Information détaillée

• Retourner à l'interrogation

Titre du projet :

Optimization of next-generation RNA vaccines for pandemic preparedness

Chercheur principal :

Blakney, Anna

Co-chercheurs :

Harder, Kenneth W

Directeur(s) de recherche :

S/O

Établisssement payé :

University of British Columbia

Établissement de recherche :

University of British Columbia

Département :

Michael Smith Laboratories

Programme :

Subvention Projet - AP : Préparation en cas de pandémie et d'urgence sanitaire

Concours (année/mois) :

202209

CEP désigné :

Sciences pharmaceutiques

Institut principal :

Maladies infectieuses et immunitaires

Thème principal :

Recherche biomédicale

Durée (année/mois) :

1 an 0 mois

Contribution des IRSC :

Donateurs :

Montant :

100 000$

Équipement :

0$

Contribution du partenaire externe :

Nom du partenaire :

S/O

Montant :

S/O

Équipement :

S/O

Partenaire du candidat à l'externe :

Nom du partenaire :

S/O

Montant :

S/O

Équipement :

S/O

Partenaire externe (en nature) :

Nom du partenaire :

S/O

Montant :

S/O

Équipement :

S/O

Mots clés :

Humoral Immunity; Lipid Nanoparticles; Messenger Rna; Nanomedicine; Pandemic Preparedness; Polyethylene Glycol; Reactogenicity; Rna; Self-Amplifying Rna; Vaccines

Résumé :

Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has revolutionized our ability to develop safe, effective vaccines in a short time frame and at a large scale. Although the mRNA vaccines have had an incredible impact on the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still room for improvement. For example, we now know that the side effects are directly proportional to the dose of RNA, which motivates minimizing the required dose. Furthermore, the duration of immunity of the current mRNA vaccines is relatively short lived, requiring boosters approximately every six months. Finally, a certain proportion of the population has anaphylactic reactions to certain vaccine components, including polyethylene glycol (PEG). In this research program, we aim to develop RNA vaccines that improve upon the current mRNA vaccines and would be rapidly deployable in the event of an outbreak or pandemic. Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is the next generation of mRNA and the focus of my research program; it is a special type of mRNA that is able to replicate once it gets into a cell and requires a much lower dose. Like mRNA, saRNA requires a formulation that protects it from degrading and delivers it safely and consistently into cells. We hypothesize that by optimizing lipid nanoparticle formulations, which are the current state of the art technology for administering mRNA, and the dosing interval, we can identify lead clinical candidates for more potent and safer RNA vaccines. First, we will optimize LNP formulations that more efficiently the target immune cells that make a robust vaccine response. We will also optimize the dosing regimen to enable creation of a stronger immune 'memory' and longer lasting protection. Finally, we will engineer new LNP formulations that do not contain PEG so that more of the population is eligible to receive RNA vaccines. These vaccines can be applied to outbreaks, including COVID, seasonal viruses such as influenza, and future pandemics and will improve the health of millions of Canadians.

• Retourner à l'interrogation

Version :

20250311.1