Indeed, compared to other scientists, so far his name is not very heard. However, the Oxford University professor recently went viral because of his video attending the 2021 Wimbledon event in Novak Djokovic's match against Jack DraperOne of the scientists behind AstraZeneca's Corona vaccine, Dame Sarah Gilbert recently received massive appreciation. In the 2021 Wimbledon event, Sarah received a warm welcome and a standing ovation from the audience who filled the Middle Court of the classy event.
The news is now reaping public questions, what is Sarah Gilbert like? How did you start working on a vaccine that is now believed to be the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic?
In an interview with the BBC, Sarah once admitted that she had thought of leaving science while continuing her doctoral studies. He felt science was not following his wishes. Unexpectedly, now thanks to her scientific knowledge, she is appreciated by the world for her vaccine findings during a pandemic, Sarah Gilbert's story continues when she releases a patent in the AstraZeneca vaccine production process. That means, the public can get vaccine prices that can be cheaper. That's where the respect goes to Sarah Gilbert.
Sarah Gilbert, born in Kettering, Northamptonshire in April 1962. Gilbert has a father who works in the shoe business and a mother who works as an English teacher. Now, Gilbert is a Professor of Vaccination at the University of Oxford and co-founder of Vaccitech, a biotechnology company that develops vaccines and immunotherapy.
Gilbert earned his bachelor's degree at the University of East Anglia. His interest and admiration for the diversity of thought in the field of science led him to major in biology. He continued his doctoral education at the University of Hull where he investigated the genetics and biochemistry of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information page, the first vaccine Gilbert worked on at the University of Oxford began in 1994. Together with Adrian Hill, Gilbert conducted research focused on a malaria vaccine.
Gilbert's career as a vaccine researcher has continued to develop since then. He began working on various vaccines for various diseases, such as influenza, Ebola, Mers, and the Zika virus.
As Chair of the management committee overseeing vaccine production at the University of Oxford, Gilbert and his colleagues have suspended all vaccine research to prioritize COVID-19 vaccine development efforts.
With a long career and soaring achievements, Sarah Gilbert remains a humble person. He sincerely said that there was a team of diverse expertise behind him in the eleven-month production process of AstraZeneca's vaccine from January 2020. "This is a huge achievement, and without them, we would not be able to progress as quickly as yesterday," he said. he said some interesting things from Professor Sarah Gilbert:
1. Professor at Oxford University
Sarah Gilbert is a British vaccinologist and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford. He specializes in developing vaccines against influenza and emerging viral pathogens.
2. Founder of the vaccine development company
Sarah Gilbert is a co-founder of Vaccitech, a biotech company that specializes in developing vaccines and immunotherapy for infectious diseases, cancer, hepatitis B, HPV, and prostate cancer, and so on.
3. Ebola vaccine trial leader Gilbert led the development and testing of a universal flu vaccine in early 2011. The vaccination is unconventional because it does not stimulate the body's production of antibodies, but instead triggers the production of T-cells to fight the flu. He then led the first trial of an Ebola vaccine in 2014, followed by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
4. Working hard during the Covid-19 pandemic
He has had to work day and night since the outbreak of Covid-19. He can even get a work email at 4 am. In the same interview, he also talked about an altruistic approach to improving the situation.
“From the start, we saw it as a race against the virus, not a race against other vaccine developers. We are a university and we are not here to make money."
5. UK-approved AstaZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
The UK approved a Covid-19 vaccine that he co-developed with the Oxford Vaccine Group on 30 December 2020. In an interview with the BBC, he said he felt that they could use a similar approach for MERS. He continued with the idea when Chinese scientists published the genetic code of the virus.
6. Live to make vaccines
Gilbert spent most of his time working on producing many different vaccines. How to make a vaccine using the same technology to reduce the time and cost required during vaccine development against many different viruses that have the potential to cause outbreaks, such as MERS, Nipah, and Lassa.
7. Not from a family of doctors
Gilbert was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire in April 1962. His father worked in the shoe business. His mother was an English teacher and also a member of the local amateur opera society. He realized his dream of working in medicine when he was in high school.
Gilbert graduated from the University of East Anglia with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Then moved to the University of Hull to pursue his doctorate in genetics and biochemistry of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides.
8. Starting from making medicine
After his doctorate, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the industry at the Brewing Industry Research Foundation. In 1990, he joined Delta Biotechnology, a biopharmaceutical company that manufactures drugs in Nottingham.
After various endeavors in research and work in between, he became a reader in Vaccinology at Oxford University in 2004. In 2010, he became a professor at the Jenner Institute. Gilbert began work on the design and manufacture of a new influenza vaccine with the assistance of the Wellcome Trust.
9. Quiet As stated by his colleagues and friends, Gilbert was conscientious, quiet, and determined and someone with true fortitude. He also doesn't enjoy the limelight.
10. His children volunteer for vaccines
Sarah Gilbert is also the mother of triplets. Even her children are participating in vaccine trials. To support her career and family, her partner, Rob Blundell is also the primary caregiver.