Faith Osier: inspirational immunologist

“There's never been a better time to be an immunologist. The entire world is acutely aware of the expertise and value we bring help solve some world's most pressing health problems”, says Faith Osier, who at start 2021 became Executive Director Human Immunology Laboratory non-profit scientific research organisation IAVI, based Imperial College London, UK. There, Osier directs team researchers working on clinical immunology in line with IAVI's vaccine development partnerships. “Our portfolio includes HIV/AIDS, TB, emerging infectious diseases, malaria. I wanted take new position front translation improve global health”, says. But it has malaria where established stellar career. From she will now combine strong internal collaborative partnerships London Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Programme (KWTRP), previously worked. “Partnerships are central success. In recent contemporary human challenge study, showed that high levels naturally acquired antibodies can protective against malaria, providing perfect model emulate vaccines”, She plans define specificity immune correlates protection guide design. “We have samples from this study freezer. They like gold dust could hold key designing vaccine”, currently lives UK her husband three children, was brought up Nairobi, Kenya, studied medicine University Nairobi. first witnessed devastating effects severe children when paediatrics as junior doctor between 1998 2001 rural district hospital Kilifi; busy night, would admit five high-dependency unit, many whom did not survive. “These moments inspired me think about prevention—what if stop these getting place?”, recalls. Keen pursue opportunities, went continued training. After qualifying Liverpool NHS Trust, UK, moved into arena, doing masters Liverpool. later won training fellowship Wellcome returned complete PhD KWTRP 2008. “My always made use prospective cohort studies antibody defined one antigen Masters' student; six antigens during my PhD, 36 postdoctoral research. Advances technology enabled step pace discovery map understand response complex parasite”, 2011–12, took Burnet Institute Melbourne, VIC, Australia. “I loved opportunity best laboratories Australia, but found logistics being single parent (my had remained Kenya) 1-year-old son extremely difficult”, On returning African Leader Award, funded by MRC former Department for International Development, which kickstarted multicentre evolved SMART South–South Malaria Antigen Partnership, involving Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda. An award European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership supported doctoral scientists countries, while prize Alexander von Humboldt Foundation expand laboratory Heidelberg Germany. passionate capacity building scientists. 2017, helped initiate Federation Immunological Societies Legacy Project Union (IUIS) energise its large international faculty support immunologists. “IAVI great strides science Africa USAID other partners, am excited contributing ongoing work”, Kevin Marsh, Professor Tropical Medicine Nuffield Oxford, seen close hand impact Osier's work, says: “From beginning career, pursued aim understanding how humans become single-minded determination. Her outstanding, what stands out much passion championing women science. known deterred any challenge. superb role young researchers.” As President IUIS, believes success COVID-19 vaccines catalyse development. “The pandemic shone light just power vaccinology, also political will. When society determined find solutions, nothing us. We highly effective COVID-19; must do same look forward energising IAVI community our make history—in lifetimes”,