Dr Uğur Şahin is a Turkish-German immunologist globally celebrated for co-developing the world’s first approved mRNA-based vaccine against Covid-19 in partnership with Pfizer. Born in Türkiye, his family emigrated to Germany, where he studied medicine at the University of Cologne. In 2008, Şahin co-founded BioNTech alongside his wife, Dr Özlem Türeci, and mentor Christoph Huber, serving as its long-term CEO to pioneer mRNA-based individualised cancer immunotherapies. Marking a major professional transition, Şahin announced plans to step down as CEO by the end of 2026 to launch a new independent venture dedicated to next-generation mRNA innovations. A recipient of the 2026 Sabin Gold Medal, he remains an influential pioneer reshaping global vaccine ecosystems and the future of oncology.