Manica Balasegaram is Executive Director of the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and has been instrumental in leading the organization through its three-year incubation to an independent legal entity. During this time, GARDP has launched four programmes and built a skilled and dedicated team with expertise from a range of sectors and backgrounds.
Manica has worked as a doctor and researcher in several countries in Sub- Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. He also gained significant experience working in humanitarian emergencies and responses, largely with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). He joined the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in 2007 as Head of Leishmaniasis Clinical Program, a position he held for four years before returning to MSF as Executive Director of their Access Campaign. In 2016, he was appointed Director of GARDP. He is also currently a board member of the Medicines Patent Pool as well as the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).
Manica’s experience spans clinical and public health practice in infectious diseases and international work on health policy and access to medicines. He has served on numerous technical and health policy panels and expert groups. He also has substantial experience in conducting and overseeing clinical trials and drug development projects.
Manica trained as a medical doctor at the University of Nottingham, UK from where he started his career in internal and emergency medicine.