Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, and new treatment strategies are urgently needed. One promising approach is cancer vaccines, which train the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These vaccines work by giving the body genetic instructions in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA), to produce unique proteins found predominantly on cancer cells. Once made, these proteins are presented as danger signals, so immune cells can learn to selectively kill cancer cells carrying the same structure. One strategy for delivering these instructions, is by encapsulating them in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), tiny fat-based carriers, also used in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Among other advantages, LNPs are highly customizable: by fine-tuning their composition, we can control where they travel in the body and which immune cells they target. Moreover, certain lipids can directly stimulate the immune system, boosting immune activity on their own. This highlights the potential for designing a specialized carrier that excels as a tool for fighting cancer. However, current methods for testing LNP designs are limited in the types and amounts of information they capture. My research will develop a high-resolution screening method to test large numbers of LNPs at once, generating far more detailed insights than existing techniques. This method will allow us to evaluate each LNP's behaviour in lymph nodes, which are key hubs for initiating and coordinating immune responses, by determining which immune cells take them up, how they react, and how they communicate with other cells. By generating a library of new LNP designs and applying our workflow, this research will identify an improved carrier to accelerate the development of safer, more effective cancer vaccines, and ultimately improve patient outcomes across Canada and beyond.