Paul Spearman, MD
Dr. Spearman is an experienced leader and clinical trials investigator, having designed and led trials for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEUs), and industry trials. Dr. Spearman has experience in leading complex research projects both in his own basic research laboratory that studies HIV assembly, and in large network clinical trials. Among other important discoveries, his laboratory has created a multivalent Ebola VLP that is likely to serve as an effective booster for live virus-primed individuals. He has experience in overseeing complex trials involving multiple laboratory components performed at numerous sites and has served on two DSMBs for DMID studies. Dr. Spearman was co-PI for the Emory VTEU from 2007-2016, and while at Emory served as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics, directing a large expansion in pediatric research and leading research initiatives across campuses at multiple institutions. He holds national leadership positions as President of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, a member of the FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biologicals Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), and a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In the IDCRC Leadership Group Dr. Spearman will be focused on the Laboratory Operations Unit, where he will help direct communications with each VTEU site and coordinate with site-specific laboratories, contribute to prioritization decisions related to laboratory assays and assay implementation, and contribute to the development of innovative laboratory methodology designed to elucidate fundamental principles of vaccine science. This connects with his special interest in the area of systems vaccinology as applied to VTEU trials, as exemplified by a current trial where he serves as PI -14-0092 Ebola systems vaccinology trial.