In October 2021, I have been appointed Professor in Infection and Immunology Trials at Utrecht University / UMC Utrecht. The chair aims to support, facilitate and improve the acquisition and performance of clinical trials within strategic program Infection and Immunity (I&I). In my new position, I will provide functional support and guidance to the principal investigators (PIs) within the research program I&I with interest in clinical trials. I will establish, expand and manage public-private partnerships in clinical trials. Consequently, I fulfill a bridge-function between PIs and the private sector, pharmaceutical partners and CROs in particular. In close conjunction with PIs, I will develop and expand the clinical trial activities of the I&I principal investigators at UMC Utrecht.

At UMC Utrecht I am leading the U-TRIAL activities for UMCU’s priority field Infection & Immunity, aiming to further strengthen the collaboration between UMCU and private partners with prime focus on clinical studies in infectious diseases and immunological disorders (vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics).

At Janssen Vaccines and Prevention I was involved in the development of bacterial vaccines. More specifically, I have led and developed the strategic design of epidemiological studies in support of our late development vaccine programs targeting with a multidisciplinary team of experts the most severe bacterial invasive infections with the highest unmet medical need. I have led and developed the strategic design of clinical epidemiological studies in support of our late development vaccine programs and aim to develop public-private partnerships in order to further strengthen the collaboration with academic partners and key opinion leaders.2012-2014: Senior Director R&D Bacterial Vaccines, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Leiden, The Netherlands and Raritan, US); Discovery and Early Development 2014-2016: Compound Development Team Leader (CDTL) of one of the lead vaccine programs of Janssen Vaccines and Prevention at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Beerse, Belgium and Leiden, The Netherlands); Late Development / Full Development2016-2017: Head Bacterial Epidemiology, Janssen Vaccines and Prevention at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Leiden, The Netherlands)2018-2019: Bacterial Epidemiology Lead & Liaison Manager Public-Private Partnerships, Janssen Vaccines and Prevention at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Leiden, The Netherlands)

During my academic career as associate professor and full professor in molecular infectious diseases at Radboud UMC, I have led a multidisciplinary team of 40 medical doctors, postdocs, PhD students and technicians. The pathogenesis, immunology and epidemiology of pediatric infectious diseases were the central research themes. In collaboration with research laboratories and clinical departments, nationally and internationally, my team has significantly contributed to the unravelling of the (immuno) biology of pediatric infectious diseases. I have successfully studied the molecular interaction between host and respiratory pathogens in an integrated fashion by exploring the microbiological, immunological, biochemical and genetic aspects of respiratory tract infections. The scientific knowledge has contributed to the development and improvement of innovative tools to diagnose, treat and prevent these infections. I have accepted memberships of several academic committees, which have allowed me to contribute to the strategic direction of Radboud UMC.2005-2008: Associate professor and head of the Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, department of Pediatrics2005-2009: Scientific board member of the Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases2005-2012: Lecturer in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at various universities and (inter)national health institutions in The Netherlands and abroad2006-present: PhD supervisor / promotor of: M. Emonts (cum laude), W. Hendriksen, J. Labout, L. Cron, M. van Gent, V. Hira, K. Stol, S. de Kleijn, L. Verhagen (cum laude), S. de Vries, A. Cremers, K. Brand, D. de Gouw, M. Vissers, E. van der Maten, I. Ahout, C. van den Kieboom, F. Mobegi and M. Habets2008-present: Professor in Pediatrics - Molecular Infectious Diseases2009-2012: Board member of the Nijmegen Institute for Infection, Inflammation and Immunity (N4i)2010-2012: Member of the Radboud UMC Research Council

I have lectured for the World Health Organization (WHO) for 22 years. During this period I have yearly trained hundreds of scientists from developing countries from all over the world in biotechnology applied to bacterial infectious diseases both theory and practice. I consider it critically important to transfer academic and applied knowledge and skills to scientists from countries with the highest unmet medical needs in infectious diseases.

During my career as assistant professor and associate professor at Erasmus MC I have established and led a multidisciplinary team of 15 medical doctors, postdocs, PhD students and technicians. The pathogenesis and epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections were the central research themes, which were studied in a highly successful manner (see publications: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Hermans+PW). I have become board member of the scientific council of the department of Pediatrics, which has allowed me to contribute to the strategic direction of the Sophia Children’s Hospital of Erasmus University Medical Centre.1993-2005: Supervisor and co-promotor of 3 PhD students: K. Overweg, D. Bogaert (cum laude) and J. Hays1993-2005: Lecturer in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at various universities and (inter)national health institutions in The Netherlands and abroad1993-2005: Chairman of the Laboratory of Pediatrics, department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus MC1993-2005: Staff member of the department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus MC1993-2005: Board member of the scientific council of the department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus MC1993-2005: Lecturer in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at various universities and (inter)national health institutions in The Netherlands and abroad

I have applied my scientific skills developed during my PhD training in the field of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis at the internationally renowned Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I have had the pleasure to supervise and work with many students and scientists with a relentless academic drive and (bio)medical interest in tuberculosis. In addition, I have lectured molecular microbiology and biotechnology applied to infectious diseases at Addis Ababa University.1992-1993: Senior scientist of the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (development of a tuberculosis research unit) and associate professor of the Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Research subject: Molecular epidemiology and immunology of tuberculosis