Draft:Jan Poolman

Jan T. Poolman (born 16 June 1951 in Broek op Waterland, the Netherlands) is a Dutch microbiologist and bacterial vaccinologist, working on research and development (R&D) of bacterial vaccines. He is Head & Vice President of Bacterial Vaccines at Johnson & Johnson in Leiden, the Netherlands, since 2011. Previously, in the period from 1997 to 2011, Poolman worked as Head & Vice President of Bacterial Vaccines R&D at GlaxoSmithkline (GSK), where he and his team contributed to the development and licensure of eight pediatric vaccines against the major bacterial pathogens Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pertussis (Bordetella pertussis), meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis) and pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae). From 1986-1996, he served as Head of Bacterial Vaccine R&D at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Poolman started his career at the University of Amsterdam, department of Medical Microbiology and National Reference Center for Bacterial Meningitis. In 1982 he was a visiting scientist at the Universty of Washington, Seattle and University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Education
Poolman studied chemistry at the University of Amsterdam (UVA) (1969-1975). After his specialization in microbiology he obtained his master's degree in 1975.

1976 – 1986 Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Amsterdam
Academic - Diagnostics and Epidemiology – Focus: Meningitis

Poolman started his PhD in 1976 as assistant Professor of Microbiology under the supervision of Professor Dr. H. C. (Bob) Zanen, Head of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Amsterdam (UVA) on the topic of diagnostics and epidemiology of meningitis. A collection of strains of the three major bacterial pathogens that cause meningitis: meningococcus, pneumococcus and Hib, coupled with epidemiological data obtained by serotyping all isolates, was developed by this research team.

On 17 December 1981 Poolman obtained his PhD in the Medical Faculty for his thesis entitled “Surface structure of Neisseria meningitidis: some implications for the epidemiology and pathogenesis of meningococcal diseases”.

In 1982 Poolman was awarded a one-year post-doctoral Fogarty Fellowship research position at the University of Washington in Seattle, funded by the National Institutes of Health (see picture of original notice of fellowship award). The Seattle laboratory specialized in sexually transmitted infectious diseases. He worked on the development of monoclonal antibodies against N. gonorrhoeae.

After his return from the USA, he worked at the UVA until 1986. In the 10 years that he worked at the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of the UVA, the team built the Reference Laboratory for Bacterial meningitis of the Netherlands, a globally recognized international reference laboratory. In addition, Poolman and his team introduced the international standard in the field of N. meningitidis serogroup B serotyping in 1985. In 1989, they pinpointed PorA as key bactericidal target for a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.

1986 – 1996 Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment – RIVM Bilthoven, NL
Governmental public health institute – Bacterial Vaccinology – Focus: Pertussis & Meningitis

Poolman changed direction in 1986 and started to work at the RIVM, at that time still a national vaccine manufacturer in the Netherlands, to develop vaccines that would prevent bacterial meningitis caused by meningococcus, pneumococcus and Hib. While at RIVM he created a team as Head of Vaccine Development and Immune Mechanisms and worked on the development of DTaP-(HB)-IPV-Hib to replace the DTwP-IPV vaccine, and the development of vaccines against serogroup B meningococcus, pneumococcus and Hib. Collaborations with the US company Praxis Biologics with respect to one of the first Hib conjugate vaccines and with the Italian company Sclavo regarding an acellular pertussis vaccine, were initiated to ultimately develop the extended pediatric combination DTaP-(HB)-IPV-Hib vaccine.

Poolman and his team were involved in the introduction of the outer membrane vesicle vaccine (OMV) technology at the RIVM. Poolman and his team developed a hexavalent (6-valent) PorA containing meningococcal outer membrane vesicle vaccine against serogroup B meningococci.

In the book Fighting a fearful disease: controlling New Zealand's meningococcal B epidemic by Janet Tyson with Richard Norman, Poolman is being cited on the topic of how to control the epidemic (pp 52). "Given that what you need is strain-specific protection to quell an epidemic, I would go with the tried and true, the old technology of the outer membrane vesicle vaccine, and try to get one of the producers to make one for the New Zealand strain." Ultimately, the New Zealand authorities sponsored the development of a New Zealand strain-specific outer membrane vesicle vaccine that was instrumental in controlling the meningitis epidemic that had continued unchecked for more than a decade.

Contribution to development of pneumococcal vaccines – the Dutch Nordic Consortium
In 1990 the Dutch Nordic Consortium (DNC), a collaboration between public health institutions from the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland was established with the aim to cooperate in the development of new vaccines for developing countries. The DNC started a pilot tetravalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-4) project. Dr. Poolman led this project as project leader on behalf of RIVM and DNC.

The goal was to develop and clinically assess a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for the developing world, a project supported by the European Union. The laboratory scale development of saccharide-protein conjugates started at the RIVM in the Netherlands and at the Swedish Bacteriological Laboratory in 1993.

In 1996 Dr. Poolman decided to move to the private sector. His conclusion at that time was that "Vaccine development and production is no longer possible in the public sector due to inadequate resources, lack of infrastructure and too little will to make it a success". The DNC resulted in the development of a 4-valent PCV, that was demonstrated to be safe and immunogenic in two phase 1 studies in adults and toddlers in Finland. An efficacy study that was planned in infants in Asia was never approved and the DNC PCV-4 project ended in 2000.

Pertussis efficacy issue with whole cell Pertussis vaccine of RIVM
In 1996 shortly before leaving the RIVM, Poolman notified the Dutch National Health Inspectorate of an efficacy issue with the Dutch whole cell pertussis vaccine. Poolman was asked as expert for advice to the National Health Council. In April 2004 the advice of the Council to the government was to revise the Dutch national vaccination program and stop using the Dutch whole cell pertussis vaccine and switch to an acellular pertussis vaccine combination.

Poolman decided to make the Dutch public aware of the efficacy issue of the Dutch whole cell Pertussis vaccine. He published the story in De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, on November 19, 2004.

1997 – 2011 SmithKline Beecham Biologicals now GSK – Rixensart and Wavre-Nord Belgium
Pharmaceutical industry - Bacterial Vaccinology – Focus: meningitis and pertussis

In 1996, Poolman commenced his tenure as the Head of Bacterial Vaccines at Smith Kline Beecham Biologics (SBBio) located in Rixensart, Belgium. The company later merged with Glaxo Wellcome to become GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2000.

Poolman and his team, under the supervision of Jean Stéphenne (president) and Jean-Paul Prieels (global head of R&D), contributed to the research, development and licensure of several pediatric vaccines including: DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib (Infanrix-Hexa ) licensed in the year 2000; DTwP-HB-Hib (TritanrixHB+Hib  ) licensed in 2000; 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate (Synflorix ) licensed in 2009; and MenACWY-TT (Nimenrix ) licensed in 2012. These vaccines against the major bacterial pathogens Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), pertussis (Bordetella pertussis), meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis) and pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae), have constituted, and continue to contribute, to National Immunizations Programs globally.

With the DTwP-HB-Hib TritanrixHB+Hib vaccine, GSK re-wrote the course of history for Middle- and Low-income countries. By adding hepatitis B and Hib to the existing DTwP vaccine, the cornerstone of worldwide pediatric immunization, allowed for the worldwide coverage against hepatitis B and Hib.

2011 – current Johnson & Johnson Bacterial Vaccines – Leiden, NL
Pharmaceutical industry - Bacterial Vaccinology – Focus: E. coli/ExPEC and S. aureus for older adults

In 2011 Johnson and Johnson (JnJ) started a vaccine pillar by acquiring Crucell, a small vaccine player with their headquarters located in Leiden, the Netherlands. In that same year 2011, Poolman was appointed Head of Bacterial Vaccines at JnJ, Leiden, the Netherlands. During his period at JnJ Poolman changed focus from pediatric vaccines to the development of vaccines for older adults, in particular, vaccines directed against Escherichia (E.). coli/Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and Staphylococcus aureus.

ExPEC and S. aureus are the leading bacterial pathogens causing bacteremia/sepsis, healthcare-associated infections and global deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance. A global analysis of adult E. coli bacteremia incidence in high-income countries estimated an increasing incidence rate after the age of 60. Estimated incidence rates of 110, 154 and 319 per 100 000 person-years of persons aged 60-69 years old, 70-79 years old and 80 years and older, respectively, has been reported. These diseases are particularly important given the aging demographic globally. There are currently no prophylactic vaccines available.

Over a period of twelve years, Dr. Poolman and his team built a bacterial vaccines department and developed, by way of enzymatic in vivo bioconjugation, the O-antigen glycoconjugate E. coli/ExPEC vaccine candidate ExPEC9V to prevent invasive E. coli disease (bacteremia/sepsis). ExPEC9V is currently being tested in the Phase 3 E.mbrace efficacy study (NCT04899336) and in the Phase 3 E.ngage study in combination with an influenza vaccine (NCT06134804 ).

In parallel, Dr. Poolman and his team worked on the development of a S. aureus vaccine candidate to prevent S. aureus infectious diseases.

2016 - 2019 - Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI)
From 2016-2019, Poolman was a member of the Advisory Committee of the non-profit foundation TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI).

The TBVI is a Research and Innovation partnership that facilitates the discovery and development of new, safe and effective TB vaccines that are accessible and affordable for all people. TBVI works through the Global TB Vaccine Partnership with global stakeholders to strengthen global and European cooperation and coordination, and it identifies research gaps to move the field forward.

2023 - current - Jenner Vaccine Foundation (JVF)
Poolman has been active as Trustee of the Jenner Vaccine Foundation since 2023.

The Foundation seeks to enhance philanthropic support of vaccinology and is currently evaluating options for enhanced fundraising activities. The Foundation currently supports vaccine research and development through the Jenner Institute. The Foundation Board appoints the Director of the Institute, elects Jenner Investigators (currently numbering 29) and has funded space and facilities for vaccine research and development at Oxford University for human vaccines and the Pirbright Institute for veterinary vaccines.

2018 - current - World Vaccine Congress Europe, AMR and Bacterial Vaccine sessions
Poolman is active as chair and speaker of the AMR and Bacterial Vaccine session at the World Vaccine Congress Europe since 2018.

2019 - current - WHO Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines and Antimicrobial resistance
Poolman is active as observer to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines and Antimicrobial resistance since 2019.

Awards
1982 NIH Fogarty Fellowship - Poolman was awarded a one-year post-doctoral NIH Fogarty Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1982.

1989 W.R.O. Goslings-award - Dr. Poolman was awarded the W.R.O. Goslings-award of the Dutch Association of Infectious Diseases in 1989.

Publications
Poolman has been an author or co-author of more than 300 scientific publications in his career of over 45 years; his publications have been cited more than 13,500 times.

Meningococcus B publications
Cartwright, K; Morris, R; Rümke, H;  Fox, A; Borrow, R; Begg, N; Richmond, P; Poolman, J (1999) Immunogenicity and reactogenicity in UK infants of a novel meningococcal vesicle vaccine containing multiple class 1 (PorA) outer membrane proteins. Vaccine Vol. 17 (20-21) pp 2612-2619. Doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(99)00044-4.

Tappero JW; Lagos R; Ballesteros AM; Plikaytis B; Williams D; Dykes J; Gheesling LL; Carlone GM; Høiby EA; Holst J; Nøkleby H; Rosenqvist E; Sierra G; Campa C; Sotolongo F; Vega J; Garcia J; Herrera P; Poolman JT ; Perkins BA (1999) Immunogenicity of 2 serogroup B outer-membrane protein meningococcal vaccines: a randomized controlled trial in Chile. JAMA vol. 281 (16) pp 1520-1527. Doi: 10.1001/jama.281.16.1520.

MenACWY and HibCY publications
Knuf, M; Kieninger-Baum, D; Habermehl, P; Muttonen, P;  Maurer, H; Vink, P; Poolman, J ; Boutriau, D (2010) A dose-range study assessing immunogenicity and safety of one dose of a new candidate meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135, Y tetanus toxoid conjugate (MenACWY-TT) vaccine administered in the second year of life and in young children. Vaccine Vol. 28 (3) pp 744-53. Doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.10.064.

Nolan, T; Richmond, P; Marshall, H; McVernon, J; Alexander, K; Mesaros, N; Aris, E; Miller, J; Poolman, J; Boutriau, D (2011) Immunogenicity and safety of an investigational combined Haemophilus influenzae type B-Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine. The Pediatric infectious disease journal Vol. 30 (3) pp 190-196. Doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181fcb2bf

Hib-DTaP publications
Poolman, J ; Kaufhold, A; De Grave, D; Goldblatt, D (2001) Clinical relevance of lower Hib response in DTPa-based combination vaccines. Vaccine Vol. 19 (17-19) pp 2280-2285. Doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00517-x

Capiau, C; Poolman, J; Hoet, B; Bogaerts, H; Andre, F (2003) Development and clinical testing of multivalent vaccines based on a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine: Difficulties encountered and lessons learned. Vaccine Vol. 21 (19-20) pp 2273-2287. Doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(03)00107-5

Pneumococcus publications
Prymula, R; Peeters, P; Chrobok, V; Kriz, P; Novakova, E; Kaliskova, E; Kohl, I; Lommel, P; Poolman, J ; Prieels, JP; Schuerman, L (2006) Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides conjugated to protein D for prevention of acute otitis media caused by both Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae: A randomised double-blind efficacy study. The Lancet Vol. 367 No. 9512 pp 740-748. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68304-9.

Dagan, R, Poolman, J & Siegrist, CA (2010) Glycoconjugate vaccines and immune interference: A review. Vaccine Vol. 28 (34) pp 5513-23. Doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.06.026.

E. coli/ExPEC publications
Huttner, A; Hatz, C; van den Dobbelsteen, G; Abbanat, D; Hornacek, A; Frölich, R;  Dreyer, AM; Martin, P;  Davies, T; Fae, K; van den Nieuwenhof, I; Thoelen, S; de Vallière, S; Kuhn, A; Bernasconi, E; Viereck, V; Kavvadias, T; Kling, K; Ryu, G; Hülder, T; Gröger, S; Scheiner, D; Alaimo, C; Harbarth, S; Poolman, J ; Fonck, VG (2017) Safety, immunogenicity, and preliminary clinical efficacy of a vaccine against extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli in women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection: a randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1b trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017 May;17(5):528-537. Doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30108-1

Fierro, CA; Sarnecki, M; Doua, J; Spiessens, B; Go, O; Davies, TA; van den Dobbelsteen, G; Poolman, J ; Abbanat, D; Haazen, W (2023). Safety, Reactogenicity, Immunogenicity, and Dose Selection of 10-Valent Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bioconjugate Vaccine (VAC52416) in Adults Aged 60-85 Years in a Randomized, Multicenter, Interventional, First-in-Human, Phase 1/2a Study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 10(8), ofad417. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofad417

S. aureus publications
Poolman, JT (2020) Expanding the role of bacterial vaccines into life-course vaccination strategies and prevention of antimicrobial-resistant infections. NPJ Vaccines. Vol. 5 (84) pp 1-12. Doi: 10.1038/s41541-020-00232-0.

Fernandez, J; Sanders, H; Henn, J; Wilson, JM; Malone, D; Buoninfante, A; Willms, M; Chan, R; DuMont, AL; McLahan, C; Grubb, K; Romanello, A; van den Dobbelsteen, G; Torres, VJ; Poolman, JT (2022) Vaccination With Detoxified Leukocidin AB Reduces Bacterial Load in a Staphylococcus aureus Minipig Deep Surgical Wound Infection Model. J Infect Dis. Vol. 225 (8) pp 1460-1470. Doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab219.