Jan Holmgren

Jan Holmgren, MD, PhD, is a Senior Professor at the University of Gothenburg (UG), Sweden. After completing his medical and research training at UG, he earned both his MD and Doctor of Medical Sciences (PhD). From 1970 to 1980, he held positions as a scientist at the Swedish Medical Research Council, after which he became Professor of Medical Microbiology and Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UG. He has published over 600 papers in microbiology, immunology, and vaccinology, focusing primarily on mucosal immunology, the mechanisms of disease and immunity in cholera and other enteric infections, and the development and evaluation of oral cholera and other mucosal vaccines.

Pivotal research accomplishments—carried out with students and colleagues—include the discovery of the AB subunit structure and function of cholera toxin; identification of GM1 ganglioside as the cholera toxin receptor (the first structurally defined mammalian cell receptor); elucidation of the key immune mechanisms and protective antigens in cholera; definition of mucosal immunization routes for targeting immunity to specific sites; development of the first effective oral cholera vaccine, Dukoral; and technology transfer enabling local oral cholera vaccine production in Vietnam (ORC-Vax™) and later in India (Shanchol™ and, most recently, the single-component Hillchol™).

Dr. Holmgren is an elected member of several scientific academies and has served on the boards of numerous national and international organizations, including the Wallenberg Foundation, Gavi, icddr,b, and IVI. He has received numerous scientific awards, including the Jeantet Prize, the Fernström Nordic Prize, the Sabin Gold Medal, the Prince Mahidol Award in Public Health, and the IVI-SK ParkMahnHoon Award.

The Work:

John Clemens, an epidemiologist, and Jan Holmgren, an immunologist, have worked together for over 40 years to transform global cholera control by creating oral cholera vaccines made from inactivated, or killed, bacteria that are safe, effective, and affordable. Their work spans laboratory research, vaccine development, clinical trials, and public health programs. 

Holmgren’s fundamental research showed how cholera causes disease and how immunity develops, demonstrated that oral vaccines provide strong protection, identified the components needed for effective immunity, enabling him to develop Dukoral, the world’s first oral cholera vaccine to be internationally licensed and WHO-prequalified.

Building on Holmgren’s discoveries and vaccine development, Clemens led large field trials in cholera-affected communities, beginning at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh. The studies, which led to the licensure of Dukoral, showed that the oral cholera vaccines were safe, offered lasting protection, and reduced transmission in the wider community, while also introducing methods to measure vaccine impact under real-world conditions.

To reach those most at risk in low-income settings, they also worked with Vietnamese and Indian manufacturers to develop Shanchol, the first affordable, WHO-prequalified oral cholera vaccine, whose introduction into public health practice was supported by Clemens’ research showing it was practical, widely accepted, and effective for large-scale use.

The Impact:

Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that can spread quickly in communities without access to clean water and proper sanitation, causing thousands of deaths each year. The work of Drs. Clemens and Holmgren has transformed how the disease is prevented and controlled. Their research provided the evidence that led the WHO to recommend oral cholera vaccines for both ongoing outbreaks and areas where cholera is common, and it supported the creation of the world’s first global oral cholera vaccine stockpile.

Since the stockpile was established, millions of vaccine doses have been distributed through national programs and emergency responses. These vaccines have been safe, effective, and able to reduce transmission in entire communities. Their work has led to large declines in cholera cases and continues to protect and save lives around the world.