Harold Jennings, scientist, researcher, and author, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, at the 4:00 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 10, “in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the treatment of meningitis C and of other diseases by vaccine design.”
Dr. Jennings has devoted his entire career to saving infant lives and has gained international respect by developing a vaccine against meningitis C that effectively protects the disease’s most vulnerable victims. His 38 years of research have been conducted at the National Research Council Institute for Biological Sciences where he continues to lead the Institute’s vaccine development effort. Dr. Jennings has authored 206 scientific papers and 58 patents, most dedicated to carbohydrate chemistry and his unique discovery of conjugate vaccine technology.
His application of this discovery has earned him the distinction of being the highest royalty-generating researcher in the history of Canadian government laboratories. Among other honours, he has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, with a National Research Council Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Ontario March of Dimes Jonas Salk Award for a medical or scientific contribution to the prevention, alleviation, or elimination of a physical disability.