WASHINGTON, May 13, 2026
The Sabin Vaccine Institute honored renowned vaccine researchers Professor Uğur Şahin and Professor Özlem Türeci with the prestigious Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal during the 2026 Sabin Awards ceremony held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the scientists’ groundbreaking contributions to vaccine innovation, including their critical role in developing one of the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines that helped reshape the global response to the pandemic. The institute also presented its 2026 Rising Star Award to Bangladeshi genomic scientist Dr. Senjuti Saha for her work advancing vaccine policy and genomic surveillance to support one of the world’s largest typhoid immunization campaigns.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute stated that the award recognizes Şahin and Türeci for their decades-long commitment to advancing innovative vaccine technologies and improving equitable access to life-saving medicines worldwide. The husband-and-wife scientific team leveraged years of oncology-focused mRNA research to rapidly develop a COVID-19 vaccine platform during the global pandemic, helping protect billions of people and accelerating the adoption of messenger RNA technologies across modern medicine.
Vaccine Pioneers Recognized for Global Health Impact
Sabin Vaccine Institute leadership emphasized that the scientific achievements of Şahin and Türeci have significantly influenced the future direction of vaccine development and public health preparedness. Their pioneering work in mRNA technology demonstrated how advanced biotechnology platforms can rapidly respond to emerging infectious disease threats while also opening new opportunities in cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease prevention.
According to the institute, the researchers continue advancing vaccine candidates targeting globally significant diseases including tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria, while also supporting initiatives to strengthen vaccine manufacturing and healthcare infrastructure in Africa. The organization highlighted the pair’s broader commitment to improving medicine access, scientific collaboration, and global vaccine equity beyond their role in COVID-19 vaccine development.
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During the ceremony, Sabin executives noted that the Gold Medal honors not only scientific innovation but also dedication to translating medical breakthroughs into large-scale public health impact. The institute described the researchers’ work as a powerful example of scientific entrepreneurship driving transformative advances in healthcare and immunization.
The Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal has been awarded since 1994 to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to immunization and global health. The recognition commemorates the legacy of Dr. Albert Sabin, whose oral polio vaccine revolutionized disease prevention and expanded global vaccine access.
Genomic Scientist Senjuti Saha Receives Rising Star Award
The 2026 Rising Star Award was presented to Dr. Senjuti Saha, Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation in Bangladesh, for her contributions to genomic surveillance and vaccine policy development. Dr. Saha played a major role in supporting Bangladesh’s nationwide typhoid conjugate vaccine campaign, which has already reached more than 40 million children.
Her work has focused on generating genomic evidence to strengthen outbreak detection, improve vaccine development strategies, and support public health decision-making. Through the Child Health Research Foundation, Dr. Saha helped establish one of Bangladesh’s leading genomic laboratories, sequencing thousands of pathogen genomes linked to diseases such as typhoid, Klebsiella infections, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The Sabin Vaccine Institute highlighted Dr. Saha’s commitment to developing local scientific leadership and mentoring future researchers in genomic medicine and vaccine science. The organization stated that her efforts demonstrate the growing importance of genomic epidemiology and data-driven public health policy in global immunization programs.
Vaccine Innovation Continues to Shape Global Healthcare
Industry experts continue to identify vaccine technology, genomic surveillance, and immunization access as critical pillars of future healthcare systems. The rapid development of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated investment across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, driving new research into infectious diseases, oncology, and personalized medicine.
Healthcare leaders believe collaborations between vaccine scientists, genomic researchers, public health organizations, and pharmaceutical innovators will remain essential for improving global preparedness against emerging infectious diseases and expanding access to preventive healthcare worldwide. The 2026 Sabin Awards further highlighted the growing role of advanced vaccine science and genomic medicine in shaping the future of global public health.
Source: The Sabin Vaccine Institute press release
