By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
SK bioscience announced on May 1 that the company co-hosted the 2025 Park Mahn Hoon Award with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the world’s only international organization devoted to the discovery, development, and delivery of vaccines for global health, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on April 30.
Now in its fourth year, this year’s Park Mahn Hoon Award honored four distinguished recipients:
△Prof. Pierre van Dammeand and Dr. Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay, recognized for their leadership in vaccine research, including the development of a genetically stable oral polio vaccine (nOPV2).
△Ms. Luiza Helena Trajano and Ms. Svetha Janumpalli, who have significantly advanced vaccine access for underserved communities through nonprofit initiatives.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Commissioner Youngmee Jee of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Director General Jerome Kim of IVI, CEO Jaeyong Ahn of SK bioscience, Belgian Ambassador to Korea Bruno Jans, and Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu, who all came together to celebrate the recipients' achievements.
Prof. Pierre van Damme, Director of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) and professor at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, stated, “It is a great honor to receive this award. I have conducted clinical trials in collaboration with various research institutions and companies, always believing that our work contributes to controlling and preventing infectious diseases. I believe it is our duty to pass this knowledge on to future generations.”
Dr. Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Director of Technology, Research, and Analytics on the Polio Team at the Gates Foundation, commented, “I dedicate this honor to the many researchers, program managers, and health professionals around the world committed to eradicating polio. Innovations like nOPV2 help accelerate the rollout of life-saving vaccines and contribute to a safer, healthier future.”
Ms. Luiza Helena Trajano, Founder and President of ‘Grupo Mulheres do Brasil (Group of Women of Brazil)’, said, “There is no great force than a united civil society. 'Unidos pela Vacina' (United for the Vaccine) proved this power by accelerating COVID-19 vaccination and raising public awareness on the importance of immunization. This award deepens my commitment to the new campaigns we are currently developing.”
Ms. Svetha Janumpalli, Founder and CEO of New Incentives, expressed, “I am honored to receive the Park Mahn Hoon Award. Achieving success with a cost-effective, scalable program like New Incentives takes relentless effort, strong monitoring systems, and unwavering commitment. I’m truly grateful for this recognition of innovative solutions to improve vaccine delivery and acceptance.”
Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, remarked, “It is a privilege to honor these four outstanding recipients. IVI remains committed to enhancing vaccine development, production, and delivery—building on the accomplishments of this year’s honorees and other pioneers to reduce the global burden of infectious diseases.”
Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience, remarked, “We are honored to celebrate the achievements of scientists advancing global vaccine innovation and access, in the spirit of the late Vice Chairman Park Mahn Hoon. SK bioscience will continue to drive innovation and contribute to global vaccine development.”
The Park MahnbHoon Award was established in 2021 by SK bioscience and IVI to commemorate the legacy of the late Vice Chairman Park Mahn Hoon, who played a key role in advancing the vaccine industry.
As one of the most prestigious awards in the vaccine field, it is presented annually to individuals or organizations/teams that have made meaningful global contributions to vaccine efforts. Recipients are selected by a 12-member expert committee. SK bioscience contributes KRW 200 million (approx. USD 139,000) each year to support the award and international vaccine research.
