The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) will celebrate 3 outstanding public health heroes who have made significant and lasting contributions to public health at the 2025 NFID Annual Awards Gala and Silent Auction, a black-tie fundraising event on October 16, 2025, in Washington, DC. This is the first in a 3-part blog series profiling the inspirational work of the 2025 awardees.
2025 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement
Rino Rappuoli, PhD, scientific director of the Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation, Italy, will receive the 2025 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement, in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments which have helped turn scientific dreams into reality, saving millions of lives and shaping the future of global public health.
“We are in a unique moment when science and technology can solve major problems, from improving pandemic preparedness to enhancing the quality of life for aging populations, to tackling neurodegenerative diseases that have an infectious component.” That is how Rino Rappuoli, PhD, views the opportunities in the field of infectious diseases today.
Even his view of the threats facing the profession is tinged with optimism: “We are also living in a moment when anti-science movements are gaining traction in many parts of the world, standing in the way of progress and impeding a better quality of life. It is a difficult moment, but I believe it will be temporary, because the impact of science is so powerful that no one can stop it.”
His optimism was shaped by his childhood in Siena, a small Italian city where Albert Sabin developed the polio vaccine. Inspired by the power of science to overcome a disease that afflicted many of his peers, Rappuoli went on to become one of the most innovative scientists of his time, a leader in the field of microbial pathogenesis who has transformed how vaccines are developed.
Best known for pioneering reverse vaccinology, which uses genetic information to design vaccines, his work led to the first successful vaccine against meningococcus B, a devastating disease that can lead to rapid death in previously healthy children. He also fostered revolutionary technologies to help develop safer and more effective vaccines against Hib disease, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and pertussis, saving millions of lives around the world.
An elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, Rappuoli was awarded the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal in 2009 and is currently president of the International Union of Microbiological Societies. He also serves as honorary professor of Vaccinology at Imperial College, London, and senior professor of molecular biology at the University of Siena.
When asked to reflect on his many accomplishments, he humbly replies, “The greatest achievement of my career has been working at the intersection of cutting-edge science and real-world application, contributing not only to the discovery of innovative vaccines, but also to their development, licensure, and global use to improve people’s health.”
Rappuoli finds inspiration in the work of other visionary scientists “who see revolutionary innovations before others do and pursue their dreams despite skepticism until those dreams become reality.”
Favorite quote from Dante Alighieri:
We were not born to live in ignorance like animals, but to explore the universe and its secrets, to improve our knowledge, and use it for the benefit of humanity.
Join NFID to Honor Rino Rappuoli, PhD
The 2025 NFID Annual Awards Gala and Silent Auction honors inspirational public health heroes who have helped protect the lives of millions. Join us to celebrate 3 public health heroes and support the important work of NFID at the fundraising gala on October 16, 2025, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online at www.nfid.org/2025Gala.
All contributions support the NFID vision of healthier lives for all through the effective prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
For additional perspectives from Rino Rappuoli, PhD, listen to the NFID Infectious IDeas podcast episode, How Passion and Purpose Drive Vaccine Innovation:
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