Moncef Mohamed Slaoui is a Moroccan-born Belgian-American researcher known for his leadership role in the U.S. government's COVID-19 vaccine development program, Operation Warp Speed (OWASP). Appointed by President Donald Trump, he spearheaded the initiative from 2020 to 2021.
July 22, 1959: Birth of Moncef Slaoui
Moncef Mohamed Slaoui was born on July 22, 1959 in Agadir, Morocco.
February 1960: Slaoui Family Relocates to Casablanca
Following the devastating earthquake in Agadir in February 1960, Moncef Slaoui and his family were forced to relocate to Casablanca, Morocco.
1976: Slaoui Begins Studies in Biology
In 1976, at the age of 17, Moncef Slaoui moved to Belgium and enrolled at the Université libre de Bruxelles to study biology, marking the start of his academic journey in the field.
1983: Slaoui and Wife Move to US for Research
Moncef Slaoui and his wife relocated to the United States in 1983 to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities at Harvard University.
1983: Slaoui Earns PhD in Immunology
Moncef Slaoui completed his PhD in molecular biology and immunology from the Free University of Brussels in 1983, with his thesis focusing on the study of diversity and selection in the immune system.
1985: Slaoui Returns to Belgium, Joins University of Mons
In 1985, Moncef Slaoui and his wife moved back to Belgium. His wife continued her research on influenza at SmithKline-RIT, and Slaoui began teaching immunology at the University of Mons.
1988: Slaoui Joins SmithKline-RIT as Vaccine Researcher
Moncef Slaoui joined SmithKline-RIT in 1988 as a vaccine researcher after three years of consulting for the company, marking the beginning of his long career at the company that would become GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
1992: Kristen Belmonte, Slaoui's Wife, Graduates from Gettysburg College
In 1992, Kristen Belmonte, who would later marry Moncef Slaoui, graduated from Gettysburg College.
1998: Slaoui Obtains MBA
Moncef Slaoui received an accelerated MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1998, further expanding his expertise in business and management.
2006: Slaoui Becomes Head of R&D at GSK
In 2006, Moncef Slaoui was appointed head of research and development at GlaxoSmithKline, succeeding Tachi Yamada.
2007: Slaoui Announces New Neuroscience Research Group in Shanghai
Moncef Slaoui announced plans for a new neuroscience research group in Shanghai in 2007. The group, part of GlaxoSmithKline, was planned to employ 1,000 scientists and cost $100 million.
2008: Slaoui Leads Acquisition of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals
Moncef Slaoui led the $720 million acquisition of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals by GlaxoSmithKline in 2008.
2012: Slaoui Named One of the "25 Most Influential People in Biopharma"
In 2012, Moncef Slaoui was recognized for his influence in the biopharmaceutical industry by FierceBiotech, being named one of the "25 Most Influential People in Biopharma Today".
2012: Slaoui Oversees GSK's Purchase of Human Genome Sciences
Moncef Slaoui oversaw GlaxoSmithKline's acquisition of Human Genome Sciences for over $3 billion in 2012.
April 2013: Slaoui Introduces Term "Electroceutical"
Moncef Slaoui, along with other GlaxoSmithKline heads, co-authored a paper in April 2013 introducing the term "electroceutical" to describe medical devices that utilize electrical, mechanical, or light stimulation to influence electrical signaling in specific tissues.
July 2013: Slaoui Publishes Op-Ed on Medical Innovation
In July 2013, Moncef Slaoui authored an op-ed in the Huffington Post titled "It’s Time to Further Incentivize Medical Innovation," presenting three recommendations to enhance the pharmaceutical industry's efficacy.
2013: Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Folds
Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2008 under Moncef Slaoui's leadership, folded in 2013 amidst turmoil.
2015: Malaria Vaccine Mosquirix Approved
The European Medicines Agency approved the Mosquirix malaria vaccine in 2015, a project Moncef Slaoui had been involved in for 27 years. The vaccine was the first of its kind to receive approval.
December 14, 2016: Slaoui Center for Vaccines Research Opens
The Slaoui Center for Vaccines Research, named after Moncef Slaoui, opened in Rockville, Maryland on December 14, 2016. It was GlaxoSmithKline's first research and development institute in the United States.
2016: Slaoui Ranked Among "The World's 50 Greatest Leaders" by Fortune
Moncef Slaoui's leadership qualities were acknowledged in 2016 when Fortune magazine included him in their list of "The World's 50 Greatest Leaders".
2016: Slaoui Joins PhRMA Board of Directors
Moncef Slaoui joined the board of directors for PhRMA, a pharmaceutical lobbying group, in 2016.
2016: Slaoui Joins Galvani Bioelectronics Board
Moncef Slaoui was appointed to the inaugural board of directors of Galvani Bioelectronics in 2016, a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline and Verily Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.
May 2017: Slaoui Receives Honorary Doctorate from Gettysburg College
Moncef Slaoui was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Gettysburg College in May 2017.
June 30, 2017: Slaoui Retires from GSK
Moncef Slaoui officially retired from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on June 30, 2017, after a three-decade career at the company.
July 2017: Slaoui Joins Moderna Board of Directors
Moncef Slaoui joined the Board of Directors at Moderna, a biotechnology company, in July 2017.
August 2017: Closure of GSK's Shanghai Neurosciences Research Group
The neurosciences research group established by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Shanghai under Moncef Slaoui's leadership in 2007 ceased operations in August 2017.
September 2017: Slaoui Joins Medicxi
Moncef Slaoui joined Medicxi, a European venture capital firm focusing on life sciences investments, in September 2017.
2017: Slaoui Retires from GlaxoSmithKline
After a 30-year tenure, Moncef Slaoui retired from his position as the head of the vaccines department at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2017.
2018: Slaoui Included in "World's Top 100 Medicine Makers" List
The Medicine Maker recognized Moncef Slaoui's contributions to the field of medicine in 2018 by featuring him in their list of the "World's Top 100 Medicine Makers".
2019: COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic began in 2019, causing a global health crisis and prompting urgent efforts to develop vaccines and treatments.
May 15, 2020: Slaoui Appointed Head of Operation Warp Speed
On May 15, 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Moncef Slaoui as the head of Operation Warp Speed (OPWASP), a U.S. government initiative to develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine.
May 18, 2020: Slaoui Resigns from Lonza Board
Following criticism over potential conflicts of interest due to his involvement with Moderna, Moncef Slaoui resigned from the board of manufacturing company Lonza on May 18, 2020. Moderna had partnered with Lonza to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
June 9, 2020: Slaoui Withdraws from BIO Conference
Moncef Slaoui withdrew from speaking at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) conference scheduled for June 9, 2020. He cited his failure to brief Congress beforehand as the reason for his withdrawal.
October 9, 2020: Slaoui Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine Tracking Mechanism
On October 9, 2020, Moncef Slaoui was quoted by the Wall Street Journal regarding a proposed tracking system for COVID-19 vaccines. This system, developed by McKesson, Google, and Oracle, aimed to monitor vaccine uptake and potential side effects.
2020: Slaoui Named One of the Top 100 Most Influential Africans
In 2020, Moncef Slaoui was recognized for his significant influence by New African magazine, being included in their list of the Top 100 Most Influential Africans.
2020: Criticism of Slaoui's Acquisitions at GSK
In 2020, a pharma industry veteran characterized three of the deals overseen by Moncef Slaoui during his time at GlaxoSmithKline, including the acquisitions of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals and Human Genome Sciences, as some of the worst in the history of the drug industry.
January 12, 2021: Slaoui Resigns from Operation Warp Speed
Moncef Slaoui resigned from his position as head of Operation Warp Speed on January 12, 2021, after successfully overseeing the introduction of several COVID-19 vaccines to the US and global markets.
January 2021: Operation Warp Speed Aims to Deliver 300 Million Vaccine Doses
Operation Warp Speed (OPWASP), launched with the goal of developing and delivering 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021, was officially announced by President Donald Trump on May 15, 2020.
March 2021: Slaoui Fired from Galvani Bioelectronics Board
In March 2021, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) fired Moncef Slaoui from the board of its subsidiary, Galvani Bioelectronics, due to substantiated sexual harassment allegations stemming from his time at GSK. Slaoui issued an apology and resigned from positions at other companies.
March 24, 2021: Slaoui Fired from Galvani Bioelectronics Due to Sexual Harassment Allegations
On March 24, 2021, Moncef Slaoui was dismissed from his position as chairman of Galvani Bioelectronics following substantiated claims of sexual harassment during his time at GSK. GSK stated that they received a letter detailing these allegations a month prior. Slaoui issued an apology and returned $3.86 million to GSK.