The International Vaccine Institute, a Seoul-based multinational organization on vaccine development, has appointed Dr. Adel A. F. Mahmoud as its new chairman and Dr. Viveka Persson as vice chairman.

Mahmoud will replace professor Ragnar Norrby of the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, who has held the post since 2006, the IVI said in a statement Thursday.

It has also set a new vision to “discover, develop and deliver safe, effective and affordable vaccines for the world’s developing nations,” it added.

The institute said it will pay particular attention to new vaccines against enteric and diarrheal diseases and conduct further research in vaccine-enhancing technology.

“These changes will help us deliver on our vaccine programs and ultimately make a meaningful impact on people suffering from infectious diseases, especially children,” said IVI Director General Dr. Christian Loucq.

Established in 1997, the IVI is an independent organization that conducts research on vaccines under a treaty signed by 32 countries and the World Health Organization.

(christory@heraldcorp.com)