About us
Scientific Advisory Board
Our Scientific Advisory Board, a group of esteemed experts, brings vital expertise in antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease therapy, biopharmaceutical development, and microbiome research. Their united vision and deep knowledge drive our initiatives to develop innovative therapies for multi-drug resistant infections and microbiome disorders, addressing crucial unmet medical needs.
Prof. Apostolos Armaganidis, MD, PhD
Prof. Apostolos Armaganidis, a renowned Professor of Pulmonary and Intensive Care Medicine at NKUA Athens, brings over 40 years of experience to his field. He earned his medical degree from the University of Athens and honed his expertise with research training at the University of Rene Descartes and the University of Minnesota. Prof. Armaganidis began his intensive care career at Cochin University Hospital, Paris, in 1983 and later made significant contributions to NKUA's Medical School until his retirement in 2021. His journey from Assistant Professor to Emeritus Professor at ATTIKON University Hospital is underpinned by certifications in Intensive Care Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in respiratory and circulatory system physiology. Prof. Armaganidis's extensive research, including over 350 publications with more than 16,500 citations, focuses on respiratory insufficiency and infectious diseases in critically ill patients. His leadership in international trials and roles on the Executive Committee of ESICM and as President of the Hellenic Society for Pulmonary Hypertension highlight his distinguished career.
Prof. Antonio Torres
Prof. Antoni Torres, a Senior Consultant at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and Full Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, has over 40 years of dedication to biomedical research. A graduate of the University of Barcelona, he participated in a Research Fellowship program at Harvard University. His work on post-thoracotomy muscular function and mechanical ventilation earned him the Edward Shanoff Award at Harvard. Prof. Torres's tenure in Barcelona includes leading the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit at Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, and the University of Barcelona. He has contributed significantly to research on respiratory infections, ARDS, and critical care, earning an H-Index of 107 and numerous awards, including the Josep Trueta and Lilly awards.
Prof. Richard Wunderink, MD
Prof. Richard Wunderink is a Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. His distinguished career focuses on pulmonary infections, particularly community-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and sepsis. His research covers prevention, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment, including both antibiotic and adjunctive therapies. Dr. Wunderink has led significant research projects, such as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U-18 grant studying community-acquired pneumonia, and is the current Principal Investigator of an NIH/NIAID U-19 Systems Biology grant. He co-chaired the 2007 IDSA/ATS Consensus Guidelines Committee on community-acquired pneumonia management and has contributed to various other guidelines committees. His work extends to international guidelines for hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia management and chairing an ATS Workshop on Antibiotic Stewardship in the Intensive Care Unit.
Prof. David Paterson, MD, PhD
Prof. David Paterson, Director of ADVANCE-ID (ADVANcing Clinical Evidence in Infectious Diseases), an Asian clinical trials network specializing in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), brings over 30 years of experience in infectious diseases. His career includes leadership roles such as Chief of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Director of the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. A prolific author, Prof. Paterson has contributed over 500 peer-reviewed publications, primarily focusing on AMR, with a special interest in multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli. His extensive publication record underscores his expertise and commitment to research in this critical area of medicine.
Prof. Andreas Diacon, MD
Prof. Andreas Diacon, a Consultant in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, and Intensive Care at Tygerberg Hospital and Full Professor of Medicine at Stellenbosch University, also serves as CEO of TASK clinical research unit. His extensive experience in patient care and research, particularly in anti-tuberculosis agents and regimens, has been recognized with awards such as the Rector’s Award for Outstanding Research at Stellenbosch University and the Swiss TB Research Award. Prof. Diacon, with over 200 publications, is Professor Emeritus at Stellenbosch University and is leading TASK's expansion into Europe.
Associate Prof. Sean Wasserman, MD
Associate Prof. Sean Wasserman, a Consultant and Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT, boasts an outstanding academic and professional record. He completed his MBChB and PhD at the University of Cape Town, specializing in pulmonary and neurological tuberculosis and HIV-associated opportunistic infection. Recognized as a ‘rising star in TB-HIV research’, he has received awards from several international health organizations.
Prof. Alasdair MacGowan
Prof. Alasdair MacGowan, Consultant in Infection Research at North Bristol NHS Trust and Professor of Antimicrobial Therapeutics at the University of Bristol, brings over 30 years of experience in antimicrobial chemotherapy. His work in antibacterial pharmacokinetics, rapid diagnostics, and antimicrobial resistance has contributed significantly to the field. A former President of the BSAC and a Fellow of various Royal Colleges, Prof. MacGowan's research has greatly impacted antimicrobial drug development.
Dr. Aleksandar Danilovski, PhD
Dr. Aleksandar Danilovski is a seasoned Senior Advisor and Consultant in the pharmaceutical industry, with a career spanning nearly 30 years. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of DALISCO d.o.o. in Croatia and holds esteemed positions on the Board of Directors at Active Biotech AB and Pharmaero ApS, in addition to other advisory roles.
Dr. Danilovski's expertise covers a broad spectrum of pharmaceutical R&D activities across the entire value chain, including new chemical entities, specialties, generics, biosimilars, and biologics. He is skilled in designing and assessing formulation development strategies for various dosage forms and delivery systems, ranging from oral and parenteral to local delivery systems and dermal/transdermal products.
His proficiency extends to developing innovative patent strategies, managing strategic patent portfolios, and navigating regulatory pathways for R&D assets. Dr. Danilovski's deep understanding of manufacturing strategies, from drug substances to finished products, complements his ability to assess R&D pipelines across life cycle stages and competitive landscapes.
Educated at the University of Zagreb and Cambridge University, Dr. Danilovski's foundational expertise in Chemistry underpins his strategic insights in pharmaceutical R&D, positioning him as a key authority and advisor in the industry.
Prof. Guy Thwaites
Prof. Guy Thwaites currently serves as the Director of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit/Wellcome Programme in Vietnam, a position he has held since October 2013. As Director, he is at the helm of the unit's scientific endeavors, addressing critical research domains such as emerging viral infections, dengue, brain infections, tuberculosis, malaria, enteric infections, antimicrobial drug resistance, and critical care medicine.
His research is predominantly focused on severe bacterial infections, with a particular emphasis on meningitis, Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, and tuberculosis. Prof. Thwaites has a profound interest in the diagnosis, management, and underlying mechanisms of tuberculous meningitis. Through his leadership, the unit conducts large-scale, pragmatic randomized controlled trials aimed at resolving key clinical issues while also shedding light on disease pathogenesis, antimicrobial pharmacodynamics, and the genetics of both the host and pathogenic organisms.