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Rachel M. Burke, PhD MPH (she/her/hers)

Program Officer, Polio
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA, United States

Rachel M. Burke is a Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), where her portfolio includes grants related to development of polio vaccines and therapeutics, as well as research aiming to better understand immune responses to polio vaccines. Prior to joining BMGF in 2022, Dr. Burke served as an epidemiologist in the Viral Gastroenteritis Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While at CDC, she focused primarily on rotavirus; her work included providing technical assistance to in-country partners conducting rotavirus surveillance, conducting rotavirus vaccine impact and effectiveness evaluations, and estimating the disease burden associated with rotavirus and other viral enteric pathogens such as norovirus. During her time at CDC, Dr. Burke also participated in several outbreak investigations (multiple vaccine-preventable diseases) and emergency responses (including Zika and COVID-19). She continues to collaborate with the Viral Gastroenteritis Branch on analysis of a US-based cohort study.

Dr. Burke completed her undergraduate degree in Biophysics at Harvard College, after which she spent some time in the private sector (marketing strategy consulting) until discovering public health. She obtained her MPH and PhD from Emory University, where her research included the cost burden of pediatric gastroenteritis, correlates of rotavirus immune response, and micronutrient deficiencies in infants and toddlers. Following her PhD, Dr. Burke moved across the street to join CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer.

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

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