Succeeding Dr. M. Lindsay Grayson, Dr. Rubens is co-founder and executive director of the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), an initiative of Seattle Children’s. An internationally recognized infectious disease expert, he leads GAPPS’ work in program development and strategic partnerships that leverage cross-disciplinary science to accelerate a discovery-to-delivery pipeline for preventing prematurity and stillbirth. Rubens is a professor of pediatrics and global health at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is a member of many prestigious scientific societies, including the American Pediatric Society and American Society of Clinical investigators. He currently is on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has been a consultant and reviewer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, FDA, CDC and NIH, along with many high-profile scientific journals.
Rubens’ long-term research interests include diseases afflicting low-, middle- and high-income countries and he serves on the executive committee of the Washington Global Health Alliance. His specific area of expertise is in exploring the mechanisms of infection during pregnancy and the early newborn period that result in poor pregnancy and newborn health outcomes. Insights from his work have helped identify new opportunities for vaccine development. Named a 2012 Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report, Rubens is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine and received a PhD from the Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina.
Now in its 52nd year, ICAAC showcases the latest-breaking science and lectures from top researchers in nearly 100 countries. The annual conference convenes 10,000 physicians, clinical microbiologists, researchers, pharmacologists, and pharmacists to share their research, discover the latest breakthroughs, and work towards fostering global solutions through development of new antimicrobials, vaccines and diagnostics to address the global problems of infectious diseases.
