Robert Donald

Robert Donald, Ph.D., is a molecular microbiologist with broad research experience in bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic parasitic systems. While at Merck, he supported drug discovery programs to identify new lead compounds to prevent S. aureus, antifungal, and parasitic infections. More recently at Pfizer, he led preclinical vaccine development programs targeting C. difficile, Enterococcus, Group B Streptococcus, Klebsiella, and E. coli infections. He also managed molecular biology and assay development teams supporting these early research programs.

Robert became motivated to assist with Sepsis Alliance’s mission due to his firsthand experience with the invasive bacterial pathogens that cause sepsis, and his familiarity with emerging therapeutic or vaccine-based strategies currently under development in academia and pharma sectors. Now retired from commercial research and development, he seeks to contribute through advising and educating. In addition to serving on Sepsis Alliance’s Advisory Board, he is a consultant to Carb-X, whose mission is to fund research to develop new therapies and vaccines to address antimicrobial drug resistance.

He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and did post-doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania.