Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, and Pediatric Pulmonary Unit Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUCRS) Porto Alegre, Brazil

Asunción Mejías is Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair at the Department of Infectious Diseases at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in Memphis, TN, USA. For the past 25 years Dr. Mejías has been studying the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections in infants and young children, with special emphasis on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). She has contributed with more than 290 publications including original articles, reviews, editorials and book chapters. She is also an active member of national and international professional organizations where she holds leadership positions, serves as external reviewer for several medical journals as well as professional organizations including NIH or the CDC.

Heather Zar is Professor & Chair, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Director of the SA-MRC Unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town. A global expert in childhood respiratory diseases, she’s built a strong clinical translational research program in some of the most deprived communities, with a strong focus on childhood pneumonia. She established an African birth cohort enabling study of the epidemiology, determinants and long term impact of early life exposures including pneumonia. She has participated in several studies of RSV prevention in infants. She chaired the WHO Technical Advisory committee on new RSV preventive interventions. She is past-President of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies, of the Pan African Thoracic Society, and serves as an advisor to WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation. She received the World Lung Health award from the American Thoracic Society, the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Laureate for Africa and Arabia, the SA-MRC Platinum medal for contributions over a lifetime, the European Respiratory Society Lifetime Achievement Award and the Barney Graham award for contributions on RSV. She is passionate about reducing global health inequities and ensuring access to effective interventions for all children.