mRNA Platform

About mRNA Platform

mRNA vaccine technology represents a paradigm shift in vaccinology. Key advances came from Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman at the University of Pennsylvania over many years. Their key innovation was modifying mRNA nucleosides to reduce unwanted inflammatory responses. Kariko and Weissman won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023. mRNA vaccines can be designed and manufactured faster than traditional vaccines. Lipid nanoparticle delivery systems were developed with major contributions from Pieter Cullis and colleagues at the University of British Columbia. Beyond COVID 19, mRNA vaccines are being developed for influenza, HIV, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rare genetic conditions. The technology enables rapid response to new pathogens and personalized cancer vaccines.