Dr Firdausi Qadri is a Bangladeshi pioneer scientist whose work in immunology and infectious disease research has transformed countless lives across the globe.
Her journey began at the University of Dhaka, where she earned both her BSc and MSc degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1975 and 1977, respectively. A few years later, in 1980, she completed her PhD in Biochemistry, laying the foundation for a lifetime dedicated to science and service.
In 1988, Dr Qadri joined the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), as an Associate Scientist. Over the next two and a half decades, she devoted herself to developing vaccines for cholera and other infectious diseases, such as ETEC, typhoid, helicobacter pylori and rotavirus.
Her expertise in immunology and enteric diseases positioned her as one of the leading voices in global vaccine research. Today, she serves as the Senior Scientist and Head of the Mucosal Immunology and Vaccinology Unit at icddr,b, and chairs the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives (ideSHi), which she founded in 2014 to foster scientific innovation in Bangladesh.
One of her most remarkable achievements is the development of an affordable oral cholera vaccine (OCV), designed specifically for low-income countries. This vaccine played a vital role in preventing a cholera outbreak among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This milestone not only saved lives but also highlighted the power of accessible healthcare.
Her contributions have been recognised worldwide. Dr Qadri has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal from the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021, most recently, the VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries in 2024. She also served on the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) from 2016 to 2021.
Driven by compassion, Dr Qadri draws her inspiration from the diseases that affect the poorest communities. She believes that vaccines must be both effective and affordable if they are to create lasting change.
For her, science is not merely a profession – it’s a path to progress. She continues to inspire young minds, especially women, to step forward into STEM fields, reminding them that knowledge and empathy together can heal the world.
