DNA/RNA Vaccines (Nucleic acid vaccines) are a method of immunization aiming to elicit immune responses akin to live attenuated vaccines. In this method, DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences are delivered to the body to generate proteins, which mimic disease antigens to stimulate the immune response. Advantages of nucleic acid vaccines include stimulation of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity, ease of design, rapid adaptability to changing pathogen strains, and customizable multiantigen vaccines. To combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and many other diseases, nucleic acid vaccines appear to be a promising method. However, aid is needed in delivering the fragile DNA/mRNA payload. Many delivery strategies have been developed to elicit effective immune stimulation, yet no nucleic acid vaccine has been FDA-approved for human use. Nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the top candidates to mediate successful DNA/mRNA vaccine delivery due to their unique properties, including unlimited possibilities for formulations, protective capacity, simultaneous loading, and delivery potential of multiple DNA/mRNA vaccines.
Main areas of focus:
- DNA/RNA vaccines against infectious diseases
- DNA/RNA vaccines against tumors
- Autoimmune diseases and other diseases
- Veterinary DNA vaccines
- Formulations / transport of DNA/RNA vaccines / preparation / platforms / inoculations
- Clinical assessments phase 1, 2 and 3
- clinical evaluation of nucleic acid vaccines
- regulatory pathways
- Comparison DNA/RNA vaccination
- Safety/biodistribution
- – Early immune responses , long term protection
- Targetting immune cells
- Mucosal immune responses / mucosal protection
Current sessions planned over 3 days:
- Overview and history of nucleic acid vaccines
- mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- mRNA vaccines against other pathogens
- Current progress of DNA vaccines including human studies
- Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems
- Other delivery systems for nucleic acid vaccines (gene gun, electroporation, pharmaject etc.)
- Manufacturing and formulation of nucleic acid vaccines
- Regulation & Safety of Nucleic Acid Vaccines
- Future developments and directions for Nucleic Acid Vaccines
