News Article -- October 08, 2009

DVC Appoints Dr. Mary Kate Hart as Chief Scientific Officer

October 8, 2009 — DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), a CSC company, today appointed Dr. Mary Kate Hart as Chief Scientific Officer.  In her new position, Dr. Hart will set and manage the overall scientific and technical direction for development of all existing and anticipated products under development at DVC.

Dr. Hart joined DVC in 2006 as Director of Nonclinical Research, where she served as DVC’s principal immunologist.  In this position, Dr. Hart was responsible for developing, managing and leading the company’s nonclinical strategy toward successful licensure of vaccines for viruses, bacteria and toxins under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Rule.  Dr. Hart also serves as Principal Investigator for DVC’s seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine program. 

“Dr. Hart’s experience and depth of knowledge in nonclinical research, and particularly the Animal Rule, has been beneficial to every DVC vaccine program,” said DVC President Dr. Robert V. House.  “In addition to being a top-notch scientist, Dr. Hart is an excellent manager, and I am confident that in her new position she will support continued growth of DVC’s scientific and technical capabilities.”

Prior to joining DVC, Dr. Hart worked at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. for 15 years.  She began her USAMRIID career in 1991 as a principal investigator and microbiologist researching Venezuelan equine encephalitis vaccine candidates.  In 1998, Dr. Hart was named chief of the Cell and Host Responses Branch of USAMRIID’s Virology division, and in 2004 was named chief of Virology at USAMRIID. 

Dr. Hart holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Biology from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa.  She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, where her research focused on HIV synthetic peptide-based vaccines.  Dr. Hart is an honorary adjunct faculty member for the Biomedical Sciences Program at Hood College, and has taught undergraduate immunology courses.  She is a member of the American Association of Immunologists, and has won several awards including Department of the Army Achievement Medals for civil service and the Army Civilian Meritorious Service Award.

In 2006 Dr. Hart was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit.  Dr. Hart holds six patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.

Dr. Mary Kate Hart, DVC Chief Scientific Officer

Related Links

View an Animal Rule poster presented by Dr. Hart on behalf of the Alliance for Biosecurity.

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