William L. Heyward, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice President, International Clinical Research
Dr. Heyward directs VaxGen’s international clinical trials, including oversight of the Phase III efficacy trial in Bangkok, Thailand, and efforts to evaluate a vaccine designed to protect against the predominant HIV subtype circulating in Africa, India and China.
Dr. Heyward served at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more than 20 years before joining VaxGen in January 2000. While at CDC, Dr. Heyward coordinated vaccine trial research in Alaska on hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b and was involved in the investigation of the Ebola epidemic in Kikwit, Zaire in 1995. His most recent position at the CDC entailed coordinating domestic and international HIV vaccine development and evaluation. Prior to that he was director of the largest AIDS research project in Africa and was detailed to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS as a specialist in HIV vaccines and vaccine trials.
He has co-authored 95 scientific articles including two award-winning papers. During his 20 years as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service he was the recipient of more than a dozen awards, including the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal, the Outstanding Service Medal and the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to the CDC Adult Immunization Workgroup in 1998.
Dr. Heyward received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, and his M.P.H. in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.