PUNE: Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Founder and Chairman of Serum Institute of India, was conferred the prestigious ‘Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa)’ by the University of Oxford, UK at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday.

The University conferred the honorary degree during a ceremony, ‘Encaenia’. Dr Poonawalla is the only person who has been honoured with this degree after Dr Edward Jenner, who was honoured in the year 1813 in the field of vaccines.

This is yet another feather in the cap of Dr Poonawalla, who has been widely acknowledged for his unparalleled and continuous mission of global immunisation and his path defining philanthropic initiatives.

Founded in 1966, Serum Institute of India is the top biotech company in the country and is now the world’s largest manufacturer of life-saving vaccines by number of doses. Thus, it is saving lives of over 30 million mostly underprivileged children across the globe, who would have otherwise perished without the availability of affordable vaccines. Also known as a philanthropist, focusing on public causes and underserved communities, Dr Poonawalla earlier this year was felicitated with the first-ever ‘Vaccine Hero’ Award by the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI). 

He was also conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA last year for his outstanding contribution in improving the public health for all communities.