As part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s 79th Independence Day celebrations on 25 May, His Majesty King Abdullah II bestowed the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Order for Distinction upon PSI's Omar El Muhanna, Senior Operations and Strategy Executive at the Clinical BioManufacturing Facility.
The Order for Distinction is one of the Kingdom’s highest civilian honours and is awarded to national figures and institutions in recognition of their active role in developing Jordan and promoting its renaissance and achievements.
Mr El Muhanna was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the field of biomanufacturing at the Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, playing an instrumental role in the development of globally approved vaccines – most notably the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – as well as his contributions to international patents.
Mr El Muhanna said: "Receiving this honour from His Majesty King Abdullah II is profoundly meaningful to me. It affirms the value of Jordanian talent wherever it may be found, and serves as a powerful reminder that service to one’s country can take many forms. As a Jordanian professional at the University of Oxford, I’m proud to contribute to global health and innovation from one of the world’s leading institutions, and to represent Jordan in this vital field."