Dr. Albert Osterhaus

  • Dr. Osterhaus currently holds the positions of Professor of Virology, Medical Faculty, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam (since 1993); Professor of Environmental Virology, Veterinary Faculty, State University Utrecht (since 1990); Director of the National Influenza Center (NIC), Rotterdam (since 1993); Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Rotterdam (since 1995); Member of the Dutch Health Council (since 1995); Chairman of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) (since 2000); CSO of ViroClinics BV and of ViroNative BV (both companies of the Erasmus MC holding).
  • Dr.Osterhaus studied at the University of Utrecht, where he also completed his doctorate in 1978.
  • From 1978 to 1994 he held various positions at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
  • He was directly involved in setting up four commercial companies.
  • Dr. Osterhaus is also a member of numerous professional societies including: American Society for Microbiology, Society for General Microbiology, European Scientific Working Group on Influenza, European Society for Veterinary Virology, European Society for Clinical Virology, European Association for Aquatic Mammals, Dutch Society for Microbiology, Dutch Society for Laboratory Animal Science, Dutch Society for Immunology, International Society for Vaccines, American Society for Virology, and European Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences and was recently awarded the Royal decoration of Commander in the order of the Dutch Lion.
  • Furthermore he holds many editorial positions for scientific publications, is the winner of several scientific awards, holds several patents, has been the supervisor and mentor of more than 35 PhD students and from 1980 onwards has held over 50 consultancy positions. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Osterhaus has identified more than a dozen “new” viral pathogens and he is author of more than 600 scientific papers.