Mark Esser
Bio:
Dr. Mark Esser, a vice president at the global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, will serve as the inaugural leader of UVA’s new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, where he will guide ambitious efforts to accelerate the translation of groundbreaking scientific discoveries into therapies and medicines that improve human health.
A distinguished scientist and accomplished executive, Esser returns to UVA—where he earned his Ph.D. in microbiology in 1998—with nearly 30 years of experience in biomedical research and drug development. At AstraZeneca, he oversaw antibody and vaccine discovery, research, and translational medicine for the company’s infectious disease programs, helping shepherd early-stage science from concept to clinical application.
Esser holds more than 100 peer-reviewed research and clinical publications, five patents, and has contributed to the discovery and development of 20 new drugs. Among his most notable achievements are the development of Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, and Beyfortus, a monoclonol antibody that protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Beyfortus was unanimously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
