Melanie Saville joins PATH as Chief Scientific Officer
PATH is delighted to announce the appointment of Melanie Saville, MB BS, as our new Chief Scientific Officer, effective January 2, 2024.
Dr. Saville will lead PATH’s product development division, which includes teams dedicated to development, introduction, and scale of vaccines, medical devices, and diagnostics.
“I am thrilled to welcome Melanie to PATH’s Executive Team and to PATH. Her extensive experience in creating, testing, and delivering lifesaving tools and essential medicines for communities around the world will greatly enhance our product development function, and her commitment to health equity is unparalleled," said Nikolaj Gilbert, President and CEO of PATH. “I look forward to collaborating with her to advance our important mission with even greater impact.”
In addition to more than two decades of experience developing and licensing vaccines for global use, Dr. Saville brings a wealth of experience from her six-year tenure at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), where she most recently served as the Executive Director of Vaccine Research and Development, leading technical teams supporting vaccine development and enabling science projects funded by CEPI. Dr. Saville also served as the R&D and manufacturing workstream leader for COVAX, part of a global collaboration to speed development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
A distinguished physician specializing in virology, her contributions include vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza, as well as pediatric combinations and vaccines against rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and dengue. Dr. Saville holds a medical degree, a master’s degree in medical virology, and a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology from University College London.
Dr. Saville expressed her enthusiasm for joining PATH, saying, “I have long admired PATH as a leader and innovator in global public health, and I am humbled and honored to step aboard. As we move toward universal health coverage, navigate the effects of climate change, and better connect the health of our environments and social structures with the health of our bodies, our sector must advance more sustainable, more appropriate ways to support the people left behind by status quo solutions. I am eager to join the PATH team and build on its 40+ years of incredible work and progress, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can lead long, healthy lives.”
About PATH
PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.