A new vaccine technology developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge could transform how we prepare for future pandemics. Led by Professor Jonathan Heeney from the Department of Veterinary Medicine's Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics, the research has demonstrated the safety of an AI-designed universal coronavirus vaccine in its first human clinical trial.
The vaccine is designed to provide protection against a broad range of coronaviruses, including viruses that have not yet emerged in humans. The findings represent a major step towards vaccines that can stay effective as viruses evolve, helping to prevent future outbreaks before they become global threats.
Professor Heeney, who leads the Lab of Viral Zoonotics at the Department of Veterinary Medicine said, “We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof. Our vaccines will continue to provide protection against viruses even as they mutate into new strains.
“We’ve overcome the problem of traditional vaccines, which have limited protection. It means we can escape the constant cycle of chasing the virus variants circulating in humans and updating the vaccines to try to catch up, like a dog chasing its tail.”
Read the full article on the University of Cambridge website here