Oxford honour for Poonawalla
Cyrus Poonawalla, founder and Chairman of the Serum Institute of India, received an honorary degree from the University of Oxford for his work in the field of life-saving vaccines and philanthropy.
Mr. Poonawalla was awarded his degree on Wednesday at the world-famous university’s annual Encaenia academic ceremony alongside Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as part of a total 2019 cohort of eight honorary degrees.
With Mr. Poonawalla’s vision, the Serum Institute has reached the unmatched figure of protecting more than two-thirds of the infant population globally, notes the citation for the Indian businessman.
He is also a generous philanthropist, focusing on public causes and under served communities, it adds.
Founded in 1966, the Serum Institute is the world’s largest manufacturer of life-saving vaccines by number of doses, producing more than 1.5 billion doses a year that are used in over 170 countries.
Mr. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was awarded the honorary degree for his contribution to music across Bollywood and Hollywood.
