Preventing the next pandemic and tackling antiscience: an interview with Peter Hotez

Abstract

This interview was conducted by Atiya Henry, Commissioning Editor of Future Microbiology. Peter J Hotez, MD, PhD is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized physician–scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development. As head of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development, he leads a team and product development partnership for developing new vaccines for hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and SARS/MERS/SARS-2 coronavirus. Dr Hotez has authored more than 500 original papers and is the author of four single-author books. Most recently as both a vaccine scientist and autism parent, he has led national efforts to defend vaccines and to serve as an ardent champion of vaccines going up against a growing national ‘antivax’ threat.