The Center for World Health & Medicine (CWHM) operates with a minimal amount of bureaucracy, striving to maintain flexibility and the ability to respond rapidly to shifting research priorities. This model allows the CWHM to focus on opportunity and results. Consequently, the CWHM has an advisory board that remains fluid, adjusting to pipeline and project priorities. It seeks expertise to match the disease, target mechanism, development stage, technology needs, and strategic objectives of the portfolio of projects.

The current core advisory board consists of faculty from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, ensuring seamless collaboration of the CWHM with ongoing academic research at the university, as well as strategic and intellectual input into the current R&D pipeline. External members with relevant specialized expertise are also engaged as projects develop.

Daniel F. Hoft, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Internal Medicine, and Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunobiology. Dr. Hoft’s expertise is in immunology and mechanisms of pathogenesis and inflammation. He is an internationally recognized expert in vaccine development, tuberculosis, and trypanosomal disease.

Rajeev Aurora, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. He is an expert in systems biology, with published contributions in immunology, inflammation, cell signaling and virology. Dr. Aurora formerly conducted research at large pharmaceutical companies (Monsanto/Searle, Pharmacia, and Pfizer), and founded an existing St. Louis biotechnology company.

Mark Knuepfer, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences. Dr. Knuepfer is an expert in the physiology and pharmacology of neural signaling, particularly as it pertains to cardiovascular function.

William S. Sly, M.D. Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the James B. and Joan C. Peter Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Sly described the first case of Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII ("Sly Syndrome") and the first case of Carbonic Anhydrase II deficiency, both orphan diseases. His expertise is in lysosomal storage diseases, carbonic anydrase deficiencies and hemachromatosis.

Joyce Koenig, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics. Research in Dr. Koenig’s lab focuses on neutrophil function and chronic inflammation in newborn infants.

Mark Voigt, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences and Vice Chair of the department. Dr. Voigt’s research centers on the molecular and genetic basis for sensory signaling by the peripheral nervous system.

Yie-Hwa Chang, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Chang is an expert in the enzymology of methionine aminopeptidases and their role in angiogenesis. He has also invented several novel molecular tools for detection of substances in serum samples, and is the founder and president of a St. Louis biotechnology company.

Joel C. Eissenberg, Ph.D.  Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Associate Dean for Research. Dr. Eissenberg’s expertise is in mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of gene expression.