Dr. Alan Bernstein is the inaugural Executive Director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise in New York, an alliance of independent organizations around the world dedicated to accelerating the development of an HIV vaccine. Previously, Dr. Bernstein served as the founding President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research from 2000 to 2007 and Director of Research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute from 1994 to 2000.

Dr. Bernstein has authored over 200 scientific publications in cancer research, blood cell development, stem cells, and science policy. He has received many honours for his contributions to science, including the McLaughlin Medal of the Royal Society of Canada, the Robert L. Noble Prize from the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the Genetics Society of Canada Award of Excellence, the 2001 Australian Society of Medical Research Medal, honorary degrees from the Universities of British Columbia, Ottawa and Dalhousie, the 2007 Médaille du mérite from the Institut de Recherche Clinique de Montréal, the 2008 Gairdner Wightman Award and the Order of Canada in 2002. Dr. Bernstein received his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, where he is on faculty.