London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

World Immunisation Week 2021

To mark World Immunisation Week 2021 from 24 to 30 April, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Vaccine Centre is hosting a series of webinars. The theme this year is ‘Vaccines Bring Us Closer’. Each day of the week we focus on an important area of vaccine research, science and debate bringing together experts in the field. This event completes the week-long events series we have organized for World Immunisation Week 2021.

The Vaccine Centre are pleased to announce that Dr Rino Rappuoli from the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines, an important global figure in vaccine research and development will be delivering the Vaccine Centre Annual Lecture 2021.

Speaker

Dr Rino Rappuoli, GSK Vaccines

Dr Rino Rappuoli is Chief Scientist and Head of External research and development (R&D) at GSK Vaccines based in Siena, Italy and Honorary Professor of Vaccinology at Imperial College, London and Extraordinary Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Siena. His past roles comprise Head R&D, Sclavo, Head Vaccine Research and CSO, Chiron Corporation, and Global Head R&D, Novartis Vaccines.  

He earned his PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Siena, Italy, and was visiting scientist at Rockefeller University and Harvard Medical School. He is elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and the Royal Society of London.  

Rino is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal by the Italian President, Albert B Sabin Gold Medal, Canada Gairdner International Award, European Inventor Award for Lifetime Achievement, Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize and the Robert Koch Award. He was nominated the third most influential person worldwide in the field of vaccines (Terrapin). He has published 736 works in peer-reviewed journals. He introduced novel scientific concepts which include genetic detoxification; cellular microbiology; reverse vaccinology; pangenome.  

Throughout his career, he has developed licensed vaccines including, acellular pertussis containing a non-toxic mutant of pertussis toxin; first conjugate vaccine against meningococcus C; MF59-adjuvanted seasonal and pandemic influenza MF59 was the first vaccine adjuvant after aluminium salts; meningococcus B; CRM 197 used as the carrier in many conjugate vaccines.

Rino is also the founder of the GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH). He is among the world scientific leaders dedicated to the sustainability of global health. 

Other events taking place around this year's World Immunisation Week

• 26 April, 13.00 - 14.00 - All you want to know about recent advances in vaccine development for diarrhoea 
• 27 April, 13.00 - 14.00 - COVID vaccine passports or certification: a good or bad idea? 
• 28 April, 13.00 - 14.00 - Enhancing mother’s gifts: Up and coming vaccines for pregnant women to protect their newborns from infections
• 29 April, 12.00 - 13.00 - Human challenge models to advance vaccines against respiratory pathogens 

LSHTM Viral

Season 3 of the LSHTM Viral podcast is exploring vaccines and vaccinations in a COVID-19 world, from ingredients to manufacturing, and through to the realities of distribution to a global population. In each episode our experts also answer the most pressing questions from the public on the COVID-19 vaccines, so send your questions to comms@lshtm.ac.uk. LSHTM Viral is Spotify’s 13^th most popular science podcast in the UK. Subscribe now: Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher.

Please note that the recording link will be listed on this page when available