Global Vaccines Management Team
Robert E. Johnston, PhD., Executive Director
Dr. Johnston is an internationally recognized expert in viral genetics
and vaccine development, having worked notably on the modification of
alphaviruses for use as vaccine vectors. In 1997, he was a co-founder
of AlphaVax, a biotechnology company devoted to developing vaccines
based on vectors, which he and others derived from Venezuelan Equine
Encephalitis virus. He served as CEO, Chairman of the Board and as a
consultant to the company, resigning in 2001 to establish Global
Vaccines. Dr. Johnston is on the editorial board of Virology, and he
shared the 2001 World Technology Award for Health and Medicine.
Thomas Mercolino, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Development
Tom is a results-oriented executive with more than 25 years of management experience. He is recognized worldwide as an authority in university-to-industry technology transfer and a registered patent agent. Tom has a record of outstanding contributions to the research organizations of major healthcare corporations. Prior to joining Global Vaccines, he was Corporate Director, Technology Transfer & Academic Relations in Johnson & Johnson’s centralized group charged with long-term strategy for science and technology. He also had a leadership position managing technology in-licensing in support of J&J’s pharmaceutical R&D companies. Tom started his career in medical diagnostics product development, first with Becton-Dickinson and then at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, where he was head of the Blood Bank and Cellular Analysis Business Unit R&D.
Clayton Beard, Ph.D., Director of Research
Clayton has worked in the field of virology and vaccine development for
over fifteen years. Most recently he was a Program Manager at the
Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Prior to that, Clayton was a lead scientist at a biotechnology company,
Maxygen, applying their proprietary technologies to develop novel
vaccines against Hepatitis B, Dengue, and West Nile. He is also a
registered patent agent and served as an intellectual property analyst
in Maxygen’s legal department. Clayton's virology, vaccine, and legal
experience in academic, government, and private biotechnology
environments give him a broad perspective and strong understanding of
Global Vaccine's prospective operations.
