Eric Ottesen is the Director of the LF Support Center and a Research Professor in the Department of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He received his A.B. from Princeton University in 1965; his M.D. from Harvard University in 1970 and is board certified in pediatrics. Formerly head of the Clinical Parasitology Section of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIH (1975-1994), he was the Project Leader in establishing the Filariasis Elimination Programme at the World Health Organization (1995-2001).

Dr. Ottesen’s research interests have focused principally on host responsiveness to parasitic helminth infections (primarily filariasis, onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis) and on the relationship between allergic and parasitic diseases. Professional activities now target the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis worldwide (especially program monitoring and evaluation), integrated control of tropical diseases, and the clinical and immunological aspects of filarial disease.

Dr. Dominique Kyelem is Program Director for the Gates Foundation grant at the LF Support Center. He serves as a key liaison of the LF Support Center to various partner organizations such as the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF), WHO, the World Bank, GlaxoSmithKline, and other organizations involved with LF elimination. Dr. Kyelem is responsible for developing and implementing various program objectives of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF), as well as for the day-to-day management of project related activities.

Prior to joining the LFSC, Dr. Kyelem was in charge of the unit of communicable diseases including lymphatic filariasis in the Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso; he worked at various levels and sectors of the health system of his country for more than 14 years. He was the pioneer of national NIDs for polio eradication district- wise implementation in Burkina Faso. Dr Kyelem has been a consultant for WHO since 2001 supporting African countries in lymphatic filariasis elimination activities and is a member of several advisory committees.

Dr. Kyelem holds a medical degree from the University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), a Masters in Public Health degree from the University of Heidelberg (Germany) and a PhD degree from the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom).

PJ Hooper is Research Project Manager for the LF Support Center. Her responsibilities include operational research on LF and the NTDs as part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to the Global Alliance to Eliminate LF. She also is responsible for the LF Support Center’s communications, including website renovations and newsletter updates to partners.

In addition to her work with the LF Support Center, PJ also serves as Research Project Manager for the International Trachoma Initiative’s grant from the Gates Foundation to support Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) integration research and program development.

PJ holds a Master’s degree in Political Science specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs and French from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She also recently received a Graduate Certificate in Core Public Health Concepts from the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill.

Alex Pavluck is the Research Informatics Analyst for the LF Support Center at the Task Force for Global Health. Prior to joining the Task Force, he worked as an epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society. Over his five year tenure at ACS, his work contributed to a number of peer-reviewed publications. Alex's responsibilities at the LFSC are primarily focused on the E.D.G.E. System's data collection, management, and reporting features.

Alex received his BA in Environmental Biology from Ohio University and his MPH in Epidemiology from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Prior to attending graduate school, Alex was the Director of Systems and IT Engineering for Cypress Communications, a multinational telecommunications company. In 2004, he was awarded the Dean's Award for Outstanding Service by Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Brian Chu is a Program Associate with the LFSC where he is currently developing a model to evaluate the economic impact of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). Prior to joining the LFSC, Brian spent time in Ghana doing needs-assessment research and capacity building activities for Freedom from Hunger’s social franchising program MicroBusiness for Health. He was also previously a Senior Analyst and Project Manager for interventional cardiology products at a medical device consulting firm.

Brian recently received his MPH in Global Health from Emory University. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.

Katie Gass is a part-time contractor Biostatistician with the LFSC where she helps to coordinate and perform the statistical analyses of the multi-country studies. Katie previously worked for the Academy for Educational Development as a Program Associate with the A2Z Micronutrient Project where she managed the budgets and workplans for three overseas project offices. While with the A2Z Project, she traveled to Sierra Leone to supervise a biannual drug distribution round in collaboration with Helen Keller International. Katie also served as a Peace Corps Community Health volunteer in Peru from 2003-2005

Katie recently completed her Masters degree in Public Health from Emory University. She holds a BA in Mathematics and Theatre from Oberlin College.

Waithera Kagira-Watson serves as the Financial Analyst for the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center (LFSC) at the Task Force for Global Health. Prior to joining the LFSC, Waithera worked as a Financial Associate at Harvard University for more than seven years. She has also worked with various companies in Kenya and in the Finance Department of the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel.

Waithera holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and also a graduate Certificate in Special Studies in Administration and Management from the Harvard University Extension School (concentration in International Management). Her recent studies have focused on the management of nonprofit organizations.

DiAnn Watson is the Administrative Assistant for the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center. She works closely with Dr. Eric A. Ottesen, Director of Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center. Prior to joining this department at Emory University, she was an Administrative Assistant of Pastoral Services at Emory Hospital, as well as an Administrative Assistant in the Conflict Resolution Program at The Carter Center. Before relocating to the Atlanta area, DiAnn worked for 26 years at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

DiAnn is a graduate of Washington Irving High School in New York City. She has earned certificates in Advanced Secretarial Science, and managerial courses at Lehman University. She also has taken the Negotiation and Mediation Course with the Harvard Management Group, “Getting to Yes,” gaining skillful negotiating techniques.