Leander Grode

Dr. Leander Grode is the Managing Director at Serum Life Science Europe GmbH, a position he has held since June 2019. Since joining the company as a Project Manager in 2003, he has held roles of increasing responsibility, serving as Chief Scientific Officer beginning in 2013 and directing Business Development since 2008, where he established strategic partnerships and advanced vaccine initiatives. Under his leadership, SLS Europe secured a €30 million investment loan from the European Investment Bank and facilitated the transfer of majority shares to the Serum Institute of India, increasing the company’s global impact.
Earlier in his career, Leander led the vaccine development group in the Department of Immunology at the Max Planck Institute, focusing on vaccine and immunology research. Leander completed his PhD in immunology at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, where he researched tuberculosis vaccines under Prof. Stefan H.E. Kaufmann. He also holds a biology degree from the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt/Main and completed an exchange at the University of California, San Francisco.
His expertise in immunology, vaccine development, regulatory affairs, and patent strategy continues to guide SLS Europe’s mission of delivering strategic consulting in pharmaceutical development, helping clients navigate complex challenges and drive industry innovation.