His name is Adrian Hill. He is a vaccinologist and director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford. But above all, he is Irish, and he may have created the very first effective vaccine against COVID-19, according to the WHO.

This Dubliner working at Oxford University and his team have reportedly advanced their vaccine far beyond other institutes worldwide. The WHO considers it the “leading candidate” for an effective vaccine.

According to Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, Oxford is ahead of other research programs thanks to him.

I believe AstraZeneca (their pharmaceutical partner) currently has a broader global reach regarding where they conduct and plan their vaccine trials. The Jenner Institute’s vaccine stands as a serious candidate to find a solution to COVID-19.

This statement highlights Oxford University’s strength: it houses the Jenner Institute, one of the world’s largest nonprofit research centers. It has its own pilot manufacturing facility capable of producing up to 1,000 vaccines without relying on third parties. This is a major advantage that could speed up their testing processes.

Great news that could make the Irish proud if Adrian Hill and his team succeed in finding an answer to the current coronavirus.

According to Oxford University, this vaccine has every chance of working. After testing it on animals, they have just begun trials on a panel of 6,000 human volunteers: a crucial phase that will demonstrate the effectiveness of their solution in the coming months.

Fingers crossed.