John Cummins Joins the Sabin Foundation Europe Board of Trustees

LONDON, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabin Foundation Europe today announced the election of John Cummins, Group Treasurer of the Royal Bank of Scotland, to the charity's Board of Trustees. Mr. Cummins has more than 20 years of experience in the treasury and finance industry, including serving as a Director of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation Company (IFFIm) which has raised more than USD $4 billion for vaccines for the developing world.

"We are greatly honoured that Mr. Cummins has agreed to serve as a Sabin Foundation Europe Trustee," said Morton Hyman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "As we continue to expand our activities across Europe and elsewhere around the world, Mr. Cummins' expertise of international and capital markets will be a highly beneficial addition to the Board."

Sabin Foundation Europe, in partnership with the Sabin Vaccine Institute based in Washington, D.C., promotes proven, cost-effective solutions to the world's most pervasive, and least understood, health issues. It works to raise awareness and funding, particularly in the United Kingdom and across Europe, to combat vaccine-preventable and neglected tropical diseases. These diseases primarily afflict the world's poorest people – those living on less than USD $1.25 per day – whose health and economic well-being are often severely impacted.

In addition to Mr. Cummins' position as Royal Bank of Scotland's Group Treasurer, he is also a member of the Group's Management Committee and Finance Executive Committee.  In his previous role, Mr. Cummins managed the Treasury function for Standard Life Assurance Group.  He also filled the role of Finance Director, Standard Life Bank on an interim basis.

Mr. Cummins holds a Master of Arts in Modern History from Oxford University and a Master of Business Administration from Bradford University.

"I am excited to play a part in advancing the mission of Sabin Foundation Europe," said Mr. Cummins. "In the face of severe budget constraints among the world's leading economies, global health and development initiatives must demonstrate a solid case for investment.  The programmes supported by Sabin Foundation Europe are among the best buys in public health today and should be prioritised for funding by the UK and EU governments because of the cost effectiveness and taxpayer value that they deliver. "

Mr. Cummins joins current Sabin Foundation Europe Board of Trustees members Morton Hyman, Chairman of Sabin Foundation Europe and Sabin Vaccine Institute Board of Trustees; Jeremy Lefroy, Member of Parliament, UK House of Commons and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and NTDs; and William D. Morrison, Chairman and Member of the Board at Trinity Group Limited.

About Sabin Foundation Europe
Sabin Foundation Europe is a UK-registered charity founded in 2011 to support vaccine research and development, advocacy efforts and treatment programmes for vaccine-preventable and neglected tropical diseases. As a partner of the U.S.-based Sabin Vaccine Institute, Sabin Foundation Europe leads the efforts in the UK and across Europe to promote proven, cost-effective solutions to the world's most pervasive, and least understood, health issues.

About Sabin Vaccine Institute   
Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organisation of scientists, researchers, and advocates dedicated to reducing needless human suffering caused by vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases. Sabin works with governments, leading public and private organisations, and academic institutions to provide solutions for some of the world's most pervasive health challenges. Since its founding in 1993 in honour of the oral polio vaccine developer, Dr. Albert B. Sabin, the Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to control, treat and eliminate these diseases by developing new vaccines, advocating use of existing vaccines and promoting increased access to affordable medical treatments. For more information please visit www.sabin.org.