Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli is the Head of Research & Development at Novavax. She has dedicated her career to advancing global health by strengthening resilient health ecosystems capable of driving innovation and rapid responses to pandemic-scale threats. Her expertise spans a wide range of emerging and persistent health challenges, including dengue, coronaviruses, antimicrobial resistance, and more.

With a distinguished background in genomic medicine, advanced therapies, vaccines, and infectious diseases, Dr. Draghia-Akli has also contributed extensively to the medical, regulatory, and policy dimensions of global health. She is widely recognized for building impactful public–private partnerships, such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC), which have accelerated scientific progress and improved access to lifesaving innovations.

Dr. Draghia-Akli is a sought-after speaker on topics including the Matrix-M® adjuvant, renowned for its ability to enhance the efficacy of a wide range of vaccine platforms—both improving existing vaccines and supporting the development of next-generation solutions. Most recently, she presented compelling data on the benefits of the Matrix-M adjuvant as part of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, which is currently being deployed across Africa.