Steven B. Mizel

Dr. Steven B. Mizel is an internationally recognized immunologist who is one of the most highly cited immunologists during the last three decades. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Mizel served as the Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine for 20 years and was responsible for developing a very strong multi-disciplinary research group in respiratory immunology and pathogenesis.

He has made major contributions to the study of innate immunity as well as developing one of the first biodefense vaccines to move from the laboratory bench to the clinic (a vaccine against pneumonic plague that has completed a phase I clinical trial). Dr. Mizel managed all aspects of the preclinical development of the plague. In addition to the plague vaccine, Dr. Mizel has developed a number of other experimental vaccines against a spectrum of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Dr. Mizel developed the concept for the North Carolina Center on Vaccine Innovation and has led the effort to establish and fund this novel organization that is designed to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective preclinical development of vaccines by biotechnology companies and universities.