Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Senior Scientist at icddr,b and a globally renowned expert in infectious disease prevention, has been awarded the 2024 VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries. The accolade recognizes her groundbreaking contributions to the development of affordable vaccines for cholera, typhoid, and HPV, benefiting vulnerable populations, particularly children and women in resource-limited settings.
The award ceremony, held at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi, Vietnam, was graced by the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính. The event also hosted prominent figures including Pham Nhat Vuong, Founder of the VinFuture Foundation, and Madam Pham Thu Huong, Co-Founder of the Foundation.
The VinFuture Prize, one of the most prestigious global awards in science and technology, received nearly 1,500 nominations from over 80 countries this year. Aligned with the 2024 theme, "Resilient Rebound," the awards celebrate innovations that exemplify resilience and transformative progress through science and technology.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Qadri expressed her gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing her career-long commitment to advancing public health in developing countries.
“For over four decades, my work has focused on preventing infectious diseases, particularly cholera, typhoid, and HPV, ensuring that affordable vaccines reach the communities that need them most—especially children and women. This award is a testament to the power of science and teamwork in creating a more equitable world," said Dr. Firdausi Qadri. "I hope this inspires young women and men, especially in developing countries, to pursue careers in science.”
The VinFuture Grand Prize was jointly awarded to AI pioneers Professor Yoshua Bengio, Nobel Laureate Professor Geoffrey Hinton, Jen-Hsun Huang, and Yann LeCun for their transformative work in deep learning, which has revolutionized fields like healthcare, autonomous systems, and environmental science.
The VinFuture Prize includes a Grand Prize of USD 3 million and three Special Prizes of USD 500,000 each, recognizing Innovators from Developing Countries, Women Innovators, and Innovators in Emerging Fields.
Adding to the grandeur of the evening was a special performance by Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons, marking a celebratory close to the event.
Dr. Firdausi Qadri’s recognition reflects icddr,b’s commitment to advancing global health equity and highlights the power of scientific innovation to improve lives, inspire future generations, and foster sustainable development worldwide.
