London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has announced that it has selected Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to receive the 2017 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award.

The award recognises his lifetime public health contributions including his work on HIV and Ebola. The NFID cites his role in the first isolation of the Ebola virus and outbreak investigation in 1976, his early AIDS research in Africa and leadership of the global AIDS response as founding director of UNAIDS, along with his service as head of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The award was established by the NFID in 1997 as is named for former President and Mrs Carter, who as outstanding humanitarians, have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people worldwide. Previous award winners have included Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill Clinton and Jennifer L. Howse.

Commenting on Prof Piot's award, Bruce G. Gellin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director, National Vaccine Program Office, US Department of Health and Human Services said: "Through an unusual combination of scientific excellence, policy strategy, strong communication and global activism, he has been playing pivotal roles in the two defining global infectious disease epidemics of our time - HIV/AIDS and Ebola. And beyond the halls of academia his impact is far greater as he influences global health policy, practice and education across several continents and institutions, bringing key issues in global public health to mainstream political, civil society and business leaders around the world."

The award is one of three announced NFID, the others are the 2017 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement to Myron M. Levine and the 2017 John P. Utz Leadership award to Thomas M. File Jr.

The awards will be presented at the 2017 NFID Annual Awards Dinner on 18 May 2017 in the Washington DC area. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases is a not-for-profit US organisation that is dedicated to the education of the public and healthcare professionals on the causes, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.