Peter Aaby
Peter Aaby | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1944 Lund, Sweden |
| Occupation(s) | Anthropologist, medical researcher |
| Known for | Bandim Health Project, non-specific effects of vaccines |
Peter Aaby (born 6 November 1944 in Lund, Sweden) is a Danish anthropologist holding a medical doctorate. In 1978, he established the Bandim Health Project, a Health and Demographic Surveillance System located in Guinea-Bissau, which he continues to direct. His significant contributions to health research earned him the esteemed Novo Nordisk Prize in 2000.
Aaby is credited with identifying the non-specific effect of vaccines, describing vaccine impacts that extend beyond protection against their intended diseases. This concept, introduced in 1991, has been validated through studies involving the measles vaccine, BCG, oral polio vaccine, DTP vaccine, and smallpox vaccine. His research has played a role in shaping recommendations to update the WHO vaccination program for low income countries. In 2008, WHO evaluated evidence regarding the non-specific effects of BCG, measles, and DTP vaccines and pledged to continue monitoring related investigations.
In 2020, Aaby was inducted as a member of the Academia Europaea.