History

Since its founding in 1997, the International Vaccine Institute has been at the forefront of global vaccine research, development, and delivery, driven by a mission to protect the world’s most vulnerable people. Our journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing equitable access to vaccines.

  • Oct 1996
  • The Republic of Korea and United Nations Development Programme sign the IVI Establishment Agreement at the UN headquarters in New York City.
  • Oct 1997
  • IVI is officially established under the Vienna Convention as an independent and autonomous international organization.
  • Jul 1999
  • Dr. John Clemens becomes the first Director General at the IVI interim office at Seoul National University.
  • Jan 2000
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards IVI its first grant, the Diseases of the Most Impoverished Program, to generate scientific evidence on the burden of cholera, typhoid fever, and shigellosis.
  • Jun 2003
  • IVI’s new headquarters building opens, donated by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
  • Jul 2006
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards a grant to launch the Cholera Vaccine Initiative to develop and introduce new oral cholera vaccines.
  • Oct 2007
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards a grant to launch the Vi-based Vaccines for Asia Initiative to develop and introduce new and improved typhoid vaccines.
  • Feb 2009
  • The oral cholera vaccine developed through IVI and produced by Shantha Biotechnics, Shanchol™, is licensed in India – the first vaccine developed through IVI to achieve licensure.
  • Sep 2011
  • World Health Organization prequalifies the IVI-developed oral cholera vaccine Shanchol™.
  • Dec 2011
  • Dr. Christian Loucq becomes IVI’s second Director General.
  • Oct 2013
  • Results from a Phase III trial follow-up on the oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol™, show protective efficacy of about 65% over five years.
  • Jan 2014
  • IVI partners with Incepta Vaccine Ltd. of Bangladesh, transferring technology for an oral cholera vaccine then for a typhoid conjugate vaccine.
  • Feb 2015
  • Euvichol® receives licensure and is the first cholera vaccine developed and produced in the Republic of Korea for use in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Mar 2015
  • IVI, with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malawi’s Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization, conduct emergency cholera vaccinations in flood-stricken Malawi, immunizing more than 130,000 people.
  • Jun 2015
  • Dr. Jerome Kim becomes IVI’s third Director General.
  • Aug 2017
  • World Health Organization prequalifies the oral cholera vaccine Euvichol-Plus®.
  • Aug 2018
  • An IVI oral cholera vaccine campaign in Mozambique vaccinates nearly 200,000 people against cholera.
  • Oct 2018
  • IVI hosts its first State Forum, highlighting the importance of vaccine research and development in global health diplomacy.
  • Mar 2019
  • IVI launches the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction in Africa project to demonstrate the effectiveness of typhoid conjugate vaccines in four countries.
  • 2019
  • IVI launches the Strep A Global Vaccine Consortium with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to advance the development of group A Strep vaccines.
  • 2020
  • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IVI joins forces with over 30 partners to support the preclinical and clinical development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
  • 2020
  • Bangladesh licenses Incepta’s Cholvax® oral cholera vaccine, the first domestically manufactured cholera vaccine in Bangladesh, made possible by an IVI technology transfer.
  • Feb 2022
  • The Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare designates IVI the operator of the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, a program supported by the World Health Organization to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Apr 2022
  • IVI and SK bioscience launch the annual IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award for individuals or organizations making outstanding contributions in vaccines for global health.
  • Sept 2022
  • IVI establishes its Europe Regional Office in Stockholm, Sweden and an IVI Country Office in Vienna, Austria.
  • Oct 2022
  • IVI launches its Global Advisory Group of Experts to advance diplomatic and global health efforts.
  • Oct 2022
  • IVI celebrates its 25th anniversary, presenting the inaugural IVI Founders Medal to Prof. Seung Il Shin, Prof. Barry Bloom, Prof. Wan Kyoo Cho, and Prof. Sang-Dai Park.
  • 2022
  • IVI leads phase III clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by SK bioscience at sites in six countries.
  • May 2023
  • IVI gains observer status at the World Health Assembly.
  • Oct 2023
  • IVI convenes the inaugural Global Council meeting in Seoul, establishing a new representative body for all IVI States Parties.
  • 2023
  • IVI establishes an antimicrobial resistance department to increase research on the impact of vaccination on antimicrobial use, consumption, and resistance.
  • May 2024
  • IVI forms a global research consortium supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to develop a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine.
  • Nov 2024
  • IVI establishes its Africa Regional Office in Kigali, Rwanda.