Saad B. Omer

Dr. Omer is a Professor of Global Health, Epidemiology, & Pediatrics at Emory University, Schools of Public Health and Medicine. He is also a faculty member at the Emory Vaccine Center. He has conducted multiple studies – including vaccine trials – in Guatemala, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, and the United States. Dr. Omer’s research portfolio includes clinical and field trials to estimate efficacy and/or immunogenicity of influenza, polio, measles and pneumococcal vaccines; studies on the impact of spatial clustering of vaccine refusers; and clinical trials to evaluate drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa. He has conducted several studies to evaluate the roles of schools, parents, health care providers, and state-level legislation in relation to immunization coverage and disease incidence. Dr. Omer has published widely in peer reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, the Lancet, British Medical Journal, Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, and American Journal of Epidemiology.

In 2009, Dr Omer was awarded the Maurice Hilleman award in vaccinology by the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases on his work on impact of maternal influenza immunization on respiratory illness in infants younger than 6 months- for whom there is no vaccine. He is currently a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee.