Revealed: The Recipient of the $3 Million Award from the Foundation of Billionaire Couple Pham Nhat Vuong

Tonight, we celebrate the brilliant minds whose groundbreaking inventions and research have transformed the lives of billions worldwide.

VinFuture 2025 Awards: Honoring Global Scientific Excellence

In its fifth year, VinFuture received over 1,700 submissions from 72 countries across five continents—a 2.8-fold increase since its inception. This remarkable growth underscores the award’s growing prestige and global impact after five years of development.

VinFuture is a non-profit foundation based in Vietnam, established on December 20, 2020—International Human Solidarity Day. Its initial endowment of 2 trillion VND was pledged by Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup, and his wife, Ms. Pham Thu Huong.

This year’s VinFuture Grand Prize, valued at $3 million, and three Special Prizes—each worth $500,000 for female scientists, scientists from developing nations, and those in emerging fields—highlight the foundation’s commitment to diversity and innovation.

The Grand Prize of $3 million was awarded to Dr. Douglas R. Lowy, Dr. John Schiller, Dr. Aimée Kreimer, and Prof. Maura Gillison for their pioneering work on the HPV vaccine.

Reflecting on their project, Dr. Douglas R. Lowy noted, “Our research has the potential to save 250,000 lives annually, many of whom are women from impoverished nations.” He added, “When Dr. John Schiller and I began, we never imagined achieving such success with the vaccine.”

Dr. Aimée R. Kreimer emphasized, “Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women. I’ve dedicated my career to improving vaccine accessibility and understanding, laying the groundwork for vaccines that can eradicate cervical cancer and HPV-related cancers, creating a better world for women and their communities.”

Dr. Aimée expressed her gratitude, stating, “VinFuture holds deep significance for me. I thank the Foundation for recognizing our team’s progress, dedication, and commitment to advancing global health equity.”

The Special Prize for Outstanding Female Scientist was awarded to Prof. María Esperanza Martínez-Romero of Mexico for her advancements in microbial ecology and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in tropical ecosystems.

Prof. Mary-Claire King received the Special Prize for Female Scientist for her discovery of the BRCA1 gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer risks, revolutionizing genetic testing, screening, and personalized treatment.

The Special Prize for Emerging Fields was presented to Prof. Venkatesan Sundaresan, Prof. Raphael Mercier, Dr. Emmanuel Guiderdoni, Dr. Imtiyaz Khanday, and Dr. Delphine Mieulet for their innovations in developing self-reproducing hybrid crops.

Science: A Responsibility to Shape a Better Future

At the awards ceremony, Prof. Richard Henry Friend, Chairman of the VinFuture Prize Council, remarked, “The 2025 honorees exemplify scientific excellence, driving societal progress in human welfare and sustainability.”

“Their work reminds us that science is not just knowledge but a responsibility—a duty to create a brighter future for our planet and generations to come,” he added.

Prof. Friend highlighted that over five years, VinFuture has honored scientists who later received prestigious global awards. Notably, Prof. Omar Yaghi, awarded the 2021 Special Prize for Emerging Fields, won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Similarly, Prof. Katalin Kariko and Prof. Drew Weissman, 2021 Grand Prize winners, received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The 2022 Special Prize for Emerging Fields was awarded to John Jumper and Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind) for their AI-driven protein structure prediction, leading to the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 2024, Prof. Geoffrey Hinton received both the VinFuture Grand Prize and the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Under the theme “Aspire Together, Prosper Together,” National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated, “This is a global call for development rooted in unity, progress, and shared opportunities for all individuals and nations. It embodies the spirit of transcending knowledge boundaries, fostering global collaboration, and delivering tangible benefits to humanity.”

“Over the past five years, we’ve seen that this award not only honors exceptional scientific achievements but also fosters valuable dialogues among scientists, businesses, and policymakers. These exchanges spark new ideas, approaches, and collaborations, driving widespread innovation,” Chairman Man shared.

He further emphasized, “Vietnam is committed to establishing a transparent legal framework that supports innovative models, ensuring their effective and safe implementation to contribute to regional and global development.”