Christian Loucq on Monday was inaugurated the new head of the International Vaccine Institute, the only international organization headquartered in Korea.

IVI is devoted to research in vaccine development and introducing vaccines to the developing world. He will serve a four-year term, succeeding John Clemens.

“I am humbled, honored and very enthusiastic to be joining the IVI team as director-general. Since its establishment in 1997, IVI has been a pioneering organization in many aspects of vaccinology -- from research and development to epidemiology and from local manufacturing to access -- aimed at preventing infectious diseases among the world’s poorest children,” Loucq said.

“As the new director-general, I will strive to increase IVI’s impact in the fight against infectious diseases in developing countries, based on its scientific contributions to the research, development and optimal use of new and improved vaccines,” he added.

Loucq has devoted his entire career to vaccines. He has abundant professional experience in medicine, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and global health in countries such as Algeria, Belgium, Chad, China, India, the Netherlands, Niger, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.S., and the U.K. In addition, he managed vaccine businesses in China, India and Thailand, and worked with major vaccine companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur.

More than 120 people attended the ceremony. They included Ragnar Norrby, chairman of the IVI Board of Trustees, and Kim Bong-hyun, deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)