CALS alumnus Krishna Ella, a groundbreaking vaccine scientist and entrepreneur, is among three global leaders who will be awarded honorary degrees at spring commencement this May at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Ella is a leading scientist and successful entrepreneur in the field of vaccines. Driven by a firm conviction that today’s neglected diseases will become tomorrow’s pandemics, Ella works to develop technologies to provide innovative and affordable solutions for neglected diseases.

Ella earned a PhD in plant pathology from UW–Madison in 1993. He and his wife, Suchitra, returned to their home country of India in 1996 to establish Bharat Biotech. The company has delivered over 10 billion vaccine doses to the poorest and most underserved populations in over 123 developing countries. With 433 patents filed and over 145 granted patents, including the world’s first global patents filed for the chikungunya and Zika virus vaccines, Ella has led development of 17 vaccines used in India and around the world.

Ella forged and nurtured global partnerships under the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program to successfully develop vaccines against rotavirus (Rotavac), through the first efficacy trial from the developing world, and typhoid (Typbar TCV), the world’s first typhoid conjugate vaccine, with human challenge studies conducted at Oxford University. Ella, in partnership with the University of Maryland and the Welcome Trust, has completed the Phase 1 clinical trial in Baltimore for non-typhoidal salmonella, a key health care challenge in Africa.

Ella’s latest work involved the development of Covaxin, India’s first and the world’s fourth SARS-COV2 vaccine, after the U.S. and the U.K. It has not only saved countless lives but also demonstrated India’s indigenous vaccine development capabilities, and is priced as low as $3 a dose.

Ella was nominated for the honorary doctorate jointly by CALS Global at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Global Health Institute at UW–Madison.

“The global reach of Dr. Ella’s accomplishments has had lasting impacts on the world,” wrote Sundaram Gunasekaran, director and professor, CALS Global, and Jonathan Patz, director and professor, Global Health Institute, in their nominating letter. “In 2021 alone, his Covaxin vaccine helped India surpass more than 325 million COVID-19 vaccinations. With his vision, industry and leadership, Ella has substantially improved the quality of life of millions around the world.”

For Ella’s contributions to society and industry, the Republic of India in 2022 conferred him with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award.