1 April 2026 – The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) congratulates its founding Director General and current Senior Scientific Advisor, Dr. John Clemens, on being named co-recipient of the 2026 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, alongside Dr. Jan Holmgren, for advances in understanding cholera disease and immunity, and for the development and evaluation of safe, effective, and affordable oral cholera vaccines that have enabled cholera control worldwide.

The Canada Gairdner Awards are among the world’s prestigious biomedical prizes, recognizing outstanding scientific contributions that improve human health.

Dr. Clemens’ scientific leadership in cholera prevention and his vision as IVI’s first Director General have left a lasting mark on global public health and on the growth of IVI as an institution dedicated to vaccine innovation, equity, and access. In 2024, IVI honored Dr. Holmgren with the IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award for his pioneering work developing the world’s first effective oral cholera vaccine.

Together, Dr. Clemens and Dr. Holmgren helped ensure the vaccine would be low-cost and accessible to communities most affected by cholera. They went on to develop an improved version of the vaccine and demonstrate its use to safely protect entire communities—known as herd immunity. These achievements helped shape global policy and supported the expanded use of oral cholera vaccines through programs endorsed by the World Health Organization.

Dr. John Clemens said: “I am deeply honored to receive the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award alongside Dr. Jan Holmgren. This recognition reflects decades of collaboration across scientists, public health leaders, communities, and partners, including funders such as the Gates Foundation and the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Sweden, working together to advance cholera prevention and global health.”

Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI, said: “Dr. John Clemens’ recognition by the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award is a tribute to his pioneering work on oral cholera vaccine (OCV), his transformation of vaccine access as a part of the development of OCV, and his vision as the founding Director General of IVI, laying the foundation of an institution that continues to advance vaccine innovation, equity and access worldwide.”

Beginning in 1999, Dr. Clemens established the structure and programs of IVI at its headquarters in Seoul, helping build the foundation for an international organization that continues to strengthen vaccine science, training, collaboration, and manufacturing capacity worldwide.

Visit the Gairdner Foundation website for more information about Dr. Clemens and the award.