Dr Jicui Dong is the Head of the Local Production and Assistance Unit in WHO. With her diverse expertise, she has been leading the Unit to support Member States with an ecosystem wide approach in promoting technology transfer and strengthening sustainable quality local production of medicines, vaccines, IVDs, and other health technologies to improve timely, equitable access. She has been representing WHO in working with global partners to implement regional/global local production initiatives. Dr Dong is responsible for the World Local Production Forum, a WHO sustainable platform to foster global coordination & synergies and galvanize collective action in local production and technology transfer. She is managing the WHO Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative. She led her Unit to receive the WHO Director General’s Award for Excellence in 2021 and 2024.

Among her 20+ years in WHO, Dr Dong also has rich experience in the normative work and managing the global health R&D demonstration projects under the GSPA-PHI, among others. Before joining WHO, she worked in medical research, pharmacology, new drug development, coordination of drug development, production, and clinical trials, etc.

Dr Jicui Dong received her PhD in Biology in Switzerland, MSc in Pharmacology in China, and MBA in the UK. She also received executive training in trade, diplomacy and public health and extensive training in innovation, entrepreneurship, etc. in Switzerland and USA.