Gabe Meister

Dr. Meister has more than 20 years of research experience in viral and/or bacterial pathogenesis, medical countermeasure discovery, testing, and animal model development. Prior to joining Battelle in 2005, he helped establish the anti-viral mechanism for a novel immunosuppressive agent against HCMV, HSV-1 and polyomavirus BKV using various in vitro and in vivo techniques. Since joining Battelle he has directed work focused on developing animal models and assessing the efficacy of vaccines and therapies against Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), monkey pox virus, West Nile Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus, Chikungunya Virus, filoviruses, MERS-CoV, Zika virus, and most recently SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Meister has experience with a variety of animal models including mice, hamsters, ferrets, New Zealand White rabbits, and nonhuman primates (Rhesus macaques, Cynomolgus macaques, and African Green monkeys). In addition to animal models, Dr. Meister has provided technical oversight and direction in the validation of various in vitro assays in support of evaluating pathophysiology of disease progression, immune response to vaccine, pharmacokinetic confirmation of therapeutic modalities, and correlate of protection analysis when assessing vaccine efficacy.

Dr. Meister currently serves as Principal Scientist or PI on various multi-study programs focused on developing animal models and assessing the efficacy of candidate treatments against biodefense agents and emerging infectious diseases. Under these programs Dr. Meister manages the execution of studies requiring over one hundred scientists, technicians, and support staff. Data from these programs have been submitted to the FDA for animal model development data packages and for evaluation of safety and efficacy supporting product licensure under the FDA “Animal Efficacy Rule.” Dr. Meister has attended multiple FDA-initiated product review meetings as a subject matter expert in animal model development and efficacy testing. Multiple studies Dr. Meister directed have been selected for directed FDA inspections resulting in no significant findings. The data Dr. Meister has generated over the past fifteen years has been presented at national and international meetings and will be part of licensure applications submitted to the FDA. Dr. Gabriel Meister holds a Ph.D. in Pathobiology.