Dr. Daniel Carucci
Contact person: Amy DiElsi
Dr. Carucci serves as the Vice President for Global Health for the UN Foundation. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine supported by a scholarship from the U.S. Navy and practiced medicine with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as an active duty Navy physician and Flight Surgeon, flying with a squadron of F/A-18 aircraft. In 1991 and 1995, he was awarded a Masters of Science in Clinical Tropical Medicine and a Doctor of Philosophy from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, respectively.
At the Naval Medical Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland he was responsible for the establishment of the Malaria Genomics and Applied Genomics Laboratory. Dr. Carucci was a founding member of a $25 million international consortium to complete the malaria parasite genome and was instrumental in advancing the high-throughput proteomics technologies applied to malaria research.
As the Director of the Malaria Vaccine Program he led the U.S. Navy’s efforts in the development and testing of malaria vaccines. This included the use of genomics approaches to vaccine discovery, the use of viral-vectored based vaccines, establishing partnerships with the biotechnology industry and building clinical trial capabilities in the developing world.
In response to the events of September 11, 2001, he conceived, proposed and executed an $18 million Congressionally-funded Agile Vaccine Program designed to devise new and more rapid vaccine development strategies in response to bioterrorist attacks and emerging infectious disease threats. He was also responsible for the establishment of the Molecular Vaccines Interagency Working Group under the U.S. Subcommittee on Biotechnology.
After retiring from 20 years of active duty service in July 2004, he joined the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health as Director, Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative, a $200 million program supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and was promoted to Director of Science. He joined the United Nations Foundation in October 2008 as Vice President for Global Health.
He is the recipient of the prestigious 2002 American Medical Association Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, the 2000 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for Excellence in Military Medicine, and the 1989 Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year (Richard E. Luehrs Memorial Award).
He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His personal awards while with the U.S. Navy include the Legion of Merit with gold star (in lieu of a second award), Meritorious Service Medal with gold star (in lieu of a second award), Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.
