Grant: Operating Grant: Leadership Award for Vaccine Res. - CEPI-CIHR

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly a new virus can spread globally-and how powerful RNA vaccine technologies can be when deployed rapidly. However, COVID-19 will not be the last major outbreak. The next pandemic, often referred to as "Disease X," may be caused by an unknown virus, potentially from a viral family for which we have little or no existing immunity. Preparing for this threat requires vaccine platforms that can be quickly adapted, produced at scale, and provide long-lasting protection. In this project, we aim to develop a next-generation RNA vaccine platform designed specifically for rapid response to emerging viral threats. Instead of encoding entire viral proteins, which can be difficult to produce and may not always trigger strong immunity, our approach focuses on short, highly effective pieces of viruses called epitopes. These epitopes are attached to human proteins called tetraspanins, which help display them to the immune system more efficiently and improve immune responses. We will test this platform using two high-priority viruses with epidemic potential: Rift Valley fever virus and Nipah virus. These viruses represent different families and modes of transmission, providing strong test cases for whether the platform can be adapted broadly. We will evaluate both short-term immune responses and long-term immune memory, using advanced RNA technologies designed to promote durable protection. By developing a flexible, dose-efficient, and long-lasting RNA vaccine platform, this research will strengthen Canada's and the global community's ability to respond rapidly to future outbreaks. Through collaboration with CEPI and other international partners, this work will contribute directly to global pandemic preparedness and help ensure faster access to effective vaccines when the next threat emerges.