Sarah Gilbert

{{Infobox scientist

| honorific prefix = Dame

| name = Sarah Gilbert

| image = File:Dr.Sarah Gilbert.jpg

| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|DBE|FRS|size=100%}}

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1962|04}}

| birth_place = Kettering, Northamptonshire, England

| alma_mater = University of East Anglia (BSc)
University of Hull (PhD)

| workplaces = University of Oxford
Vaccitech
Delta Biotechnology
Leicester Biocentre
Brewing Industry Research Foundation
Christ Church, Oxford

| known_for = Vaccinology

| fields = Vaccines

| children = 3

| awards = Albert Medal (2021)
Princess of Asturias Award (2021)
King Faisal Prize (2023)

| doctoral_advisor = Colin Ratledge, Dr M. Keenan

| thesis_title = Studies on lipid accumulation and genetics of Rhodosporidium toruloides

| thesis_url = https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.381881

| thesis_year = 1986

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Dame Sarah Catherine Gilbert {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} FRS (born April 1962) is an English vaccinologist who is a Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and co-founder of Vaccitech.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/principal-investigators/researcher/sarah-gilbert|title=Sarah Gilbert – Nuffield Department of Medicine|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=10 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/people/professor-sarah-gilbert/|title=Professor Sarah Gilbert|publisher=University of Oxford|language=en|access-date=10 February 2020|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702130425/https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/people/professor-sarah-gilbert/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/find-an-expert/professor-sarah-gilbert|title=Professor Sarah Gilbert {{!}} University of Oxford|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=10 February 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803121057/https://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/find-an-expert/professor-sarah-gilbert|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vaccitech.co.uk/about/our-team/|website=vaccitech.co.uk|title=Our Team|access-date=28 March 2020}} She specialises in the development of vaccines against influenza and emerging viral pathogens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hic-vac.org/members/members-profiles/professor-sarah-gilbert|title=Professor Sarah Gilbert | Hic Vac|website=hic-vac.org}} She led the development and testing of the universal flu vaccine, which underwent clinical trials in 2011.

In January 2020, she read a report on ProMED-mail about four people in China suffering from a strange kind of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan.{{cite book |last1=Gilbert |first1=Sarah |last2=Green |first2=Catherine |title=Vaxxers : the inside story of the Oxford vaccine and the race against the virus |date=2021 |location=London |isbn=978-1529369854}} Within two weeks, a vaccine had been designed at Oxford against the new pathogen, which later became known as COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Centre Court ovations, limbo-dancing grans – it's all been humbling, say Oxford vaccine creators |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/04/centre-court-ovations-limbo-dancing-grans-its-all-been-humbling-say-oxford-vaccine-creators-sarah-gilbert-catherine-green |website=The Guardian |date=4 July 2021 |access-date=9 July 2021|last1=McKie |first1=Robin }} On 30 December 2020, the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine she co-developed with the Oxford Vaccine Group was approved for use in the UK.{{cite web |title=Covid-19: Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine approved for use in UK |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55280671 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=30 December 2020 |date=30 December 2020}} More than 3{{nbsp}}billion doses of the vaccine were supplied to countries worldwide.{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine, citing low demand |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/08/business/astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-withdrawal/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=9 May 2024}}

Early life and education

Sarah Catherine Gilbert was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Her father was an office manager for a shoemakers and her mother was a primary school teacher.{{cite web |title=Sarah Gilbert, the researcher leading the race to a Covid-19 vaccine |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d2ae1fff-9747-41a3-b347-861ac1a70709 |website=Financial Times |access-date=25 June 2021 |first=Clive |last=Cookson |date=24 July 2020}} Gilbert attended Kettering High School for Girls, where she realised that she wanted to work in medicine.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus vaccine: Who is Professor Sarah Gilbert? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/55058854 |website=Newsround |date=24 November 2020 |access-date=28 June 2021}}{{Cite web| url=https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/working-for-ndm/working-for-ndm-page/career-profiles/professor-sarah-gilbert/| title=Professor Sarah Gilbert| author=Admin| website=Working for NDM| language=en-GB| access-date=27 March 2020| archive-date=27 March 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327225805/https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/working-for-ndm/working-for-ndm-page/career-profiles/professor-sarah-gilbert/| url-status=dead}} She earned nine O-Levels with six A grades. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 1983.{{cite web |title=The UEA graduate leading hunt for coronavirus vaccine |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/professor-sarah-gilbert-uea-graduate-leading-the-way-for-a-1535990 |website=Eastern Daily Press |date=23 April 2020 |access-date=20 June 2021}} While at UEA she began playing the saxophone, which she would practise in the woods around the UEA Broad so as not to disturb others in her halls.{{cite web |title=UEA alumni in 2020 |url=https://www.uea.ac.uk/stories/uea-alumni-in-2020-part-4 |website=University of East Anglia |access-date=28 June 2021}}

She moved to the University of Hull for her doctoral degree, where she investigated the genetics and biochemistry of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides, graduating with a PhD in 1986.{{cite thesis|degree=PhD|publisher=University of Hull|title=Studies on lipid accumulaltion and genetics of Rhodosporidium toruloides|first= Sarah Catherine|last=Gilbert|year=1986|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.381881}}|website=jisc.ac.uk|oclc=499901226|url=https://discover.libraryhub.jisc.ac.uk/search?q=Studies%20on%20lipid%20accumulaltion%20and%20genetics%20of%20Rhodosporidium%20toruloides&rn=1}}

Research and career

After earning her doctoral degree, Gilbert worked as a postdoctoral researcher in industry at the Brewing Industry Research Foundation before moving to the Leicester Biocentre. In 1990, Gilbert joined Delta Biotechnology, a biopharmaceutical company that manufactured drugs in Nottingham.{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/webinar/vaccine-matters-can-we-cure-coronavirus|title=Vaccine matters: Can we cure coronavirus?|work=Science Magazine|date=12 August 2020|access-date=7 September 2020}} In 1994, Gilbert returned to academia, joining the laboratory of Adrian V. S. Hill. Her early research considered host–parasite interactions in malaria. She became a University lecturer in 1999 and she was made a Reader in Vaccinology at the University of Oxford in 2004.

She was made Professor at the Jenner Institute in 2010. With the support of the Wellcome Trust, Gilbert started work on the design and creation of novel influenza vaccinations. In particular, her research considers the development and preclinical testing of viral vaccinations, which embed a pathogenic protein inside a safe virus.{{Cite web|url=https://ndm.medsci.ox.ac.uk/podcast-meet-our-researchers/epidemics-vaccines/sarah-gilbert-viral-vectored-vaccines|title=Sarah Gilbert: Viral Vectored Vaccines — Nuffield Department of Medicine|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=27 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hic-vac.org/members/members-profiles/professor-sarah-gilbert|title=Professor Sarah Gilbert {{!}} Hic Vac|website=hic-vac.org|access-date=27 March 2020}} These viral vaccinations induce a T cell response, which can be used against viral diseases, malaria and cancer.

File:SARS-CoV-2 without background.png, which reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.]]

Gilbert was involved with the development and testing of the universal flu vaccine. Unlike conventional vaccinations, the universal flu vaccine did not stimulate the production of antibodies, but instead triggers the immune system to create T cells that are specific for influenza.{{Cite web|url=https://splice-bio.com/world-first-trial-universal-flu-vaccine/|title=World-First Trial for Universal Flu Vaccine|date=11 October 2017|website=Splice|language=en-US|access-date=27 March 2020}} It makes use of one of the core proteins (nucleoprotein and matrix protein 1) inside the Influenza A virus, not the external proteins that exist on the outside coat.{{Cite web|last1=Jha|first1=Alok|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/feb/06/flu-universal-vaccine-test-success|title=Flu breakthrough promises a vaccine to kill all strains|date=6 February 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

As the immune system weakens with age, conventional vaccinations are not effective for elderly. The universal flu vaccine does not need to be reformatted every year and stops people from needing a seasonal flu vaccine. Her first clinical trials, which were in 2008, made use of the Influenza A virus subtype H3N2, and included daily monitoring of the patient's symptoms.{{Cite web| url=https://www.jenner.ac.uk/team/sarah-gilbert | title=Sarah Gilbert — The Jenner Institute|website=jenner.ac.uk|access-date=27 March 2020}} It was the first study that it was possible to stimulate T cells in response to a flu virus, and that this stimulation would protect people from getting the flu. Her research has demonstrated that the adenoviral vector ChAdOx1 can be used to make vaccinations that are protective against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in mice and able to induce immune response against MERS in humans.{{Cite Q|Q47147430}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaccitech.co.uk/new-mers-vaccine-clinical-trial-starts-in-saudi-arabia/|title=New MERS Coronavirus vaccine clinical trial starts in Saudi Arabia |website=www.vaccitech.co.uk|date=20 December 2019|access-date=22 March 2021}} The same vector was also used to create a vaccine against Nipah which was effective in hamsters (but never proven in humans),{{Cite Q|Q64917294|doi-access=free}} in addition to a potential vaccine for Rift Valley Fever that was protective in sheep, goats, and cattle (but not proven in humans).{{Cite Q|Q36548980}}

Gilbert has been involved with the development of a new vaccination to protect against coronavirus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-vaccine-uk-scientists-imperial-college-oxford-university-a4356406.html|title=Two groups of UK scientists in race to develop coronavirus vaccine|date=7 February 2020|website=London Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vaccine-trials-among-recipients-of-20-million-coronavirus-research-investment|title=Vaccine trials among recipients of £20 million coronavirus research investment|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-02-07-oxford-team-begin-novel-coronavirus-vaccine-research|title=Oxford team to begin novel coronavirus vaccine research {{!}} University of Oxford|date=7 February 2020 |publisher=University of Oxford|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020}}{{Cite Q|Q92035270}} She leads the work on this vaccine candidate alongside Andrew Pollard, Teresa Lambe, Sandy Douglas, Catherine Green and Adrian Hill.{{Cite web|url=https://covid19vaccinetrial.co.uk/|title=COVID-19 Vaccine Trials {{!}} COVID-19|website=covid19vaccinetrial.co.uk|access-date=11 April 2020}} As with her earlier work, the COVID-19 vaccine makes use of an adenoviral vector, which stimulates an immune response against the coronavirus spike protein. Plans were announced to start animal studies in March 2020, and recruitment began of 510 human participants for a phase I/II trial on 27 March.{{Cite news| last=Sample | first=Ian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/19/uk-drive-develop-coronavirus-vaccine-science | title=Trials to begin on Covid-19 vaccine in UK next month | date=19 March 2020| newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=27 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/british-scientists-hope-start-coronavirus-17952746|title=British scientists hope to start coronavirus vaccine trials next month|last=Robson|first=Steve|date=20 March 2020|website=manchestereveningnews.co.uk|access-date=27 March 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/uk-scientists-enrol-volunteers-for-coronavirus-vaccine-trial|title=UK scientists enrol volunteers for coronavirus vaccine trial|date=17 March 2020|work=The Guardian}}

In April 2020, Gilbert was interviewed about the developments by Andrew Marr on BBC television.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p089xqrl | title=Prof Sarah Gilbert: Coronavirus vaccine trials to start within days | work=The Andrew Marr Show | location=UK | date=19 April 2020 | access-date=19 April 2020 }} That same month, Gilbert was reported as saying that her candidate vaccine could be available by September 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/coronavirus-vaccine-could-be-ready-in-six-months-says-uk-scientist|title=Coronavirus vaccine could be ready in six months, says UK scientist|last=hermesauto|date=11 April 2020|work=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=11 April 2020}} if everything goes to plan with the clinical trial, which has received funding from sources such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-03-30/coronavirus-the-scientists-hunting-for-treatments-vaccine | title=How Top Scientists Are Racing to Beat the Coronavirus | author=Stephanie Baker | date=30 March 2020 | access-date=11 April 2020 | website=Bloomberg News}} Gilbert delivered an update in September 2020 that the vaccine, AZD1222, was being produced by AstraZeneca while phase III trials were ongoing.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-vaccine-oxford-latest-results-covid-19-sarah-gilbert-interview-trial-a9695161.html|title='You just get on with it': The Oxford professor carrying the world's hopes of a coronavirus vaccine|first=Samuel|last=Lovett|work=The Independent|date=1 September 2020|access-date=8 September 2020}} Because of her vaccine research, Gilbert featured on The Times' 'Science Power List' in May 2020.{{Cite news|last=Franklin-Wallis|first=Oliver|date=23 May 2020|title=From pandemics to cancer: the science power list|language=en|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/from-pandemics-to-cancer-the-science-power-list-d23bb9b2k|access-date=26 May 2020|issn=0140-0460}}

In 2021, Gilbert and Catherine Green published Vaxxers: the inside story of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the race against the virus.{{cite news |last1=Honigsbaum |first1=Mark |title=Vaxxers by Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green; Until Proven Safe by Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley – reviews |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/11/vaxxers-by-sarah-gilbert-and-catherine-green-until-proven-safe-by-geoff-manaugh-and-nicola-twilley-reviews |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=11 July 2021 |language=en}}{{cite journal |last1=Ledford |first1=Heidi |title=The COVID vaccine makers tell all |journal=Nature |date=5 August 2021 |volume=596 |issue=7870 |pages=29–30 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-02090-9|bibcode=2021Natur.596...29L |s2cid=236883504 }}

Recognition

Gilbert was the subject of BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific in September 2020.{{cite episode| title= Sarah Gilbert on developing a vaccine for Covid-19| series= The Life Scientific| credits= Presenter: Jim Al-Khalili; Producer: Anna Buckley| network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 4| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mj18 | airdate= 15 September 2020| access-date= 15 September 2020 }} She was also on the list of the BBC's 100 Women announced on 23 November 2020,{{Cite news|date=23 November 2020|title=BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55042935|access-date=23 November 2020}} and became a senior associated research fellow at Christ Church, Oxford.{{cite web |title=e-Matters 25th February 2021 |url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/alumni/e-matters-25th-february-2021 |website=www.chch.ox.ac.uk |access-date=9 September 2021 |language=en}} Gilbert was awarded the Rosalind Franklin medal for her services to science by Humanists UK at its annual Rosalind Franklin Lecture on 5 March 2021,{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Sarah |title=Racing against the virus |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U290Fk2BpvA |website=The Rosalind Franklin Lecture |publisher=YouTube |access-date=7 December 2021 |language=en |date=2021}} at which she delivered a lecture titled ‘Racing against the virus’. The lecture detailed the history of the science of vaccination and recounted the progress of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.{{Cite web|title=Vaccine creator Professor Sarah Gilbert delivers Rosalind Franklin Lecture to thousands|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2021/03/05/vaccine-creator-delivers-rosalind-franklin-lecture-to-thousands/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Humanists UK|language=en}}

In June 2021, Gilbert received a standing ovation at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.{{Cite web|last=Duncan|first=Conrad|date=2021-06-28|title=Wimbledon crowd gives standing ovation to Oxford Covid vaccine developer|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wimbledon-covid-vaccine-sarah-gilbert-b1874316.html|access-date=2021-06-29|website=The Independent|language=en}} In 2021, as a role model (Barbie Shero), Sarah Gilbert had a Barbie doll made in her honour by the toy manufacturer Mattel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/04/vaccinologist-barbie-prof-sarah-gilbert-honoured-with-a-doll|title=Vaccinologist Barbie: Prof Sarah Gilbert honoured with a doll|date=4 August 2021|website=the Guardian}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/your-sarah-gilbert-doll-isnt-realistic-mattel-i-want-a-pay-gap-barbie-j26xv0m8s?region=global|title=Your Sarah Gilbert doll isn't realistic, Mattel. I want a Pay Gap Barbie|first=Deborah|last=Ross|date=24 May 2023 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}

Awards

2021 – Humanists UK Rosalind Franklin Medal
2021 – Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts[https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-03-05-oxford-vaccine-creator-professor-sarah-gilbert-awarded-rsa-albert-medal Oxford vaccine creator Professor Sarah Gilbert awarded RSA Albert Medal] www.ox.ac.uk, Accessed 23 March 2021
2021 – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to science and to public health in COVID-19 vaccine development{{London Gazette|issue=63377|supp=y|page=B8|date=12 June 2021}}
2021 – Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research{{Cite web|url=https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/laureates/2021-katalin-kariko-drew-weissman-philip-felgner-ugur-sahin-ozlem-tureci-derrick-rossi-and-sarah-gilbert.html?especifica=0&idCategoria=0&anio=2021&especifica=0|title=Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Philip Felgner, Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Derrick Rossi and Sarah Gilbert - Laureates - Princess of Asturias Awards|first=Developed with webControl CMS by Intermark|last=IT|website=The Princess of Asturias Foundation}}
2021 – Royal Society of Medicine Gold Medal{{cite web |title=Royal Society of Medicine welcomes new Honorary Fellows and medal winners |url=https://www.rsm.ac.uk/media-releases/2021/the-rsm-welcomes-new-honorary-fellows-and-medal-winners/ |website=Royal Society of Medicine |date=28 July 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
2022 – Honorary doctorate of science from the University of East Anglia{{cite web |title=Covid vaccine co-creator Sarah Gilbert among 2022 UEA honorary graduates |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/meet-university-of-east-anglia-2022-honorary-graduates-8262198 |website=Eastern Daily Press |date=20 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
2022 – Honorary degree from the University of Bath{{cite web |title=Covid vaccine pioneer Dame Professor Sarah Gilbert receives honorary degree |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/covid-vaccine-pioneer-dame-professor-sarah-gilbert-receives-honorary-degree/ |website=www.bath.ac.uk |access-date=26 June 2024}}
2023 – King Faisal Prize in Medicine[https://kingfaisalprize.org/winnerInfo/354 King Faisal Prize 2023]
2023 – Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS){{Cite web |title=Sarah Gilbert |url=https://royalsociety.org/people/sarah-gilbert-36200/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=royalsociety.org}}

Personal life

Gilbert gave birth to triplets in 1998. Her partner gave up his career to be their primary parent. {{as of|2020}}, all of the triplets are studying biochemistry at university.

Selected publications

Gilbert has an h-index of 105 according to Google Scholar.{{Google scholar id}} Her publications include:{{EuropePMC}}{{ResearchGate}}

{{Cite Q|Q104286457}}
{{Cite Q|Q44138669}}
{{Cite journal |ref=none|last1=McShane|first1=H|last2=Pathan|first2=A A|last3=Sander|first3=C R|last4=Keating|first4=S M|last5=Gilbert|first5=S C|last6=Huygen|first6=K|last7=Fletcher|first7=H A|last8=Hill|first8=A V S|date=December 2004|title=Erratum: Recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing antigen 85A boosts BCG-primed and naturally acquired antimycobacterial immunity in humans|journal=Nature Medicine|volume=10|issue=12|pages=1397|doi=10.1038/nm1204-1397a|issn=1078-8956|doi-access=free}}
{{Cite Q|Q45723463|doi-access=free}}
{{Cite Q|Q47826329}} {{closed access}}
{{Cite Q|Q24289279|hdl-access=free}}
{{cite book |last1=Gilbert |first1=Sarah |last2=Green |first2=Catherine |title=Vaxxers: the inside story of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the race against the virus |date=2021 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London |isbn=9781529369854}}

External links

{{Google Scholar id |nZ7_XboAAAAJ}}
{{LinkedIn URL | https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gilbert-2815b015 | Sarah Gilbert }}
[https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2021/07/17/news/interview_prof_sarah_gilbert_astrazeneca_oxford_uk_vaccines_covid_coronavirus_pfizer_jenner_institute-310621042/ Oxford's Professor Sarah Gilbert: "The joys and frustrations of being a Covid vaccine maker".] In: La Repubblica, 17 July 2021 (Interview).