David Salisbury

With more than 40 years of experience, David Salisbury is a well-known and well-respected leader in immunization program policy and implementation, with first-hand experience managing the UK’s national immunization program and strategic expertise ranging from vaccine research to disease eradication. He is currently an Associate Fellow of the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, London, as well as Chair of the Global Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication.

Professor Salisbury has shaped global approaches to immunization through a variety of important leadership or advisory roles: chair of the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), co-chair of the Pandemic Influenza Working Group of the Global Health Security Initiative, and chair of the Research & Development Working Group of the Decade of Vaccines Initiative. Under his leadership from 2010 to 2012, this working group produced the road map for development and introduction of new vaccines targeted for the decade. His current work includes leading the Global Polio Eradication Certification Commission, as well as focusing on the impact of vaccines in the decreasing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

From 2007 to 2013, Professor Salisbury was the Director of Immunization at the Department of Health for the United Kingdom. He had been responsible for the UK’s national immunization program, directing research, strategy, policy, vaccine purchase and implementation. He led the introduction of numerous new vaccines and vaccine programs, including MMR, Hib, rotavirus vaccine, varicella zoster vaccine, meningococcal C vaccine and influenza vaccine for children, pertussis and influenza vaccines for pregnant women, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Also, during his tenure, immunization coverage increased steadily for routine vaccines.

Professor Salisbury has published more than 100 papers on immunization and pediatric topics in peer-reviewed journals, including the Lancet, Nature, Science, Vaccine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. He is a frequent international lecturer and advisor on vaccines and vaccination.

Professor Salisbury was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen’s Birthday Honors in 2001 for his services in the field of immunization. He was made a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2014. Professor Salisbury is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Faculty of Public Health. He is a graduate of London University and trained as pediatrician at Oxford and at the Hospital for Sick Children, London.

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