Gretchen Van Vliet

Gretchen Van Vliet is a senior public health project director who serves as the Project Director for the coordinating center of a critical infectious disease research network, Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID Network). The CREID Network is a coordinated group of emerging infectious disease research centers situated in regions around the globe where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks are likely to occur. It is funded by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health and focuses its resources on building a sustainable, scalable, and adaptable rapid research response infrastructure, which will be beneficial to respond to the unique situational requirements that emerging pathogens impose. Similarly, the ability to expand and strengthen partnerships will allow NIAID to pivot quickly in support of critical research efforts for new global disease threats.

Prior to joining RTI in 2016, Ms. Van Vliet served as a director of business development at FHI 360, focusing on all areas of global health addressed by FBI 360. She led the development of systems and processes to support the business development enterprise at the institution and provided leadership and coordination in developing country, regional, and technical business plans in close association with U.S. and internationally based technical staff.

Additionally, Ms. Van Vliet is an adjunct assistant professor in the UNC Gilling’s School of Global Health. She has worked for the school for over a decade, leading and supporting global health research and curriculum. Ms. Van Vliet previously directed the school-wide global health office, partnering with the Associate Dean for Global Health to lead and facilitate strategic planning, curriculum development, communication, fundraising, teaching, administration, and program development and implementation.