As a Professor of infectious diseases and vaccine development Joe has led a national research network on acute respiratory tract infections in children until 2007 and was deeply involved in studies on acellular pertussis-vaccines and their combinations and chaired the German NIITAG (STIKO) over 10 years. He joined industry in 2007 and his last position was Vice President for Medical-, Developmental-, Scientific- and Clinical-Affairs (MDSCA) with Pfizer as Global Lead for Viral Vaccines. Currently, Joe Schmitt is Editor-in-Chief with Global Health Press (GHP) in Singapore and also Strategic and Scientific Advisor with the EU-Commission-funded “Vaccelerate” European Clinical Trial Consortium at Cologne University, Germany.