Dr. Gary J. Nabel is a preeminent virologist and immunologist who currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of ModeX Therapeutics and Chief Innovation Officer of OPKO Health. Following his distinguished academic training at Harvard College where he graduated magna cum laude in 1975, he completed both his Ph.D. in 1980 and M.D. in 1982, establishing a formidable foundation in scientific research and clinical medicine. His career trajectory includes seminal leadership roles as the founding Director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1999 to 2012, where he pioneered a renaissance in vaccine development, and as Chief Scientific Officer at Sanofi from 2012 to 2020, where he oversaw the company's global research and development portfolio. Dr. Nabel's transition from academia to government research and then to industry leadership exemplifies his unique ability to bridge fundamental science with practical therapeutic applications.
Dr. Nabel has made groundbreaking contributions to the development of novel vaccine strategies against HIV, Ebola, influenza, SARS, and Chikungunya viruses, conducting over 100 clinical studies across the United States, Europe, and Africa. His most notable scientific achievement was the development of the first tri-specific antibodies while leading Sanofi's Breakthrough Laboratory, a technological innovation now in development for HIV treatment, cancer immunotherapies, and novel vaccines. This work represents a paradigm shift in antibody engineering, demonstrating the potential of multi-specific targeting to overcome viral escape mechanisms that have long hindered effective vaccine development. Dr. Nabel's laboratory research and clinical translation efforts have directly influenced global approaches to combating emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly during critical outbreaks where rapid vaccine development was essential.
As a thought leader in global health, Dr. Nabel has been instrumental in shaping international research collaborations and scientific policy through his service on numerous advisory boards and committees. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, a fellow of the Association of American Physicians, and serves on the boards of SIGA Technologies and Candel Therapeutics, as well as the scientific advisory board of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. His editorial leadership as former Editor of the Journal of Virology and chairmanship of the Keystone Scientific Symposia further demonstrate his commitment to advancing scientific discourse and mentoring the next generation of researchers. Currently, Dr. Nabel continues to drive innovation in therapeutic development through his leadership at ModeX Therapeutics, focusing on novel approaches to combat challenging diseases with significant unmet medical needs.
