Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D.
Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized vaccinologist and global health advocate, best known as cocreator of the COVID-19 vaccine technology behind Corbevax (India) and IndoVac (Indonesia), with around 100 million doses delivered. She leads efforts to develop vaccines for diseases disproportionately affecting the world’s poorest populations, including coronavirus, hookworm, schistosomiasis, and Chagas disease.
Dr. Bottazzi has forged innovative partnerships across Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, advancing research, education, science communication, and policy. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, a former Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar, a Leshner Leadership Public Engagement Fellow, and a Hedwig van Ameringen ELAM Fellow.
An influential global voice, she has authored over 250 scientific papers, spoken at 300+ conferences worldwide, and received numerous prestigious awards, including the 2023 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare and the Rachael Schneerson–John Robbins Prize. Forbes named her among the 100 Most Powerful Women in Central America for three consecutive years. In 2022, she and Dr. Peter Hotez were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. Bottazzi earned her bachelor's degree from the National Autonomous University of Honduras and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. After postdoctoral training at the Universities of Miami and Pennsylvania, she worked at George Washington University before moving to Texas.
As global thought-leader Dr. Bottazzi has received national and international highly regarded awards, has more than 250 scientific papers and participated in more than 300 conferences worldwide. In 2023, she was awarded the Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare and the Rachael Schneerson - John Robbins Prize. For three years in a row, Forbes selected Dr. Bottazzi as one of 100 Most Powerful Women in Central America. In 2022, alongside Dr. Peter Hotez, she was nominated by Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. Bottazzi obtained her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and clinical chemistry from the National Autonomous University of Honduras and a doctorate in Molecular Immunology and Experimental Pathology from the University of Florida. After post-doctoral training in Cellular Biology at University of Miami and Pennsylvania, Dr. Botazzi worked at George Washington University before relocating to Texas.