Villanova University Awards Mendel Medal to Eminent Vaccinologist and Pediatrician Peter Hotez, MD, PhD
Peter Hotez, MD, PhD; Photo by Agapito Sanchez
VILLANOVA, Pa. (August 29, 2024) — Villanova University has named Professor Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, as the 2024 recipient of the Mendel Medal. Dr. Hotez will present the Mendel Medal lecture, titled “Global Immunizations and the Antipoverty Vaccines: The Science vs the Anti-Science,” on Friday, November 8, 2024.
The Mendel Medal is named for 19th-century Augustinian friar and scientist Gregor Mendel, best known as “the father of modern genetics,” for his discovery of the celebrated laws of heredity that bear his name. Dr. Hotez is the 54th recipient of the award, which was first presented by Villanova in 1929 and is given to outstanding contemporary scientists in recognition of their accomplishments.
“Villanova University is proud to celebrate Dr. Peter Hotez’s valuable advancements to science and medicine by presenting him with the 2024 Mendel Medal,” said Fr. Kail Ellis, OSA, PhD, Special Assistant to the President and Dean Emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University. “His contributions have had a global impact, and in true Augustinian character are concentrated on helping communities devoid of certain medical necessities that are crucial to health. Additionally, his quest to educate the public on vaccine science are both an embodiment of this award, and Gregor Mendel himself.”
Dr. Hotez’s lifelong dedication to the development of novel vaccines has impacted millions of people throughout the world. In 2022, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize after co-leading the development of a low-cost and patent-free Covid vaccine technology, leading to the delivery of 100 million vaccine doses to India and Indonesia. His coronavirus research includes ongoing work to develop a pan-coronavirus vaccine to target multiple variants at once. Active in the fight against neglected diseases of poverty, specifically, Dr. Hotez has worked diligently to develop vaccines for human hookworm anemia infection—which affects roughly 400 million individuals worldwide—and schistosomiasis, both of which are currently in clinical trials. He has also devised novel vaccines for Chagas disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), among others, and is an author of more than 700 scientific publications.
In addition to his contributions to vaccine technology and the prevention of neglected diseases of poverty, Dr. Hotez is active in combating vaccine misinformation, particularly through his five authored books. He has been recognized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) with their Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award, and by the American Medical Association (AMA) with their Scientific Achievement Award, among numerous other accolades from various esteemed entities. Prof. Hotez is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds several honorary doctoral degrees.
According to Dr. Hotez: “I’m thrilled to be honored by Villanova University and to receive a recognition that commemorates Gregor Mendel, one of my science heroes. It is especially exciting to view the list of international scientists who have also received the Mendel Medal, and I’m humbled to join this extraordinary group”
Villanova University, as an institution founded by the Augustinian Order, plays a key role in sustaining Mendel’s legacy. The Mendel Medal is awarded to outstanding scientists who have worked to advance the cause of science and, by their lives and their standing before the world as scientists, have demonstrated that between true science and true religion there is no intrinsic conflict. To learn more about the Mendel Medal and its history, please visit the Mendel Medal website.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.