As preparations for Options XIII continue, we are highlighting some of the experts helping to shape the scientific program and advance the field of influenza and respiratory virus research
Dr Ortiz Co-chair of Options XIII
This month, we shine the spotlight on Dr. Justin Ortiz, Co-chair of Options XIII and a leading physician-scientist whose work spans clinical medicine, vaccine research, epidemiology, and global public health.
Dr. Justin Ortiz is a pulmonary and critical care physician and Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with an international career dedicated to influenza and other respiratory viruses. His work spans vaccine research, respiratory virus clinical epidemiology, and global public health, with previous roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the University of Maryland.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ortiz has contributed to influenza vaccine trials, human challenge studies, international surveillance initiatives, and vaccine effectiveness collaborations. He currently serves as Director of the University of Maryland Clinical Core within the NIAID-funded Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) consortium, helping to advance the development of next-generation influenza vaccines.
As Co-chair of Options XIII, Dr. Ortiz is helping shape a program that brings together experts from across virology, vaccinology, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and public health to address some of the most pressing challenges in influenza prevention and pandemic preparedness. He is particularly enthusiastic about the meeting’s integration of clinical science, next-generation vaccine research, and emerging respiratory virus studies. He also looks forward to creating opportunities for trainees and early-career investigators to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the future of the field.
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