Michael W. Marine Appointed CEO of Sabin Vaccine Institute

Former diplomat takes reins of leading vaccine development and advocacy organization

WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael W. Marine, former U.S. Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, announced Sabin's Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mort Hyman and President Dr. Peter Hotez.  Ambassador Marine served 32 years in the U.S. State Department's Foreign Service and was a six time recipient of the Department's Superior Honor Award.

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"Michael Marine will be a tremendous asset to our team," said Dr. Hotez. "Sabin and our programs have achieved unprecedented success and grown rapidly in recent years. Michael has the experience and commitment to sustain that growth while ensuring that we continue to invest in our infrastructure and our mission."

Michael Marine joined Sabin's leadership team in December 2009 after serving eight months on the Joint Action Committee of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, a major initiative of Sabin that seeks to raise awareness, political will, and funding necessary to control and eliminate the most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

"I am honored to work with such a talented team and excited to build on Sabin's success," Marine said. "I've lived in many places where access to basic health resources is considered a privilege and survival is often a question. As CEO, it's my goal to ensure that Sabin contributes to efforts to further accelerate access to vaccines and treatments that prevent and cure infectious and neglected tropical diseases for those who need them."

Prior to serving as ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Marine was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassies in Beijing, China; Nairobi, Kenya and Suva, Fiji. He also served in program direction positions in U.S. diplomatic posts in Moscow, Russia; Bonn, Germany and Guangzhou, China. Marine enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967 and completed his service with the rank of Captain in 1971. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1974 with a degree in Asian Studies.  He entered the Foreign Service a year later.

"Michael Marine's appointment to CEO was unanimously approved by the board," said Mr. Hyman. "His many years of diplomatic experience in countries struggling with difficult health care challenges, particularly Africa and Asia, provides him a unique perspective that will be of tremendous value to Sabin and will add significant strength to our team."

About Sabin Vaccine Institute

Sabin Vaccine Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing human suffering from infectious and neglected diseases. Through its efforts in vaccine research, development and advocacy, Sabin works to provide greater access to vaccines and essential medicines for millions mired in pain, poverty and despair. Founded in 1993 in honor of Dr. Albert B. Sabin, discoverer of the oral polio vaccine, the Sabin Vaccine Institute works with prestigious institutions, scientists, medical professionals, and organizations to provide short and long-term solutions that result in healthier individuals, families and communities around the globe. www.sabin.org

SOURCE Sabin Vaccine Institute