Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD
President
Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD, is president of GVN and oversees the scientific stewardship of the Network. Serving in this role since September 2017 Dr. Bréchot brings his vast research, training and collaboration experience of over 30 years.
Dr. Bréchot works with GVN leadership and staff to ensure that the core objectives of the Network are upheld and strengthened, and the various ongoing and new programs reach their full effectiveness. He provides strategic leadership and guidance to GVN’s 59 Centers of Excellence and 11 affiliated laboratories in 34 nations of the world on evidence-based results oriented projects, partnerships, and global activities geared towards coalition building in virology.
Dr. Bréchot concurrently holds several positions. He currently is the Senior Associate Dean for Research in Global Affairs, Associate Vice President for International Partnerships and Innovation, and Professor in the Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of South Florida (USF) Health Morsani College of Medicine. Additionally he also serves as the executive director of the Tampa-based Romark Laboratories Institute for Medical Research and is chief executive officer of The Healthy Aging Company.
With a proven track record in both the private and public sectors, his expertise spans research, innovation, and collaborative solutions. Prior to his current appoints Dr. Bréchot served as president of the Institut Pasteur, driving recruitment of eminent scientists, implementing an international multidisciplinary education and teaching program, and fostering collaborative research and training strategies with major universities and research organizations. During his tenure between October 2013 – September 2017, Dr. Bréchot strengthened the international network of 33 Pasteur Institutes to encompass a global scientific vision and positioning an ambitious and internationally oriented strategy for capacity development, technology transfer and fundraising. Dr. Bréchot has an intimate knowledge of research and innovation, especially in virology. He has demonstrated his ability to drive change at scale by building new programs and diversified funding models.
Dr. Bréchot’s research has been focused on viral hepatitis- hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), particularly with regard to their role in liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma: HCC) and to the molecular mechanisms that drive liver regeneration and cancer; in particular, cell cycle deregulation and the impact of oxidative stress. In 1989, he became full professor of Cell Biology and Hepatology, at the Paris Descartes University and in 1997 he was appointed head of the clinical department of liver diseases at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital. He was head of a research unit at the Necker Faculty of Medicine, jointly supported by Inserm, Paris Descartes University, and the Pasteur Institute. He was also head of the National Reference Centre on viral hepatitis from 1998 to 2001.
Dr. Bréchot has been a member of numerous scientific committees and societies and has authored over 350 articles published in medical and scientific journals. In addition, his research activities have led to 13 patents and contributed to the creation of three biotech companies: Rarecells, ALFACT Innovation and The Healthy Aging Company. From 2001 to 2007, Dr. Bréchot was General Director of Inserm, the French National Agency for biomedical research. In 2008, he was appointed as Vice-President of Medical and Scientific Affairs of the Institut Merieux company, where he merged the efforts of four sectors including in vitro diagnostics, preventive vaccines, therapeutic vaccines, as well as food safety (Biomérieux, Transgene, Merieux Nutrisciences, Advanced Bioscience Laboratory). He has also received the Académie Nationale de Médecine prize in 1996 and the Jean-Valade award in 2000
A French national, Dr. Bréchot earned his MD in 1975 from the Faculty of Medicine Broussais-Hotel, Dieu, Paris, France, and a Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Paris VII in 1985.
Linman Li, MBA, MPH, PMP, CPH
Vice President of Operations and Partnership
Linman Li manages development and operational activities for GVN. She leads in strategic business development, contracting, partnership scoping and management in both public and private sectors as well as promoting GVN globally.
Linman brings several years of partnership building experience to GVN. In 2016, she developed a Sister City agreement between the City of Tampa and the City of Lanzhou, China. This was a unique opportunity to work with the mayors of both cities and thereafter, Linman worked as the Chair for China collaborations through the Tampa Sister Cities Committee and still directs this major partnership between Tampa and Lanzhou.
Linman received an MPH from the University of South Florida (USF) in 2019, an MBA from USF in 2013 and a BA in Finance from the Chongqing Technology and Business University, China in 2010. She has extensive knowledge in strategic business planning and development, contract negotiations, budget planning and management, organizational development, business outreach, project management, public relations, and partnership development.
Linman is the first recipient of the USF President Genshaft Outstanding Global Achievement Award and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Tampa Bay Area Council on Foreign Relations, and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay. Linman is actively involved with the Project Management Institute’s Tampa Bay Chapter.
Prior to joining GVN, Linman served as the Associate Director of USF Medicine International and Director of Asia Programs at the Morsani College of Medicine (MCoM), at USF.
Email: [email protected]
Marcus Gallo, MS
Research Analyst & Centers Manager
Marcus Gallo leads the overall outreach and coordination with GVN’s growing member base, and manages the vetting and evaluation processes of GVN Centers of Excellence, providing project research analysis, and assisting with writing of scientific papers.
Marcus brings to GVN extensive prior knowledge in global public health. Prior to joining GVN, Marcus was an associate at the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, working closely in the Jacques Initiative and other clinical research activities.
Marcus has an MS in healthcare administration, and has lived and worked abroad, including in one of the GVN countries – Argentina as a Marketing Analyst on a diverse product portfolio: EPO, IFN Alpha 2a/2b; Calcitonin, HCG, Carboplatin and C-GSF. Marcus also played a key role early on in the formation of GVN through analytical work which led to identification of many of the GVN Centers of Excellence.
Email: [email protected]
Shin-Hee Kim, PhD
Program Director
Shin-Hee leads in the planning, implementation and management of GVN’s scientific programs and training projects aligned with GVN’s core mission of advocacy, education and research. Shin-Hee is specifically tasked with GVN’s Task Forces activities and coordinates GVN’s many international meetings, Annual Meetings, annual short courses, international training workshops and GVN Academy projects.
Email: [email protected]
Kevin Kishpaugh
Operations Associate
Kevin oversees the daily operations of the GVN, dealing with procurement, finances, and logistical organization. Prior to joining GVN, he worked for a law firm specializing in consumer protection and ran media monitoring on a political campaign. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The George Washington University.
(tel) 410-706-0297
Email: [email protected]