Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., is a renowned physician-scientist with more than 30 years of experience in biotechnology, vaccine development, and global health innovation. Born in Romania, she earned her M.D. from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest and her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Baylor College of Medicine. Her early career featured groundbreaking research in gene therapy, immunology, and electroporation technologies at institutions including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Baylor, where she authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, secured numerous patents, and advanced DNA vaccine delivery systems. Before joining Novavax, Dr. Draghia-Akli held pivotal leadership roles that influenced global health landscapes. As President and CEO of Ichor Medical Systems, she spearheaded the development of clinical-stage gene therapy products using proprietary electroporation platforms. Subsequently, at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she served as Managing Director of Global Health Programs, managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics targeting diseases like Ebola, HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, enhancing equitable access in developing regions. From 2019 to 2021, Dr. Draghia-Akli served as Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development at Novavax Inc., where she orchestrated the company's R&D strategy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She led the rapid advancement of NVX-CoV2373, Novavax's protein nanoparticle vaccine adjuvanted with Matrix-M, propelling it through Phase 3 trials and securing emergency use authorizations in over a dozen countries. Her expertise accelerated Novavax's pipeline, solidifying its role in the global fight against infectious diseases.