Michael Pensiero
About Michael Pensiero
Michael Pensiero serves as the Branch Chief at the National Institutes of Health, where he has worked since 2000. He has extensive experience in vaccine development, particularly in the areas of monoclonal antibodies and viral vaccine platforms, and has collaborated with various government entities on significant health initiatives.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Michael Pensiero has served as Branch Chief at the National Institutes of Health since 2000, totaling 24 years of service. In this role, he has overseen various contract task orders that focus on the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies and the development of viral vaccine platforms. His work includes protein subunit vaccines, mRNA/LNP manufacturing, and nanoparticles aimed at HIV vaccine development. He has collaborated closely with the US Government's HHS Medical Countermeasures Team/BARDA to review applications for resources related to the development and manufacturing of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for both prophylaxis and treatment.
Education and Expertise
Michael Pensiero holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of Connecticut. He also studied Virology and Molecular Biology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in vaccine development and immunological assays. Throughout his career, he has developed skills in project management, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance, particularly in the context of vaccine process development.
Background
Before his current role, Michael Pensiero was part of the Vaccine Clinical Research Branch. He collaborated with the HIV Vaccine Trial Networks and their Central Immunology Laboratories, focusing on the development and qualification of endpoint immunological assays for early-phase vaccine investigational studies. His experience in this area has contributed to advancing HIV vaccine concepts into clinical trials.
Achievements
In his capacity as Branch Chief, Michael Pensiero has managed large Program Project Grants and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. He has also been a Government Contracting Officer Representative III, overseeing two significant government manufacturing contracts with ceilings exceeding $100 million. His leadership has involved recruiting and supervising staff in various roles, including project management and regulatory compliance.