People in global health news

NCI Center for Global Health branch director retires

Cathy Muha, RN, MSN, has retired from her role as branch director for the planning and operations branch in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Center for Global Health. For the last 10 years, Cathy's role focused on international scientific partnerships, cancer control and planning, and program evaluation.

BMJ Global Health editor-in-chief steps down

Dr. Seye Abimbola has stepped down from his role as editor-in-chief of BMJ Global Health after nearly nine years and two terms in post. During his tenure, Abimbola was listed in Vox's “The 2023 Future Perfect 50" list for his work on fighting global poverty and health threats.

Soubeyran elected head of world animal health body

Emmanuelle Soubeyran, head of France's veterinary services, was elected director general of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) succeeding former head Monique Eloit. Soubeyran's goals include boosting links with other international organizations, such as the WHO and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, after recent crises have shown close ties between animal and human health.

Gates Medical Research Institute names new CEO

Dr. Patrice Matchaba has been named chief executive officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, succeeding Dr. Emilio Emini. Before joining the institute, Matchaba was president of Novartis' U.S. Foundation, group head of Novartis Global Health, and senior research scientist at the Cochrane Centre based at the South African Medical Research Centre in Cape Town.

Barbados PM, mRNA vaccine developers receive WHO award

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus awarded the Director-General's Award for Global Health to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and professors Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman at the 77th World Health Assembly. The director said of Mottley, "Her tireless efforts for climate action help protect the health of all peoples, now and in the future."

Drs. Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania were honored for their outstanding contributions to the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.  For four decades, Karikó has focused her research on RNA-mediated mechanisms with the goal of developing in vitro-transcribed mRNA for protein therapy.

Dr. Weissman is a physician, scientist, and pioneer in the science of immunology, with major contributions to the field. Weissman and his team at the University of Pennsylvania are currently working on a pan-coronavirus vaccine, a universal flu vaccine, and a vaccine to prevent herpes. He and Dr. Karikó were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023.