Angus Nicoll, Head, Programme for Influenza and other respiratory Viruses, ECDC, Sweden
Country of Residence: Sweden
Head of the Programme for Influenza and other respiratory viruses at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK.
After qualifying as a medical doctor, received dual training in paediatrics and then public health in the UK including MSc in Epidemiology. Following clinical practice in Scotland and England as a paediatrician, went to Africa where lived and worked in East Africa for 4 years 1987-91. This was working on HIV and sexually transmitted infections establishing the Mwanza Programme in Tanzania.
From 1991 to 2005 worked with the UK Public Health Laboratory Service (which became the Health Protection Agency in 2003). Guided its HIV Unlinked Anonymous Seroepidemiological Surveillance and became Head of its HIV & STD Division. Then was appointed as the Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) 2000 to 2005 (staff around 300). Awarded a UK ‘honour’ (CBE) for work after the 9/11 crisis and reflecting collective efforts by CDSC.
During SARS, chaired WHO meetings reviewing epidemiology and control measures. Worked extensively in China as a visiting consultant for the World Bank on communicable disease control especially around helping Chinese Provinces to implement systems for acute severe respiratory infections like SARS and influenza A(H5N1). As Director of CDSC was especially active at the European Level through representing the UK on EU Committees.
From 2005 to 2011 was a Seconded National Expert at ECDC from the UK HPA this followed the formation of the HPA in 2005. As Influenza Coordinator has developed and steered its activities on influenza including its response to avian influenza A(H5N1), its work on pandemic preparedness, developing the concept of surveillance and studies in a pandemic, risk based approaches to influenza, seasonal influenza immunisation and, with many others, contributed to ECDC’s response to the 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic.Also worked with WHO (Geneva and at Regional Offices) especially in relation to influenza, In August 2011 joined ECDC properly as a staff member to work leading the Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses Programme and on Internal Public Health Training.
Has been active in ISIRV on an ad hoc basis organising surveillance events with others and teaching on the Siena Summer School. Many publications around influenza especially focusing on contributing to policy development. Lives in Stockholm, Sweden.