Sabin's Rising Star Award encourages and recognizes the next generation of vaccine and immunization leaders. Rising Star Awardee Dr. Senjuti Saha generates critical evidence for major national immunization initiatives, including Bangladesh's 2025 typhoid conjugate vaccine campaign that has already reached more than 40 million children. As Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF), she helped build one of the country's leading genomic laboratories. The lab has sequenced thousands of pathogen genomes to improve outbreak detection and inform vaccine development for diseases such as Klebsiella and RSV. Her work also emphasizes developing local scientific leadership and mentoring the next generation of researchers.

"This award is incredibly meaningful to me because it reflects years of work by an extraordinary community in Bangladesh and shows that great science can grow anywhere people are determined to solve problems together," said Dr. Saha.

"Dr. Senjuti Saha exemplifies the next generation of scientific leadership," said Finan. "She understands that her work doesn't stop in the laboratory or with a published paper. To improve and protect community health, she uses data and evidence to advocate for strong vaccine policy."

The Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal and Rising Star Award, awarded since 1994 and 2020 respectively, celebrate Dr. Sabin's legacy of ensuring vaccine access for all. They honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to immunization and global health. These awards commemorate the legacy of the late Dr. Albert B. Sabin, who discovered the oral polio vaccine and dedicated his life to ensuring everyone in the world had access to vaccines.

Watch the 2026 Sabin Awards ceremony recording.***