Two Perelman School of Medicine Professors received the VinFuture Grand Prize for their contributions to the development of mRNA vaccine technology, providing the foundation for two COVID-19 vaccines. The annual VinFuture Prize is managed and sponsored by the VinFuture Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization based in Vietnam dedicated to honoring transformational technological innovations. The foundation was established in 2020 with a $100 million endowment from Vingroup Founder and Chairman Phạm Nhật Vượng, and his wife Phạm Thu Hương.