Sarah Gilbert

Professor Sarah Gilbert specializes in the development of viral vectored vaccines and has played a key role in public health initiatives. After joining the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University in 1994, Professor Sarah Gilbert became a pivotal figure in the development of viral vectored vaccines. In 2005, she transitioned to the Jenner Institute, dedicating her research to inducing strong and protective T and B cell responses to combat infectious diseases. Her expertise quickly led her to leadership roles in critical projects, including influenza vaccine development and the creation of vaccines for emerging pathogens such as Nipah virus, MERS, and Lassa virus.

Her foundational work consistently involves the rapid transfer of these novel vaccines into GMP manufacturing and subsequent initial human trials, in close collaboration with the Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility and the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine at Oxford. Professor Gilbert’s career reached a global pinnacle in 2020 when she became the Oxford Project Leader for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, the groundbreaking vaccine designed to combat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Under her leadership, this vaccine underwent rigorous clinical trials involving over 23,000 participants across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Following its successful development and comprehensive trials, the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was approved for use in 2020 and subsequently deployed globally, serving as a critical tool in managing the unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic.

Currently, Professor Gilbert maintains her leadership at the Jenner Institute, continuing to drive projects aimed at preventing infectious diseases and preparing for future pathogen outbreaks. Her work in developing viral vectored vaccines remains at the forefront of medical science, providing essential contributions to international health security and showcasing a profound dedication to vaccine innovation and global public health.