Rick Nichols

Rick brings over 25 years of experience in vaccine research, analytical development, validation, and GCLP testing of clinical trial specimens and for analytics supporting manufacturing and control of biological products. Rick’s emphasis is on the field of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against infectious diseases focusing on both systemic and mucosal immunity.

Before founding Crozet, Rick most recently served as Director of Clinical Immunology at BioProtection Systems, the infectious disease subsidiary of NewLink Genetics, where he was responsible for bringing critical clinical assays from development through validation for the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine and for the validation of non-compendial CMC assays. He also was responsible for oversight of subcontractors performing cGLP nonclinical studies, providing technical expertise on qPCR and other virological methods, and the analysis of tests on samples from those studies. Additionally, Mr. Nichols was responsible for the development of non-clinical and CMC methods for the NewLink Genetics Zika vaccine program.

Before NewLink, Rick was Director of R&D Projects and Director of Clinical Analysis at Bavarian Nordic where he led the childhood vaccine program (measles, and respiratory syncytial virus) and oversaw all non-government-supported programs (anthrax, yellow fever, RSV, and measles). Rick was responsible for analytical development and GCLP testing of clinical trial specimens to monitor both cellular and humoral immune responses (smallpox, measles).

Rick also held the role of Director, Serology and Head, Serology at Acambis and OraVax, respectively. There, he was responsible for the development and validation of clinical methods for their respiratory syncytial virus, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, West Nile, Helicobacter pylori, Clostridium difficile, and cholera programs. He has had responsibility for performing and overseeing immunological evaluation in over 70 human clinical trials (Phase 1-3) in North America, Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia which included vaccines and prophylactic/ therapeutic antibodies.

Rick received his BS degree from the University of Massachusetts and his MA from Boston University. He has published over 23 scientific papers and has 3 patents.