Rino Rappuoli

Dr Rino Rappuoli is the Chief Scientist Emeritus & Head of External Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines. He is globally recognized for his work in vaccines and immunology, and has pioneered the genomic approach to vaccine development known as reverse vaccinology. Rappuoli led the development of various vaccines, including the first conjugate vaccines against meningococcus and the first recombinant bacterial vaccine against pertussis. He has introduced several novel scientific concepts during his career, such as genetic detoxification, cellular microbiology, reverse vaccinology, and pan-genome. Rappuoli earned his doctoral and bachelor's degrees in biological sciences at the University of Siena.

Major awards:
- Robert Koch Prize (2019)
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society (2016) - European Inventor Award 2017 in the category of "Lifetime achievement" by the European Patent Office
- Fellowship of Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine and the Maurice Hilleman Award (2015)
- In 2013 he was nominated third most influential person worldwide in the field of vaccines by Terrapin
- Albert Sabin Gold Medal (2009) - Italian President Gold Medal (2005)
- Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize (1991)