DiannaGariepy5 at 13:07, 5 May 2026

2026-05-05T13:07:56Z

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{{Short description|Indian-American epidemiologist}}
{{excessive citations|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay
| image = Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay.jpg
| birth_place = Kolkata
| alma_mater = Harvard University, Calcutta National Medical College
| years_active = 2006-present
| employer = Gates Foundation
| awards = IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award
}}

'''Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay''' is an [[Indian Americans|Indian-American]] doctor and [[epidemiologist]] working on disease eradication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=Poliovirus near extinction in Pakistan, Afghanistan, health experts say |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/poliovirus-near-extinction-in-pakistan-afghanistan-health-experts-say/7552442.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Marik |first=Priyam |date=15 September 2024 |title="Inside Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay's global fight to eradicate polio" |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/inside-kolkata-boy-cnmc-and-harvard-alumnus-ananda-sankar-bandyopadhyays-global-fight-to-eradicate-polio/cid/2048127 |work=The Telegraph online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mandavilli |first=Apoorva |date=2022-08-18 |title=Polio Was Almost Eradicated. This Year It Staged a Comeback. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/health/polio-new-york-malawi.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He is currently the Deputy Director - [[Polio]] at the [[Gates Foundation]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ananda Bandyopadhyay |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/ananda-bandyopadhyay |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=www.gatesfoundation.org |language=en}}</ref> He helped with the development and deployment of the [[NOPV2|nOPV2 vaccine]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mejía |first1=Luis Rivera |last2=Mendez |first2=Lourdes Peña |last3=Rüttimann |first3=Ricardo W. |last4=Gast |first4=Chris |last5=Bandyopadhyay |first5=Ananda Sankar |date=2024-08-23 |title=Safety and Immunogenicity of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine in Vaccinated Children and Vaccine-Naïve Infants: A Phase 4 Study |journal=Vaccines |volume=12 |issue=9 |pages=953 |doi=10.3390/vaccines12090953 |doi-access=free|issn=2076-393X |pmid=39339985 |pmc=11436059 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=soyeon.park |date=2025-07-30 |title=Science DongA {{!}} Interview with Winners of 'Nobel Prize for Vaccines' |url=https://www.ivi.int/science-donga-interview-with-winners-of-nobel-prize-for-vaccines/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=IVI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WHO prequalifies an additional novel oral polio vaccine, strengthening global outbreak response |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/13-02-2026-who-prequalifies-additional-novel-oral-polio-vaccine |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref> which is credited with reducing risk of [[poliovirus]] outbreaks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peiró |first=Patricia |date=2020-06-02 |title=La primera vacuna contra la polio en medio siglo reactiva la esperanza de volver a erradicar una enfermedad |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/05/19/planeta_futuro/1589905455_504030.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wu |first=Katherine J. |date=2022-09-16 |title=Polio Is Exploiting a Very Human Weakness |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/09/polio-eradication-vaccine-loophole/671451/ |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2026 |title="Improved immunisation key to fight variant poliovirus strains: Expert" |url=https://www.business-standard.com/health/improved-immunisation-key-to-fight-variant-poliovirus-strains-expert-126021000578_1.html |work=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ochoge |first1=Magnus |last2=Futa |first2=Ahmed Cherno |last3=Umesi |first3=Ama |last4=Affleck |first4=Lucy |last5=Kotei |first5=Larry |last6=Daffeh |first6=Baboucarr |last7=Saidy-Jah |first7=Ebrima |last8=Njie |first8=Anna |last9=Oyadiran |first9=Oluwafemi |last10=Edem |first10=Bassey |last11=Jallow |first11=Musa |last12=Jallow |first12=Edrissa |last13=Donkor |first13=Simon A. |last14=Tritama |first14=Erman |last15=Abid |first15=Talha |date=2024-03-23 |title=Safety of the novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in infants and young children aged 1 to |journal=The Lancet |language=English |volume=403 |issue=10432 |pages=1164–1175 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02844-1 |issn=0140-6736 |pmid=38402887 |pmc=10985839 }}</ref><ref>https://polioeradication.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GPEI-nOPV2-Factsheet-20251120.pdf</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Bandyopadhyay was born in a middle-class [[Bengalis|Bengali]] family in [[Behala]], [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]]. His father was a scientist with the [[Government of West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veteran scientist Tara Sankar Bandyopadhyay dies |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/10/13/ces35-wb-scientist-death.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>

He did his higher secondary education from [[St. Xavier's Collegiate School|St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata]] and completed his [[MBBS]] from the [[Calcutta National Medical College|Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital]], winning multiple honors certificates and a gold medal in [[Otorhinolaryngology]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-27 |title=New polio cases found due to pause in immunisation during COVID-19 time, says expert from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/new-polio-cases-found-due-to-pause-in-immunisation-during-covid-19-time-says-expert-from-bill-melinda-gates-foundation/article66059781.ece |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In 2010, he completed his master's degree in [[Public health|Public Health]], specialising in [[Global health|Global Health]] from the [[Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health|Harvard School of Public Health]].<ref name=":2" />

== Career ==
Bandyopadhyay joined the National Polio Surveillance Project of the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organisation (WHO)]] in 2006 as a Surveillance Medical Officer.<ref name=":0" /> Here, he worked across many of the remotest parts of [[Northeast India|North-East]] and [[North India]], investigating [[Disease outbreak|outbreaks]] for infectious diseases such as [[polio]], [[measles]], and [[Influenza A virus subtype H5N1|H5N1]], while organising large-scale [[vaccination]] drives<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Audio {{!}} The Inquiry {{!}} Can we eradicate polio? |url=https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w3csyth4 |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Ananda Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Director of Technology, Research and Analytics in the Polio Team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |url=https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/dr-ananda-bandyopadhyay-deputy-director-technology-research-and-analytics-polio-team-bill-melinda |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=podcasts.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref>

After graduating from [[Harvard University]], he joined the [[Rhode Island Department of Health]]<ref name=":0" /> as a public health [[epidemiologist]]. Here, he led surveillance initiatives focusing on [[Respiratory disease|respiratory illnesses]] and [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]] diseases, investigated disease outbreaks, and coordinated successful response strategies.

Bandyopadhyay joined the [[Gates Foundation]]'s Global Development division in 2012.<ref name=":0" /> He has led major global initiatives advancing research and development efforts for [[polio eradication]].

In 2020, he co-chaired a global effort to roll out the novel Oral Polio Vaccine type-2 (nOPV2), the first [[vaccine]] to be authorized under the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) granted EUL recommendation - GPEI |url=https://polioeradication.org/news/novel-oral-polio-vaccine-type-2-nopv2-granted-interim-emergency-use-listing-recommendation/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=First ever vaccine listed under WHO emergency use |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/13-11-2020-first-ever-vaccine-listed-under-who-emergency-use |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref> designed to facilitate response options for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mandavilli |first=Apoorva |date=2024-09-07 |title=The Pivotal Decision That Led to a Resurgence of Polio |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/07/health/polio-vaccine-gaza-children.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Macklin |first1=Grace R. |last2=Peak |first2=Corey |last3=Eisenhawer |first3=Martin |last4=Kurji |first4=Feyrouz |last5=Mach |first5=Ondrej |last6=Konz |first6=John |last7=Gast |first7=Chris |last8=Bachtiar |first8=Novilia Sjafri |last9=Bandyopadhyay |first9=Ananda S. |last10=Zipursky |first10=Simona |date=2023-04-06 |title=Enabling accelerated vaccine roll-out for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs): Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) experience |journal=Vaccine |volume=41 Suppl 1 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=A122–A127 |doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.050 |issn=1873-2518 |pmid=35307230 |pmc=10109087 }}</ref> He led the [[Drug development|clinical development]] and field deployment of the vaccine, working with major health and research institutes around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-17 |title=From Kolkata to Global Health: Dr. Ananda Bandyopadhyay's Quiet Crusade |url=https://www.healthcareexecutive.in/blog/from-kolkata-to-global-health |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Healthcare Executive |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=Why polio is making a comeback |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/why-polio-is-making-a-comeback |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Magazine |language=en}}</ref> As of November 2025, more than 2 billion doses<ref>{{Cite web |title=Novel oral polio vaccine type 2 by India's Biological E achieves WHO prequalification - GPEI |url=https://polioeradication.org/news/novel-oral-polio-vaccine-type-2-by-indias-biological-e-achieves-who-prequalification/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en-GB}}</ref> of nOPV2 have been administered across 40 countries to interrupt variant poliovirus outbreaks.

From 2011 to 2024, Bandyopadhyay was a Guest Speaker at the [[Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health|Harvard School of Public Health]]. He is a scientific committee member and guest faculty at the Advanced Course in Vaccinology (ADVAC), [[Annecy]], [[France]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ananda Bandyopadhyay |url=https://www.advac.org/scientific-committee/ananda-bandyopadhyay |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=www.advac.org}}</ref> He is also engaged as an adjunct faculty for major academic programs in vaccinology and global health in countries such as [[India]], [[Italy]], and the [[United States|United States of America]].

== Personal Life ==
Bandyopadhyay is married to Sohini. They live in [[Seattle]] with their two children.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Seattle-based Bengali couple challenge norms with a joint 'poite' ceremony for son and daughter |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/seattle-based-bengali-couple-challenge-norms-with-a-joint-poite-sacred-thread-ceremony-for-son-and-daughter/cid/2075261 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250521235544/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/seattle-based-bengali-couple-challenge-norms-with-a-joint-poite-sacred-thread-ceremony-for-son-and-daughter/cid/2075261 |archive-date=2025-05-21 |access-date=2026-03-27 |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards ==
In 2025, he was awarded the Park MahnHoon Award<ref>{{Cite news |title=Unity is the key to fighting viruses that don't discriminate: Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/unity-is-the-key-to-fighting-viruses-that-dont-discriminate-ananda-sankar-bandyopadhyay/cid/2108817 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113051619/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/unity-is-the-key-to-fighting-viruses-that-dont-discriminate-ananda-sankar-bandyopadhyay/cid/2108817 |archive-date=2025-11-13 |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Em |first=Aerie |date=2025-05-01 |title=Prof. Pierre van Damme and Dr. Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay as co-awardees; and Ms. Luiza Helena Trajano and Ms. Svetha Janumpalli co-awardees honored at 2025 IVI – SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award Ceremony |url=https://www.ivi.int/prof-pierre-van-damme-and-dr-ananda-sankar-bandyopadhyay-as-co-awardees-and-ms-luiza-helena-trajano-and-ms-svetha-janumpalli-co-awardees-honored-at-2025-ivi-sk-bioscience-park-mahnhoon-award/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=IVI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |via=Press Trust of India|date=2025-05-22 |title=US-based Indian doctor receives global recognition for vaccine research |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/dr-ananda-bandyopadhyay-has-received-ivi-sk-bioscience-park-mahnhoon-award-for-vaccine-research-2729092-2025-05-22 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> by the [[International Vaccine Institute]] SK bioscience for his contribution to the advancement of [[public health]].

The [[Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health|Harvard School of Public Health]]'s Alumni Association bestowed its highest honour, the Award of Merit, upon Bandyopadhyay in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harvard honors Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay with alumni award of merit |url=https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/people/harvard-honors-ananda-sankar-bandyopadhyay-with-alumni-award-of-merit |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=www.newindiaabroad.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2024-09-12 |title=Meet the winners of the 2024 Alumni Awards |website=Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |url=https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/2024-alumni-award-winners/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title="Protecting vulnerable communities through effective vaccine delivery and evidence-based intervention" |url=https://alumni.sph.harvard.edu/s/1319/m23/interior.aspx?sid=1319&gid=2&pgid=2764 |website=alumni.sph.harvard.edu}}</ref>

== References ==

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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
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[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American epidemiologists]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni]]

Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay - Revision history

DiannaGariepy5 at 13:07, 5 May 2026