The distinguished Bangladeshi microbiologist, Senjuti Saha, has been formally honoured with the “Rising Star Award” by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States. The accolade was presented during an evening ceremony on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, held in Washington, D.C. The event, which recognises exceptional contributions to global health and immunisation, was broadcast globally via the institute’s digital platforms.
Recognition of Scientific Excellence
The Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Rising Star Award is an annual honour established in 2020. It is specifically designed to recognize the achievements of early-career scientists and professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in the fields of vaccination and public health.
Dr Saha, who serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) in Bangladesh, was selected for her significant impact in three primary areas:
Typhoid Vaccination Programmes: Her research has been instrumental in the implementation and monitoring of typhoid conjugate vaccines in Bangladesh.
Genomic Sequencing: Dr Saha led the team that completed the first genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh, establishing local capacity for pathogen surveillance.
Public Health Advocacy: Her work focuses on bridging the gap between high-level scientific research and equitable healthcare access for children in resource-limited settings.
Institutional and Professional Profile
| Attribute | Details |
| Recipient | Dr Senjuti Saha |
| Current Position | Deputy Executive Director, Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) |
| Awarding Body | Sabin Vaccine Institute |
| Award Category | Rising Star Award (Inaugurated 2020) |
| Selection Criteria | Scientists under 40 with significant public health impact |
| Location of Ceremony | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Primary Fields | Microbiology, Genomics, and Infectious Diseases |
Global Health Impact
During her acceptance speech in Washington, Dr Saha emphasised the necessity of building sustainable scientific infrastructure within developing nations. She noted that local genomic sequencing capabilities are vital not only for reacting to global pandemics but also for managing endemic diseases such as typhoid and meningitis.
The Child Health Research Foundation, under her leadership, has continued to operate as a non-profit organisation dedicated to clinical research and diagnostics. The foundation’s work is pivotal in providing evidence-based data to the Bangladeshi government and international health bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), to inform national immunisation policies. This award serves as an international validation of the high-calibre scientific research currently being conducted within Bangladesh’s domestic laboratories.