Hyon Xhi Tan

Respiratory viruses impose significant burden on human health through recurrent seasonal epidemics and periodic catastrophic pandemics. We face up to 500,000 deaths annually from Influenza infections, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic already claiming close to 3 million lives. Both diseases strikingly illustrate the critical need for highly effective vaccines to protect susceptible human populations.

The immense impact of these diseases on human health is why I do what I do now. I am an Immunologist with a deep-rooted interest in the development of viral vaccines and combating diseases by harnessing our own immune system.