Eric Lombardini
Colonel Eric Lombardini has lived or worked in how many countries during his military and research career?
A. 25
B. 40
C. 70
D. 100
C. 70
📝 Fun Fact: He has worked on every continent except Antarctica and led infectious disease research across Asia and Oceania as Director of AFRIMS
Answer: B) United Kingdom
🧠 Fact: The UK approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 2, 2020, becoming the first country to do so.
What everyday kitchen appliance was invented after a scientist noticed a candy bar melted in his pocket near radar equipment?
B) Microwave
Fact: Percy Spencer discovered microwave cooking in 1945 while working with magnetrons for radar.
In what year was the Merck Research Laboratory founded in Rahway, New Jersey?
A. 1903
B. 1913
C. 1933
D. 1943
C. 1933
Which mosquito-borne diseases are U.S. military personnel routinely vaccinated against before deployment to endemic regions?
A) Dengue and Zika
B) Malaria and West Nile
C) Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever
D) Ebola and Marburg
C) Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever
Which organization’s board does Eric currently serve on?
A. American Veterinary Medical Association
B. Davis-Thompson Foundation
C. World Health Organization
D. CDC Advisory Board
Answer: B. Davis-Thompson Foundation
In what year was the first effective polio vaccine introduced by Jonas Salk?
Answer: B) 1955
What sweetener was discovered when a chemist forgot to wash his hands before dinner?
Answer: C) Saccharin
🧠 Fact: In 1879, Constantin Fahlberg noticed a sweet taste on his fingers after working with coal tar derivatives
How many CEOs has Merck had since its founding?
A. 6
B. 7
C. 8
D. 9
C. 8
Bonus: Can you name at least three of them?
Which U.S. military research program is primarily responsible for developing vaccines to protect deployed service members from infectious diseases?
A) DARPA BioSolutions
B) Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP)
C) Armed Forces Vaccine Agency
D) Defense Vaccine Initiative
Answer: B) Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP)
Which of the following is true about Eric’s language skills?
A. He only speaks English
B. He is fluent in 3 languages and knows a 4th
C. He speaks 6 languages fluently
D. He is a certified translator
Answer: B. He is fluent in 4 languages and knows a 5th
(English, French, Italian, Spanish and somewhat Brazilian Portuguese)
What year was smallpox officially declared eradicated by the World Health Organization?
Answer: C) 1980
What office supply was created from a failed attempt to make a strong adhesive?
Answer: B) Post-it Notes
🧠 Fact: 3M scientist Spencer Silver invented the weak adhesive in 1968.
In 2025, approximately how many employees did Merck/MSD have?
A. 69,000
B. 70,500
C. 73,000
D. 75,000
C. 73,000
Which virus has recently gained attention in military vaccine research due to its increasing global spread and impact on troop deployments?
A) SARS-CoV-2
B) Chikungunya
C) Hantavirus
D) Lassa Fever
B) Chikungunya
Which prestigious award did Eric receive from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine?
A. Dean’s Medal
B. Leonard Pearson Prize
C. Penn Vet Gold Medal
D. Franklin Award
B. Leonard Pearson Prize
What global organization was founded in 2000 to improve access to vaccines in low-income countries?
C) Gavi
Fact: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children and prevented more than 17 million deaths.
What strong synthetic fiber was discovered when a chemist was trying to create a lightweight plastic?
Answer: B) Kevlar
Fact: Stephanie Kwolek discovered Kevlar in 1965 while working at DuPont—it’s now used in bulletproof vests.
How many people did Merck reach with its medicines and vaccines in 2023?
A. 240 million
B. 385 million
C. 550 million
D. 1 billion
C. 550 million
What is the name of the new malaria vaccine approved by the WHO in May 2025 for widespread use in sub-Saharan Africa?
A) Mosquirix
B) R21/Matrix-M
C) PlasmoVac
D) Malariavax
B) R21/Matrix-M
C. Diplomatic History
Fun Fact: He originally studied diplomatic history with a focus on Africa and the Middle East, intending to work in international development. He later pivoted to veterinary medicine and epidemiology, eventually joining the U.S. Army to work in global health and infectious disease control
A) The Wakefield Study
🧠 Fact: The study was later retracted and discredited, but it had a lasting impact on public trust in vaccines.
Answer: B) Prussian Blue
🧠 Fact: Accidentally created in the early 1700s, it became one of the first modern synthetic pigments.
How much revenue did WinRevair generate in its first quarter on the market?
C) $280 million
Which pharmaceutical company announced a breakthrough in oral insulin delivery technology in May 2025?
A) Eli Lilly
B) Novo Nordisk
C) Johnson & Johnson
D) AstraZeneca
Answer: B) Novo Nordisk