Death of Christiane Gerke

It is with deep sadness that the Institut Pasteur management team announces the death of Christiane Gerke, Head of Programs and Vaccine Strategies (2015-2023).

Christiane Gerke was born on July 13, 1967 in Lippstadt, Germany. She completed a PhD in Microbiology at the University of Tübingen in 1997 and a first postdoctoral fellowship at the same university from 1998 to 1999. She then moved to the United States for a second postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University (1999-2004), where she subsequently became a research assistant (2005-2008). On her return to Europe, she joined the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) in Siena, Italy (2008-2015), before being recruited by the Institut Pasteur in 2015 as Head of Programs and Vaccine Strategies. She left the Institut Pasteur in May 2023 to join the Europe Regional Office of the International Vaccine Institute in Stockholm as Program Director.

Christiane Gerke was one of the first scientists to validate Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA), a novel technology platform for producing antibacterial vaccines. GMMA uses outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Gram-negative bacteria, which have the twofold advantage of being highly immunogenic and easy to purify using genetically modified organisms. At NVGH, she developed a shigellosis vaccine candidate based on this platform, which she validated with a Phase I clinical trial within the European STOPENTERICS consortium coordinated by the Institut Pasteur.

Christiane Gerke's role at the Institut Pasteur was to coordinate the management of research projects related to vaccine development on campus and within the Pasteur Network. She managed a total of 30 projects, which she helped bring to maturity, obtaining licenses with industry partners and seeking funding opportunities. Working in collaboration with scientists on campus, she contributed to or supervised the design and implementation of strategic developments for five vaccine candidates, including those for COVID-19 and shigellosis.

With an international professional background combining science and clinical development, Christiane Gerke had unique expertise in the area of vaccine strategies. Her recognized know-how led to her representing the Institut Pasteur with international public and private organizations including WHO, CEPI, Merck, etc. She was also actively committed to teaching about her specialist field.

Her colleagues describe her as a rigorous scientist with remarkable professionalism and an acute sense of responsibility, someone who was dynamic and proactive in all circumstances and had a real zest for life.

Christiane Gerke died at the age of 56.

The Institut Pasteur management team and staff would like to express their heartfelt condolences to her family.

Messages of tribute can be sent to: chris.gerke.condolance@gmail.com

 

A few words, a few thoughts

 

"Christiane joined Pasteur to work with the vaccine initiative group. She then joined the DARRI in the newly created innovation model of translational science. She was inspirational and instrumental in the development of the accelerator, bringing her strong scientific industrial expertise to the PIs expertise. Many examples illustrate the high commitment to her job, colleagues and to doing the right thing always. A truly remarkable scientist and wonderful person. It is very hard for us all the the DARRI. But it’s a sad time for all of us. May she rest in peace."

Isabelle Buckle, Executive VP Technology, Transfer and Industrial PArtner

 

"I'm very sad. I've lost a friend who, every New Year since she joined the Institut Pasteur, gave me a pink jack-in-the-box in the German style - that was her sense of humor...
Never satisfied, above all with herself, she was a great professional whose commitment to vaccinology was total. Our friendship was built on mutual respect and trust, and I admired - dare I say, envied - her total mastery of all the stages and workings of vaccine development, right through to clinical trials. Auf viedersehen Chris...we miss you".

Philippe Sansonetti, Emeritus Professor at the Institut Pasteur

 

"I'm still in shock... A few days before she passed away, as I do almost every week, I was discussing with her the latest results from our clinical trial in Kenya with our shigellosis vaccine candidate. Indeed, when she left the Institute, she had agreed to act as a consultant on a pro bono basis, in order to stay involved until the end of the study. In fact, thanks to Teams, it was as if she'd never left campus... But now, what a huge void!"

Armelle Phalipon, unit of Chemistry of Biomolecules, Group leader of innovation - vaccines laboratory

 

"The GlycoShig Consortium is now shaky... Chris was one of its pillars! Her involvement in the clinical trials linked to the SF2a-TT15 vaccine candidate was major and constant until her recent disappearance beyond our borders, for which I am deeply grateful. Unthinkable and yet true, the first release of data from the clinical trial in Kenya, to which she had contributed, should have been festive, but it coincided with her departure. How also not to mention the summer of 2019 when our joint efforts led to a magnificent partnership with the Gates MRI. It's impossible to forget Chris, his commitment, his high standards, his deep motivation to work for vaccine development, his love of the great outdoors and our long discussions. Words fail us... but the images will remain and the memories will last!"

Laurence Mulard, unit of Chemistry of Biomolecules

 

"Chris joined the SPAIS, then known as the SPPI, on her arrival at the Institut Pasteur. She quickly integrated herself into the team, bringing her scientific rigor combined with a contagious joy and curiosity. She had set up her office in such a way as to combine her personal life (numerous photos of her family, to whom she was very attached) with her passion for science, and in particular for vaccine strategy. Her move to DARRI after 4 years at our side has not prevented us from maintaining a strong bond, both friendly and professional".

Mallory Perrin Wolf, Head of the Scientific Programming and Incentive Actions Service (SPAIS)