molecular Genetics of Infectious Diseases Research Group. Furthermore, he is the founder and director of the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research in Vietnam.

His main research focus is on infectious diseases and global health, with particular attention to Southeast Asia, in collaboration with institutions like the University of Tübingen in Germany and VG-CARE in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Genetic factors of pathogens as well as those of the hosts decisively influence the phenotype of a disease and the immune response. Therefore, a particular focus of our work is the genetic characterization of pathogens and human genetic factors. His research group operates at the intersection of clinical and translational research, targeting high-burden infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria, and other neglected tropical diseases, but also viral hepatitis.

His research group is integral to the PAN-ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP; www.paceup.org), which focuses on global health challenges from a Southeast Asian perspective. Through a multidisciplinary approach, our team advances scientific knowledge, enhances regional epidemic preparedness, and supports health equity by fostering collaborations across the Global South.

Dr. Jochum is an immunologist and virologist by training. His doctoral research focused on the early immune response to viral infection and viral immune evasion strategies at the Helmholtz Center and LMU Munich, Germany. He joined Roche Diagnostics in 2014, where his team is responsible for developing assays for viral diseases, with a major focus on emerging viruses. In recent years, Dr. Jochum and his team were fully engaged in developing diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 and associated pandemic research.

Prof. Thomas Vanwolleghem is a Professor of Hepatology at the University of Antwerp, where he leads the Viral Hepatitis Research Group.  His main research focus is on virus-host interactions and the improvement of clinical outcomes in viral hepatitis infections. He coordinates a national nucleoside analogue withdrawal study in chronic HBV and a natural history study in hepatitis B/delta coinfections. He also collaborates on the prevention of HBV mother-to-child transmission in Uganda. Apart from viral hepatitis, his clinical research interests focus on the diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension, as co-PI of the Antwerp Hepatic Hemodynamic laboratory. He is a senior clinical researcher for the Research Fund of the Flemish government and a principal investigator for clinical studies on viral hepatitis, auto-immune hepatitis, and portal hypertension.

Dr. Lens is a Hepatologist in the Liver Unit at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona in Spain. Her scientific scope primarily includes clinical and translational research on viral hepatitis, with a particular focus on the virological and host factors involved in the natural history of HCV and HBV infection. She also conducts research on the impact of HCV all-oral antiviral treatment, specifically in special populations like patients with clinically significant portal hypertension or cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. Her work further explores the interplay between the host immune response and the HBV virus. Dr. Lens is a principal investigator or sub-investigator in clinical trials for both HCV and HBV infection and serves as a principal investigator in international and national funded projects. Dr. Lens is one of the co-authors of the new EASL HBV guidelines 2025. (link)

Rachel Halford is the President of The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), an international network of civil society and community organizations focused on advocacy, capacity building, and awareness-raising on hepatitis. She is also the CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, a national UK peer-led civil society organization. Her work centers on advocacy, raising awareness, and bringing together all stakeholders to accelerate action towards the elimination of viral hepatitis. She supports high-risk populations, including the homeless, those affected by the criminal justice system, substance users, and migrants.

Prof. Ferrand is a world-leading authority on HIV in adolescents - a field that she pioneered showing that perinatally-acquired HIV (mother-to-child transmission) to be a major cause of adolescent morbidity and mortality in Southern Africa. She leads a thriving multidisciplinary interventional research unit in Zimbabwe and was the first to demonstrate long-term survival with HIV even without early diagnosis and treatment, leading her to develop and conduct several landmark randomised trials focused on improving outcomes for this patient group. Her research is increasingly multidisciplinary, with increasing relevance to fundamental questions, such as aging.

Prof. Klausner has more than 25 years of HIV and STI prevention and clinical research experience, especially with marginalized populations. His research interests are in applied epidemiology and the prevention and control of infectious diseases of public health importance like HIV, STDs, TB, COVID-19 and cryptococcal infections. Prof. Klausner has a particular interest in the use of technology (information, digital, and laboratory) to facilitate access to prevention and early treatment. He is a frequent advisor to the CDC, NIH and WHO and a popular public speaker.

Prof. Abu-Raddad’s current main research interests include the study of the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS, HSV-1, HSV-2, chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea; the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections; the assessment of HCV epidemiological patterns; studying diabetes and tuberculosis epidemiology; and the evaluation of the impact of various interventions against infectious diseases, including vaccines, diagnostics, and drug regimens. His research focuses on global and regional epidemiology, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa region. Prof. Abu-Raddad has been the lead author of numerous high-impact studies in recent years, covering topics such as STIs, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, HCV, and tuberculosis.

Prof. Dr. Helen Chu, who holds the Alex McMillan Professorship in Pandemic Preparedness, is a distinguished Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Public Health. Renowned for her groundbreaking work on respiratory viruses, Dr. Chu has made significant contributions to the understanding and preparedness for pandemics. Her research on Influenza A H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has been pivotal in unraveling the complexities of this highly pathogenic avian influenza strain. By studying its transmission dynamics, clinical outcomes, and potential for human adaptation, Dr. Chu's work has provided crucial insights into mitigating the risks posed by this formidable virus. Her efforts have not only advanced scientific knowledge but have also played a vital role in informing public health strategies and interventions aimed at preventing widespread outbreaks and ensuring global health security.

Dr. Daniel Jarem is a Medical Affairs Lead at Roche Diagnostics, renowned for his expertise and contributions in the field of medical diagnostics. With a strong background in molecular biology and biochemistry, Dr. Jarem has been instrumental in advancing innovative diagnostic technologies that enhance early disease detection and patient care. His work at Roche Diagnostics focuses on the development and management of the medical strategy for cutting-edge assays and platforms that deliver high accuracy and reliability, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and fostering personalized medicine.