As an M.D., Ph.D., Dr. Draghia-Akli’s career began in human genetics and advanced therapies, notably on rare diseases. She began working in gene therapies in the early stages of that research. As a scientific co-founder and research lead, her team delivered the first gene therapy product approved for any animal application in 2007.
Dr. Draghia-Akli currently serves as the Chair of the INTREPID Alliance Scientific Advisory Board. Throughout her career, she contributed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel products, for both public health and business success. She leverages her abilities to strategize and innovate, to integrate science and business impact, while delivering the next generation of medicines.
Dr. Draghia-Akli previously served as Executive Vice President and the Head of Research & Development at Novavax. Previous to this position, she was the Global Head of Global Public Health R&D at Johnson & Johnson, and led vaccines, scientific and medical affairs at Merck, Inc., delivering groundbreaking innovations in drugs and vaccines to address climate-related, emerging and entrenched health threats, such as Ebola, human papillomavirus, dengue, coronaviruses, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, and HIV.
Her career has included specialty focus in the areas of genomic medicine, advanced therapies, vaccines, and infectious diseases including the medical aspect of regulations, policy, and global health. She led the health research and innovation programs at the European Commission, supporting programmatic, legislative, regulatory and policy issues in medical research and innovation. Over her career, Dr. Draghia-Akli has authored many scientific publications and served on numerous boards and committees to help shape thinking on vaccine and public health issues.
Dr. Draghia-Akli received an M.D. from the University of Medicine Carol Davilla, Romania, and a Ph.D. in human genetics from the University of Medicine Carol Davilla and undertook additional doctoral and post-doctoral training at University Rene Descartes, France, and Baylor College of Medicine, USA, respectively.