Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI)
Alana Gerhardt has a diverse work experience spanning over several years. Alana currently works as a Principal Scientist at The Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI), where they lead the Product Development and Characterization group. Their responsibilities include developing thermostable vaccines for infectious diseases, overseeing vaccine antigen characterization, and ensuring vaccine stability. Alana also supervises R&D manufacturing of RNA drug substances and product formulation development.
Prior to their role at AAHI, Alana worked as a Scientist II and Scientist I at the Infectious Disease Research Institute from 2017 to 2022. Alana also gained experience as an R&D Engineer and Project Manager at Neurodan A/S from 2014 to 2016.
Alana's early career involved working as a Graduate Research Assistant and Chemistry Program Organizer and Tutor at the University of Colorado Boulder from 2008 to 2014. Alana also worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Carnegie Mellon University from 2005 to 2008. Additionally, they completed a Product Development Internship at Amylin Pharmaceuticals in 2007.
Alana Gerhardt earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2008. Alana then pursued a Master of Science (MS) degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder from 2008 to 2011. Alana completed their education with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2014.
Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI)
AAHI is a nonprofit biotech research institute located in Seattle, Washington that combines the high-quality science of an academic research organization with the product-development capabilities of a biotech company to help combat some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including COVID-19, cancer, fungal and parasitic infections, and other non-communicable diseases. For nearly three decades, AAHI, previously known as the Infectious Disease Research Institute, has focused on creating immune-enhancing technologies that improve the body’s natural response to disease. Through collaborations AAHI brings innovation from the lab to the clinic to the people, furthering AAHI’s mission to bring together the best experts, technologies, and platforms to create accessible, high-quality products and solutions. AAHI is working to build a world in which every person has access to tools that harness their immune system and allow them to live a healthy life free of illness and disease.