Frank Konings, Ph.D., is Program Director of the Epidemiology, Public Health and Impact (EPIC) unit of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), where he oversees operational activities for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI) and leads technical work on epidemiology and pandemic preparedness. He is based in Hong Kong.

His current priorities include strengthening surveillance networks for the detection and characterization of pathogens with pandemic potential; advancing data-science-driven investigations at the intersection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change and vaccines; and supporting global pandemic preparedness through rapid, emergency evidence generation. He also focuses on capacity building, including academic programs, and on maintaining and expanding HKJCGHI’s global partnerships.

Dr. Konings first joined IVI for three years in 2009, contributing to the establishment of the Typhoid Fever Surveillance in Africa Program, a large-scale, multi-center research initiative that generated critical data on the incidence and severity of typhoid fever across the African continent. This network of well-functioning clinical sites has since become a strong foundation for future studies.

From 2012 to 2025, he held various leadership roles at WHO Headquarters and Regional Offices for the Western Pacific (WPRO) and Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), supporting national health authorities in managing major infectious disease threats, including influenza, MERS, Ebola, arboviruses (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika), COVID-19, and AMR. At WHO Headquarters, he played a key role in the global COVID-19 response as a member of the Incident Management Support Team and as coordinator of the Virus Evolution Working Group.

Dr. Konings earned his Ph.D. in Virology from New York University, and a Master of Science in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences from Leiden University, the Netherlands. He is a member of the Technical Advisory Panel of the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank.