Our thanks to Barbara Kerstiëns

Barbara Kerstiëns has represented the European Commission on the GloPID-R Board since 2018. As Head of Unit in the Research & Innovation Directorate-General at the European Commission, Barbara has longstanding experience in international public health and a genuine dedication to achieving true impact. Her expertise has helped to advance GloPID-R’s continual adaptations to the ever-changing landscape of pandemic response and preparedness.

Barbara combines a keen sense of finding solutions and focusing on what is essential, even in the most complex discussions, with a strong conviction that more is reached when working together. She has continuously demonstrated her unwavering support for GloPID-R and the work our alliance of funders sets out to accomplish in coordinating scientific research for greater efficiency during disease outbreaks with pandemic potential.

Barbara has been instrumental in the success of numerous initiatives undertaken by GloPID-R over the years, like the workshop in 2019 on finding synergies between the clinical trial networks and the emerging pathogen cohorts, or the GloPID-R Zika virus research workshop in Sao Paulo in 2016. She has been a vocal advocate for the importance of coordinating funders to ensure their investment in research advances global health and better prepares the world for potential future pandemics.

On behalf of the GloPID-R Board and the Secretariat, we would like to express our gratitude for her contributions and her dedication. We would not be where we are now without Barbara’s commitment to GloPID-R’s mission. We wish her every success in her future endeavours.

Mongezi Mdhluli
Chair

Hans Hagen
Scientific and Advocacy Director