About Us

Founded in 1993, the Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to preventing and curing infectious and neglected tropical diseases worldwide, and eliminating the tremendous human suffering they cause. Led by Dr. Peter Hotez, President of Sabin and Distinguished Research Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, the Sabin Vaccine Institute works tirelessly to develop treatments and vaccines for the world’s poor and establish networks to ensure these treatments are effectively and efficiently delivered.

Sabin is driven by science-based approaches to combating diseases. Sabin not only advocates and provides treatments, we develop them. Research and development are at our core. That’s why we’re particularly proud of our partnership with the George Washington University and other international organizations. Working together, we’ve created the first-ever vaccine development program against human hookworm infection, a devastating neglected tropical disease affecting 570 million people living in the world’s poorest countries. In 2000, we established a unique product development partnership known as the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative. As a result, our human hookworm vaccines are now undergoing clinical testing in Brazil. Simultaneously, we are developing vaccines for schistosomiasis, another important neglected tropical disease, which is now ravaging entire communities across the globe - especially in Africa and in the poorest areas of Latin America. Moreover, through our international programs in vaccine advocacy and sustainable immunization financing, we are working to ensure that even the very poorest people have access to essential vaccines and that their governments build capacity to procure vaccines and deliver these life-saving products.

Through our Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, we advocate and mobilize resources to ensure that urgently needed treatments and essential medicines for the seven most common neglected tropical diseases are delivered to world’s poorest people by working through established public private partnerships on the ground in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, together with the World Health Organization and its regional offices, national health ministries, and the affected communities.

But developing new vaccines and treating these diseases is only the beginning. There is a growing body of evidence that shows higher productivity and improved economies in communities where these diseases are controlled.

Thanks to dedicated support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and our other dedicated donors, we’re helping to end the suffering of billions of people by fighting infectious and neglected tropical diseases worldwide through our major research, development and advocacy programs:

• HHVI (Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative)
• SVI (Schistosomiasis Vaccine Initiative)
• Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases
• PACE (Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts)
• Sustainable Immunization Financing

The Sabin Mission

To reduce needless human suffering from infectious and neglected tropical diseases through innovative vaccine research and development; and to advocate for improved access to vaccines and essential medicines for citizens around the globe.