PUBLICATIONS

The Bulmore Consulting team boasts a robust publication record across innovative scientific areas including synthetic biology, protein engineering, gene and drug delivery, and vaccine development. We have also provided thought leadership and editorial support for publications developed by leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.

Check out our recent publications

21 March 2025

Stakeholder perspective and sentiment in a rapidly growing United States adult vaccination environment

The United States adult vaccine landscape is rapidly expanding, raising critical questions about prioritizing vaccines. Through comprehensive market research involving healthcare providers, pharmacies, integrated delivery networks, policy influencers, and pharmaceutical leaders, this study identifies key barriers to vaccine uptake. Findings reveal significant trends including pharmacy-led vaccination, patient adherence challenges, misinformation influence, and operational constraints. Results underscore the need for coordinated efforts to improve vaccine accessibility, streamline processes, enhance public trust, and develop clearer guidelines. Insights provide actionable strategies for stakeholders to collaborate and ensure optimal uptake in an increasingly complex market.

05 February 2025

Assessing the Pandemic Potential of Emerging Avian Influenza A(H5N1) in the United States Using the Viral Trait Assessment for Pandemics (ViTAP) Model

In an increasingly interconnected world, the threat of a devastating influenza pandemic looms large. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), with its high case fatality rate and potential for adaptation in avian reservoirs, is a prime candidate for triggering such a pandemic. We applied the Viral Trait Assessment for Pandemics (ViTAP) model, a quantitative framework, to assess the pandemic potential of H5N1 strains currently circulating in the United States. Through a systematic literature review and structured expert elicitation involving virologists and epidemiologists, we refined and validated ViTAP scores across 11 key viral traits. The resulting assessment yielded a final ViTAP score of 3.28 out of 5, placing the U.S. H5N1 strains in the moderate-to-high risk category. This elevated risk is driven by the virus’s high human fatality rate, its segmented RNA genome enabling reassortment, and its propensity for mutation. Sensitivity analyses highlight the transmission mode of the virus as a critical factor, with even minor increases in human-to-human spread dramatically escalating the pandemic threat. Comparisons with historical pandemics underscore the potential for H5N1 to rival the devastating impact of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for enhanced surveillance in avian and mammalian hosts, targeted vaccine development, and comprehensive pandemic preparedness efforts. By demonstrating the utility of the ViTAP model for pandemic risk assessment, we provide a valuable tool to guide policy and interventions in the face of emerging zoonotic threats.

20 December 2024

Defining health equity: A modern US perspective

Health equity is a concept that has gained increasing attention and relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed and exacerbated the health disparities and inequities among different population groups in the United States. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the historical, theoretical, and empirical foundations of health equity, as well as the challenges and opportunities for advancing it in the modern US society. By adopting an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach, and by drawing on literature from public health, sociology, economics, and human rights, we argue that health equity is not only a matter of fairness and justice, but also a strategic and pragmatic goal for improving the health and well-being of the entire nation. Here, we propose a modern definition of health equity for the US context, and conclude with some recommendations for policy, practice, and research to promote health equity in the US

12 December 2024

In silico prediction of pathogen's pandemic potential using the viral trait assessment for pandemics (ViTAP) model

Our world is ever evolving and interconnected, creating constant opportunities for disease outbreaks and pandemics to occur, making pandemic preparedness and pathogen management crucial for global health security. Early pathogen identification and intervention play a key role in mitigating the impacts of disease outbreaks. In this perspective, we present the Viral Trait Assessment for Pandemics (ViTAP) model to aid in the early identification of high-risk viruses that have pandemic potential, which incorporates lessons from past pandemics, including which key viral characteristics are important such as genetic makeup, transmission modes, mutation rates, and symptom severity. This model serves as the foundation for the development of powerful, quantitative tools for the early prediction of pandemic pathogens. The use of such a tool, in conjunction with other pandemic preparedness measures, can allow for early intervention and containment of the virus. This proactive approach could enable timely interventions, guiding public health responses, and resource allocation to prevent widespread outbreaks and mitigate the impact of emerging pathogens.

Full Publication List

Gera, N., Hill, A. B., White, D. P., Carbonell, R. G. & Rao, B. M. Design of pH Sensitive Binding Proteins from the Hyperthermophilic Sso7d Scaffold. PLOS ONE 7, e48928 (2012).
Abatemarco, J., Hill, A. & Alper, H. S. Expanding the metabolic engineering toolbox with directed evolution. Biotechnology journal 8, 1397-1410 (2013).
Hussain, M., Gera, N., Hill, A. B. & Rao, B. M. Scaffold Diversification Enhances Effectiveness of a Superlibrary of Hyperthermophilic Proteins. ACS Synthetic Biology 2, 6-13 (2013).
Blazeck, J., Hill, A., Liu, L., Knight, R., Miller, J., Pan, P., Otoupal, P., Alper, H.S. Harnessing Yarrowia lipolytica lipogenesis to create a platform for lipid and biofuel production. Nature Communications 5, 3131 (2014).
Blazeck, J., Hill, A., Jamoussi, M., Pan, A., Miller, J., Alper, H.S. Metabolic engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica for itaconic acid production. Metabolic Engineering 32, 66-73 (2015).
Jones, C. H., Hill, A., Chen, M. & Pfeifer, B. A. Contemporary approaches for nonviral gene therapy. Discov Med 19, 447-454 (2015).
Beitelshees, M., Li, Y. & Pfeifer, B. A. Enhancing vaccine effectiveness with delivery technology. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 42, 24-29 (2016).
Hill, A. B., Chen, M., Chen, C.-K., Pfeifer, B. A. & Jones, C. H. Overcoming gene-delivery hurdles: physiological considerations for nonviral vectors. Trends in biotechnology 34, 91-105 (2016).
Hill, A. B., Kilgore, C., McGlynn, M. & Jones, C. H. Improving global vaccine accessibility. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 42, 67-73 (2016).
Li, Y., Beitelshees, M., Fang, L., Hill, A., Ahmadi, M.K., Chen, M., Davidson, B.A., Knight, P., Smith, R. J., Andreadis, S. T., Hakansson, A. P., Jones, C. J., Pfeifer, B. A. In situ pneumococcal vaccine production and delivery through a hybrid biological-biomaterial vector. Science Advances 2, e1600264 (2016).
Li, Y., Hill, A., Beitelshees, M., Shao, S., Lovell, J. F., Knight, P., Hakansson, A. P., Pfeifer, B. A., Jones, C. H. Directed vaccination against pneumococcal disease. PNAS 113, 6898-6903 (2016).
Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Rostami, P., Jones, C. H. & Pfeifer, B. A. Pressing diseases that represent promising targets for gene therapy. Discov Med 24, 313-322 (2017).
Chitgupi, U., Li, Y., Chen, M., Shao, S., Beitelshees, M., Tan, M. J., Neelamegham, S., Pfeifer, B. A., Jones, C. H., Lovell, J., F. Bimodal targeting using sulfonated, mannosylated PEI for combined gene delivery and photodynamic therapy. Photochemistry and photobiology 93, 600-608 (2017).
Jones, C. H. & Hill, A. So you want to be a student entrepreneur? Nature Biotechnology 35, 113-116 (2017).
Jones, C. H. Zhang, G., Nayerhoda, R., Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Rostami, P., Li, Y., Bavidson, B. A., Knight, P., Pfeifer, B. A. Comprehensive vaccine design for commensal disease progression. Science Advances 3, e1701797 (2017).
Markham, K., Cordova, L., Hill, A. & Alper, H. Yarrowia lipolytica as a cell factory for oleochemical biotechnology. Consequences of microbial interactions with hydrocarbons, oils, and lipids: production of fuels and chemicals, 1-18 (2017).
Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Jones, C. H. & Pfeifer, B. A. Phenotypic Variation during Biofilm Formation: Implications for Anti-Biofilm Therapeutic Design. Materials 11, 1086 (2018).
Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Rostami, P., Jones, C. H. & Pfeifer, B. A. A Transition to Targeted or ‘Smart’ Vaccines: How Understanding Commensal Colonization Can Lead to Selective Vaccination. Pharmaceutical Medicine 32, 95-102 (2018).
Hill, A., Beitelshees, M., Pfeifer, B. A. & Jones, C. H. Standardization of Pneumococcal Biofilm Release to PncO Expression, a Predictive Measurement of Virulence. Infection and Immunity 86, 10.1128/iai.00494-00418 (2018).
Hill, A. B., Beitelshees, M., Nayerhoda, R., Pfeifer, B. A. & Jones, C. H. Engineering a Next-Generation Glycoconjugate-Like Streptococcus pneumoniae Vaccine. ACS Infectious Diseases 4, 1553-1563 (2018).
Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Li, Y., Chen, M., Ahmadi, M. K., Smith, R. J., Andreadis, S. T., Rostami, P., Jones, C. H., Pfeifer, B. A. Antigen delivery format variation and formulation stability through use of a hybrid vector. Vaccine: X 1, 100012 (2019).
Nayerhoda, R., Hill, A., Beitelshees, M., Jones, C. & Pfeifer, B. Design Variation of a Dual-Antigen Liposomal Vaccine Carrier System. Materials 12, 2809 (2019).
Hill, A., Beitelshees, M. & Pfeifer, B. A. Vaccine delivery and immune response basics. Vaccine Delivery Technology: Methods and Protocols, 1-8 (2021).
Nayerhoda, R., Hill, A. & Pfeifer, B. A. Liposomal Dual Delivery of Both Polysaccharide and Protein Antigens. Vaccine Delivery Technology: Methods and Protocols, 477-487 (2021).
Park, D., Hill, A. & Pfeifer, B. A. Improving E. coli Bactofection by Expression of Bacteriophage ΦX174 Gene E. Bio-Carrier Vectors: Methods and Protocols, 3-14 (2021).
Qi, R., Hill, A. & Pfeifer, B. A. A Hybrid Biological–Biomaterial Vector for Antigen Delivery. Vaccine Delivery Technology: Methods and Protocols, 461-475 (2021).
Pfeifer, B. A., Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., Bassett, J. & Jones, C. H. Harnessing synthetic biology for advancing RNA therapeutics and vaccine design. npj Systems Biology and Applications 9, 60 (2023).
Williams, B. A., Jones, C. H., Welch, V. & True, J. M. Outlook of pandemic preparedness in a post-COVID-19 world. npj Vaccines 8, 178 (2023).
- Bulmore provided editorial support
Williams, B. A., Jones, C. H., Welch, V. & True, J. M. Pandemic preparedness requires collaboration between governments, funders and pharma. Nature Medicine, 1-3 (2023).
- Bulmore provided editorial support
Jones, C. H. et al. Breaking the mold with RNA—a “RNAissance” of life science. NPJ Genomic Medicine 9, 2 (2024).
- Bulmore provided editorial support
Jones, C. H., Jenkins, M. P., Adam Williams, B., Welch, V. L. & True, J. M. Exploring the future adult vaccine landscape—crowded schedules and new dynamics. npj Vaccines 9, 27 (2024).
- Bulmore provided editorial support
Hill, A., True, J. M. & Jones, C. H. Transforming drug development with synthetic biology and AI. Trends in Biotechnology (2024).
Jones, C.H., Dolsten, M. Healthcare on the brink: navigating the challenges of an aging society in the United States. npj Aging 10, 22 (2024).

Bulmore provided editorial & thought leadership support

34. Prentice K. R., Williams B. A., True J. M, & Jones C. H. Advancing health equity in the aftermath of COVID-

19: Confronting intensifying racial disparities. iScience 27, no. 7 (2024).

Bulmore provided editorial & thought leadership support

35. Jones, C. H., Subha M., Kannan N., Michael C., Jane T. M., & Mikael D. Rewriting the textbook for pharma: how to adapt and thrive

in a digital, personalized and collaborative world. Drug Discovery Today, 104112 (2024).

Bulmore provided editorial & thought leadership support

36. Jones, C. H., Hauguel T., Beitelshees M., Davitt M., Welch V., Lindert K., Allen P., True J. M., & Dolsten M. Deciphering immune

responses: a comparative analysis of influenza vaccination platforms. Drug Discovery Today, 104125 (2024)

37. Prentice, K. R., Beitelshees, M., Hill, A., & Jones, C. H. Defining Health Equity: A Modern US Perspective. iScience (2024).

38. Hill, A., Arvin, R., Beitelshees, M., Guzman-Quilo, C., Welch, V., True, J.M. & Jones, C.H. Stakeholder perspective and sentiment in

a rapidly growing United States adult vaccination environment. iScience (2025).

39. Jones, C. H., & Beitelshees, M. Assessing the Pandemic Potential of Emerging Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in the United States Using

the Viral Trait Assessment for Pandemics (ViTAP) Model. medRxiv. 02 (2025).