Ab Osterhaus

Albert Osterhaus co-founded Viroclinics B.V. and is its Chief Scientific Officer.

As professor of Virology in Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Hannover, Ab Osterhaus has a long track record as scientific researcher and PI of numerous major scientific projects. At Erasmus MC he has built the >40 persons virology diagnostic lab and the >100 persons viroscience research lab. His research programme followed a novel integrated “viroscience” concept, bringing together world leading scientists in molecular virology, immunology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and intervention studies on human and animal virus infections. After having handed over the chairmanship of the Erasmus MC Viroscience lab in 2014, he is currently establishing the new Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ) at TiHo Hannover and The Artemis One Health Research Institute in Utrecht.

Major performances under Ab’s scientific leadership include the discovery of more than 50 new viruses of humans and animals or new hosts for known viruses (e.g. human metapneumovirus, coronaviruses, influenza viruses), the elucidation of the pathogenesis of major human and animal virus infections and the development of novel intervention strategies. These include strategies for AIDS, viral hepatitis, influenza, and other major respiratory infections. Discoveries of Osterhaus’ team have enabled health authorities to effectively combat outbreaks of diseases like SARS and H7N7/ H5N1 influenza. These include strategies for AIDS, viral hepatitis, influenza, and other major respiratory infections.

In the past five years, besides the acquisition of major multi-million research programmes from Dutch governmental organisations (e.g. NGI, NWO, FES, TI-Pharma, ministries) Osterhaus` team has successfully acquired numerous international and prestigious research grants from EU FP7 and ERC programmes, NIH, Bill and Melinda Gates and WHO.

While Ab continues to recruit talented researchers and attract national and international funding, he actively participates in experimental design and laboratory work, passing on his expertise to new generations of researchers. In addition, he shares his knowledge to the benefit of society through his advisory role to several national and international public health committees.

The spin-off, Viroclinics, is among his societally relevant successes, allowing effective testing and refining of diagnostic and other intervention strategies.

Awards, prizes, guest lecture invitations, (co-)organiserships of international meetings and editorships of scientific journals further highlight his international recognition. He has acted as mentor for more than 60 PhD students, holds several key patents and is the author of more than 1100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, together cited more than 50,000 times, his H index is more than 90. Most of all, Ab Osterhaus firmly believes scientists have a role to play in translating their knowledge for the benefit and protection of society.