Simona Rondini

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT SIMONA RONDINI

I am the Head of Bacterial Vaccine pipeline at GVGH since 2023, and the Senior Project Leader for Typhi/Paratyphi A vaccine development.Before taking up this role, I was a Discovery Project Leader at GSK Vaccines for Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine development. At GSK Vaccines, I have also covered the role of Translational Science Leader and of Vaccine Development Leader for a vaccine against COPD exacerbations. At GVGH, I also covered the role of Head of Immunoassay Unit, worked on the development of a glycoconjugate vaccine against S. Typhi and Paratyphi A and led a vaccine project against invasive Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (iNTS).In my previous academic career, after a Biology degree in Italy, I was awarded a fellowship to work at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich), where I explored mechanisms of tumor targeting; afterwards I conducted my doctoral studies at the Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute (STPHI) in Basel, where I investigated the development of new molecular genetic tools to study a neglected disease, Buruli ulcer, caused by M. ulcerans. Focus of my work was to bridge the laboratory research with the needs of the affected communities in rural parts of Ghana, where I performed extensive fieldwork. At the STPHI I deepened my interests in International Health, studying health care management in tropical countries and surveillance of infectious diseases.I continued my post-doctoral studies in New York at the Weill Cornell Medical College, where I worked on new molecular diagnostic approaches to detect arboviral infections (i.e. West Nile virus). I returned to Italy as first scientist to join the newly founded GVGH Institute (at the time NVGH: Novartis Vaccines for Global Health). During the course of my career I authored many original research articles and participated to a variety of international congresses. Among my activities, I conducted volunteer work in Northern Ghana teaching reproductive health and supporting development of rural impoverished communities.