Dr. Michael Vajdy (PhD)

Dr. Michael Vajdy is an executive biotechnology leader with extensive experience from global biopharmaceutical and start-up biotech companies and academic institutions in translational Immunology and Vaccinology. As scientific founder of EpitoGenesis, Inc. he invented and patented a novel vaccine adjuvant/delivery technology platform with proven safety and efficacy, against Influenza and other viral and bacterial pathogens. At EpitoGenesis, Inc. Dr. Vajdy has been awarded $2.8M in non-dilutive government awards and grants since the company inception in 2008. Project Leader of a vaccine manufacturing platform technology at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc., Dr. Vajdy created and orchestrated an international team of over 25 key cross-functional members to design and develop a novel vaccine against an emerging virus from concept to target profile design, GMP manufacturing and clinical trials. Dr. Vajdy achieved four promotions within 9.5 years of employment at Chiron Corporation/Novartis Vaccines, and managed many direct and indirect reports. Dr. Vajdy has lead multiple simultaneous projects in various viral and bacterial infectious diseases. He has also patented several vaccine modalities. He has demonstrated proven expertise in manipulation of innate and adaptive cellular responses, as well as in design and in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo evaluation of protein, VLP, viral, bacterial, DNA and RNA based immune-modulators and delivery systems and preclinical and clinical viral and bacterial immunogenicity and challenge models. Dr. Vajdy has been an ad hoc reviewer of NIAID study sections, and Principal investigator or investigator on several NIH funded grants and contracts. Dr. Vajdy was formerly Visiting Associate Professor and Faculty Member at University of California, Davis, and he was Professor in Residence, at the Department of Allied Health Sciences and Adjunct Full Professor, at the Department of Pathobiology, University of Connecticut. Dr. Vajdy is an Inventor on seven awarded patents and author of 59, Pubmed, peer reviewed publications, and several book chapters and editor of the book 'Immunity Against Mucosal Pathogens'. Dr. Vajdy often Chairs scientific sessions and panels in national and international Immunology and Vaccinology meetings and conferences.

Dr. Vajdy joined the ViVI Scientific Think Tank in 2019 providing expertise in mucosal immunology and vaccine adjuvants.