Today (27 November 2025) at 13.30 hrs., the annual Joint Press Conference was held to announce the 34th Prince Mahidol Award Laureates for 2025 at the Prince Mahidol Memorial Room, 2nd Floor, Syamindra Building, Siriraj Hospital, and addressed by Professor Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, as Vice President of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation; Clinical Professor Emeritus Supat Vanichakarn, Secretary General of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage; Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Deputy Director-General, Representative of Director-General, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Public Relations of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation; and Professor Emeritus Dr.Prasit Watanapa, Chairman of the International Award Committee of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation.
- The Prince Mahidol Award 2025 in the field of Medicine is awarded to
Doctor Terry Dean King, MD, USA.
- The Prince Mahidol Award 2025 in the field of Public Health is awarded to
Professor Dr. Walter C. Willett, MD, MPH, DrPH, USA.
In addition to 47 nominations from 17 countries in 2025, the Scientific Advisory Committee also meticulously reviewed past applications from 2022 – 2024 before submitting a short list of candidates to the International Award Committee for the latter’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which held a meeting on 3 November 2025, presided over by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, to make the final selection for the Prince Mahidol Award 2025.
Over the past 33 years, the Prince Mahidol Award has been conferred to 98 individuals, groups of individuals, and institutions. Among the Laureates, 4 were Thai nationals. In 1996, the Prize in Medicine was awarded to both Professor Dr. Prasong Tuchinda, for studying the effects of the Dengue virus on children with disabilities with dengue hemorrhagic fever, and Professor Dr. Suchitra Nimmannitya, for classifying the severity levels of the dengue hemorrhagic fever. In addition, the 2009 Award in Public Health was conferred to Dr. Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn for his project to promote the use of condom to prevent the spread of HIVs and to Mr. Mechai Viravaidya for his communication campaign to encourage the use of condoms.
The following Prince Mahidol Laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize at a later date:
(1) Professor Barry J. Marshall from Australia received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Public Health in 2001 for his discovery of a new bacterium, identified as Helicobacter pylori, which causes gastric ulcers, and went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Medicine in 2005;
(2) Professor Emeritus Dr. Harald Zur Hausen from Germany received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Public Health in 2005 for his discovery of the virus that causes cervial cancer and went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Medicine in 2008;
(3) Professor Satoshi Omura from Japan received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Medicine in 1997 for his research on the microorganism Streptomyces avermitilis, which contributed to the development of the drug ivermectin, currently being used for the treatment and prevention of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, and went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Medicine in 2015;
(4) Professor Tu You You, a member of the China Cooperative Research Group on Qinghaosu and its Derivatives as Antimalarials from China, received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Medicine in 2003 for his study on the Qinghaosu extract, which led to the development of an antimalarial drug, and went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Medicine in 2015;
(5) Sir Gregory Paul Winter from the United Kingdom received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Medicine in 2016 for his pioneership in the field of antibody engineering and modification technology, contributing to the humanization of antibodies, which then led to the development of new classes of cutting-edge biopharmaceuticals. He went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Chemistry in 2018;
(6) Professor Dr. Katalin Karikó from Hungary/the United States of America and Professor Drew Weissman from the United States of America received the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Medicine in 2021 for their timely research on the development of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in response to the pandemic, contributing to the decrease of infections and severe illness. Their research also served as an essential tool which helped contain the outbreaks of the virus around the world, thereby benefiting the health and lives of hundreds of millions of people globally. Both went on to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of Medicine in 2023.
The Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage was established on 1 January 1992 in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla. With Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as the President, the Foundation annually presents two Prince Mahidol Awards to individual(s) or institution(s) with outstanding and exemplary contributions to the advancement of the international medical and public health services. Each Award consists of a medal, a certificate, and a prize to the sum of 100,000 USD
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Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2025
Field of Medicine
Doctor Terry Dean King, M.D.
Pediatric Cardiologist and Senior Physician, Ochsner Children’s Hospital, Louisiana,
United States of America
Dr. Terry Dean King is a distinguished physician and scientist specializing in cardiology. He received a medical degree from the University of Texas, USA, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Duke University, USA. He subsequently undertook fellowship training in pediatric cardiology and has since been practicing as a Senior Staff Physician at the Ochsner Children’s Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana, USA. Dr. King developed a profound interest in minimally invasive treatments, particularly in non-surgical approaches to correct heart defects. His research and clinical experience have laid a foundation for advancing safer, more effective cardiac treatment.
In 1975, Dr. King and his team successfully performed the first non-surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD), using a newly developed small umbrella-shaped device, later known as the King–Mills Cardiac Umbrella. This innovation represented a groundbreaking step in cardiac care, allowing the repair of heart defects without open-chest surgery by inserting the device through a venous catheter. The device significantly reduced the need for major surgery, shortened hospital stays, minimized complications, and allowed faster patient recovery. This achievement marked a major milestone in the history of cardiology, bridging the gap between engineering innovation and clinical application. It laid the groundwork for the development of minimally invasive cardiac technologies. Moreover, Dr. King was also a pioneer in knowledge-transfer and promoting equitable access to advanced cardiac care technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
His outstanding achievements in pioneering medical innovations and advancing the quality of life for patients with congenital heart diseases worldwide through the development of minimally invasive treatment technologies have benefited the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2025
Field of Public Health
Professor Dr. Walter C. Willett, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H.
Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
United States of America
Professor Dr. Walter C. Willett received a medical degree from the University of Michigan and an advanced degree in public health from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Professor Willett is recognized as a pioneer in modern nutritional epidemiology, as he directed many influential studies on diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease. His research has transformed global understanding of nutrition and driven major public health policy changes.
One of his landmark studies provided the first conclusive evidence linking trans fat consumption to increased risk of coronary heart disease. This discovery led to a ban on trans fats in many countries and the World Health Organization’s global initiative to eliminate trans fats, which is projected to prevent over 250,000 premature deaths from heart disease each year.
Professor Dr. Willett also dispelled long-standing misconceptions that all types of dietary fats are harmful, demonstrating that fat quality, not total fat quantity, is the key determinant of cardiovascular risk. Moreover, his studies highlighted the health risks of high intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars, showing that diets with a high glycemic index significantly increase the risk of chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes.
His findings reinforced the principle that most chronic diseases are preventable, including coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes, through improved diet and lifestyle. In 2019, he proposed the concept of a “Planetary Health Diet” which could reduce premature mortality by up to 30%, equivalent to 15 million lives saved per year.
For his invaluable contributions and groundbreaking work in nutrition research, which have profoundly influenced global health promotion and the development of public health policies for disease prevention, benefiting the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
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