OVERVIEW  

Dr Geoffrey Schild passed away on the 3rd August 2017, after battling with illness for several years. Geoffrey was a world renowned virologist who had a major influence in the fields of influenza virus surveillance and prevention; polio virus eradication, AIDS vaccine development, regulatory sciences and the virological safety of blood products.

Dr Schild was Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Influenza Centre at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), UK from 1969 to 1975 and subsequently he became the Director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), UK. During his time at NIMR he was instrumental in developing the system for classification of influenza viruses based on antigenic subtypes of haemagglutinin and neuraminidase and in developing the single-radial-immunodiffusion (SRID) influenza vaccine potency assay that remains the international gold standard. At NIBSC he helped to usher in a new era in the development of the scientific basis for quality and safety of biological medicines: he made significant contributions to the safety of blood and blood products; he directed the UK MRC Aids Directed Programme (1987-1992); he directed poliovirus research, which has been crucial to the polio eradication programme; he played a major role in the technical regulation of biotechnological products in the EU.

Dr Schild was a founder member, the first Chair and the inspiration behind the formation of isirv in 2005 and in 2016 he received from isirv an “Extraordinary Award for a lifetime of Research in Influenza”.

This one day symposium will be held at the Francis Crick Institute, London on 19 March 2018 and is being co-organised by isirv and NIBSC. The wide ranging programme will commemorate Dr Schild’s important contributions in biological medicine and public health.