Professor Gilbert is the Saïd Chair of Vaccinology at NDM's Pandemic Sciences Institute. She has pioneered a range of approaches for vaccines targeted at emerging pathogens. She led the development of the ChAdOx vaccine platform, conducting the first ever clinical trial of ChAdOx1 as part of her influenza vaccine programme, and subsequently leading programmes in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Nipah and Lassa fever. In 2020 she was responsible for a team effort to adapt ChAdOx1 for the development of a novel vaccine against COVID-19.
In 2021, Professor Gilbert was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, in recognition of her work during the pandemic, while her book Vaxxers, which described the development of the Vaxzevria vaccine, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Professor Gilbert is currently working on vaccine technology improvements, and leading vaccine development for influenza and several emerging pathogens.
Professor Richard Cornall, Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine and Head of Department, said: ‘I am very grateful to Sarah for agreeing to take on this role in the Department as it continues to drive innovation and deliver clinical impact for patients across the world. Sarah brings unique experience from her world-leading pioneering work on vaccines and her great ability to build collaborative science and communicate its outcomes.’
Professor Gilbert said: ‘It is a great privilege to be appointed to this role, in a Department that I have been part of for 31 years. I look forward to working with the Senior Management team in finding ways to support the work of the Department both in Oxford and the overseas Units.’