In August 2021, it was announced that Dr. Firdausi Quadri was going to be awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her role in developing vaccines that have helped save millions of lives. Established in April 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is considered this region’s counterpart to the Nobel Prize and is awarded to individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution for the betterment of the Asian society and way of life. Dr Qadri maintained a key role in the development of a more affordable oral cholera vaccine (OCV) and the typhoid conjugate vaccine (ViTCV) for adults, children, and even infants as young as nine months.
DR QADRI MAINTAINED A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE AFFORDABLE ORAL CHOLERA VACCINE (OCV) AND THE TYPHOID CONJUGATE VACCINE (VITCV) FOR ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND EVEN INFANTS AS YOUNG AS NINE MONTHS
Dr Firdausi Quadri is a scientist who specialises in immunology and infectious disease research, and has worked for over 25 years on the development of vaccines for Cholera. Her expertise also lies in other infectious diseases like ETEC, Typhoid, Helicobacter pylori and rotavirus among others. Dr Qadri is a founder and a member of the Board of Advisory of the Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists. She also founded the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives in 2014. The institute conducts biomedical research and runs training courses including a testing centre. The site has become a sort of beacon of innovation and synergy between both local and international scientists and their endeavours.
IN OCTOBER 2020, IN HIS BLOG, BILL GATES COMPARED HER WORK TO THAT OF A HERO.
In October 2020, in his blog, Bill Gates compared her work to that of a hero. Her work contributed to the development of a new and cheap cholera vaccine done in partnership with the Gates Foundation. “In 2011 Dr. Quadri and her team at the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) led a feasibility study on a newer, more affordable oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol. The study, which was done in partnership with our foundation, showed that the inexpensive vaccine could be an effective tool in stopping the spread of cholera in poor, urban environments, giving people more than 50 percent protection against the disease,” Gates wrote.
Other than enriching the world with her research, Dr. Quadri has been known to be a great mentor as well. Taking under her wing bright young minds and helping them reach their full potential. She has had fellows under her tutelage, both local and from abroad who have been nurtured, and who have gone on to hold faculty positions globally. Her drive and penchant toward the betterment of anything she touches is a stellar model to behold. Shining bright as a beacon and paving the way for those dreaming of a brighter tomorrow, Dr. Quadri is a glorious example for future generations.
Photographs: Collected from the Internet