May 1, 2025, SEOUL, Republic of Korea — The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the world’s only international organization devoted exclusively to the discovery, development, and delivery of vaccines for global health, held the 2025 IVI–SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award Ceremony on April 30 to celebrate four distinguished individuals.

 

The ceremony honored Prof. Pierre Van Damme and Dr. Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay as co-recipients for their groundbreaking contributions to vaccine research, including the development and rollout of a novel oral polio vaccine. Additionally, Ms. Luiza Helena Trajano and Ms. Svetha Janumpalli were recognized for founding nonprofit organizations that have helped significantly increase immunization rates in Brazil and Nigeria.

 

The event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul was attended by the four awardees; Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA); H.E. Bruno Jans, Ambassador of Belgium to Korea; H.E. Marcia Donner Abreu, Ambassador of Brazil to Korea; Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI; Mr. Jaeyong Ahn, President of SK bioscience; officials from IVI and SK bioscience, and leaders from academia and industry.

 

Prof. Pierre van Damme, Director of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, is credited for his groundbreaking work in vaccine research and policy. He spearheaded the clinical development of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) including the Phase I ‘Poliopolis’ study, enabling the vaccine’s rapid WHO Emergency Use Listing. He also led the establishment of ‘Vaccinopolis,’ a high-containment facility for challenge trials.

 

Prof. van Damme said, “I am deeply moved and honored to receive the IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award at this moment in my life. Over the years with my team, we have invested in the conduct of vaccine trials from Phase 1 to Phase 4 to assist the adequate and accurate development of vaccines with industry as well as research organizations. I believe in the added value of such collaboration to improve control and prevention of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. I am convinced of the public health dimension of what we have obtained so far and consider it as our duty to transfer this knowledge to the future generation of healthcare providers.”

 

Dr. Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Director of Technology, Research, and Analytics on the Polio Team at the Gates Foundation, has been instrumental in the development and distribution of the nOPV2 vaccine, with over 1.5 billion doses delivered in over 41 countries, significantly reducing vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks. His contributions have reshaped immunization policies and strategies, advancing global polio eradication efforts.

 

Dr. Bandyopadhyay said “This award is a tribute to the global workforce—researchers, program managers, and frontline health workers—whose unwavering dedication is driving the eradication of polio. It celebrates the extraordinary collaboration that led to the development of the nOPV2, overcoming scientific and epidemiologic challenges. As an enthusiast to this mission, I am optimistic that innovations like nOPV2 will bring us closer to a polio-free world and pave the way for the swift introduction of other life-saving vaccines, creating a safer, healthier future for generations to come.”

 

Ms. Luiza Helena Trajano, Founder and President of Group of Women of Brazil, has mobilized over 128,000 women worldwide through her nonprofit to advance social causes aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. During COVID-19, her United for the Vaccine (Unidos pela Vacina) initiative boosted vaccination coverage in underserved Brazilian regions. The organization also trains healthcare professionals, supports HPV vaccination programs, and advocates for gender equality, making a profound impact on public health and social justice.

 

Ms. Trajano said, “Nothing is more powerful than the strength of a united civil society. The United for the Vaccine Movement, led by the Women of Brazil Group, proved this by mobilizing thousands of people to equip healthcare units and speed up the Covid-19 vaccination process, while also raising public awareness about the importance of immunization. This award further reinforces our responsibility in the new campaigns we are currently developing.”

 

Ms. Svetha Janumpalli, Founder and CEO of New Incentives, has pioneered Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) to increase childhood immunization rates in underserved Nigerian communities. By offering small, predictable cash incentives to caregivers for routine vaccinations, New Incentives ensures vulnerable populations’ access to life-saving vaccines, significantly improving health outcomes.

 

Ms. Janumpalli said, “I’m deeply humbled to accept the IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award. Cost-effective and scalable programs don’t just happen. It takes determination to follow the data, grit to develop world-class monitoring systems and processes, and unwavering resolve to iterate until you get it right. It’s been an honor to lead the New Incentives team on this journey and I’m grateful for this award which recognizes the transformative potential of innovative solutions in improving vaccine delivery and uptake.”

 

Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of KDCA, said “We are grateful to these four leaders for their outstanding contributions to international vaccine research and immunization. KDCA will continue to work closely with the international community to develop and support vaccines to protect people from infectious diseases.”

 

Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, said, “IVI is privileged to honor four distinguished individuals through the fourth Park MahnHoon Award. Building upon the legacies of these and other vaccine pioneers, IVI will continue to execute our mission – to advance the development, manufacture, and use of vaccines that greatly reduce the burden of infectious diseases worldwide.”

 

 

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About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that also achieved WHO prequalification in early 2024.

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya. IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. 42 countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, Austria, and Thailand provide state funding. For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int.

 

 

About the IVI – SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award

The IVI–SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award is presented annually to up to two individuals and/or groups worldwide who have made exceptional contributions in the field of vaccines. Established in 2021, the Award honors the legacy of the late Park MahnHoon, former Vice Chairman of SK bioscience, a pioneer of cell culture vaccines in Korea who led the development of several vaccines crucial to global health.

Since its inception, the Award has recognized some of the world’s most prominent vaccinologists and public health leaders, including Dr. Tore Godal, and Profs. Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó (2022), recipients of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Drs. Rino Rappuoli and Mariagrazia Pizza, and Profs. Andrew Pollard and Sarah Gilbert (2023); and Prof. Jan Holmgren, along with Drs. Barney Graham and Jason McLellan (2024).