University of Toronto and Moderna Partner on Next-Generation Mucosal Vaccines and AI-Driven mRNA Therapeutics
Key Insights
University of Toronto researchers are collaborating with Moderna Canada (search) to develop mucosal vaccines that harness IgA (search) antibodies to provide sterilizing immunity against respiratory viruses at the point of entry.
Two U of T scientists received Moderna Global Fellowships to advance research on mucosal immunity and lipid nanoparticle-delivered cancer (search) treatments using mRNA technology.
The partnership includes AI and quantum computing research to accelerate mRNA medicine design, potentially shortening development timelines and reducing production costs.
The University of Toronto and Moderna Canada (search) have launched an ambitious research partnership aimed at revolutionizing vaccine development through mucosal immunity, advanced cancer (search) treatments, and AI-driven therapeutic design. The collaboration addresses a critical gap in current vaccination strategies by targeting the body's first line of defense against respiratory viruses.
Targeting Mucosal Immunity for Superior Protection
Current respiratory virus vaccines, including those for COVID-19 (search), seasonal flu (search), and RSV (search), are delivered via intramuscular injection and generate antibodies in the bloodstream. However, the upper airway represents the actual first line of defense, where mucosal antibodies (search) known as immunoglobulin A (search) (IgA (search)) can intercept pathogens before they enter the body.
"We want to look at how an IgA (search) response is generated because we don't know too much about how that works at mucosal surfaces," said Natalie Edner, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Jennifer Gommerman, professor and chair of immunology in U of T's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Gommerman's team is conducting research at the forefront of harnessing mucosal immunity to counter respiratory infectious diseases (search).
Edner is one of two University of Toronto researchers to receive Moderna Global Fellowships, which support emerging researchers whose work can improve disease preparedness and treatment. Her research will investigate whether the same biological rules governing IgA (search) responses in the gut apply to the airways, particularly for SARS-CoV-2 (search) infection in the upper respiratory tract and flu infection in the lungs.
Advancing Cancer Treatment Through Lipid Nanoparticles
The second fellowship supports Rick Lu, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Bowen Li, an assistant professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Li's research group possesses world-leading expertise in using lipid nanoparticles (search) (LNPs) to deliver mRNA medicines (search).
Lu is developing methods to modify immune cells by delivering precise instructions using LNPs instead of viral vectors, potentially resulting in safer and more scalable cancer (search) treatments. This approach could overcome current limitations in cancer immunotherapy delivery systems.
AI and Quantum Computing Integration
Beyond the fellowships, Moderna is supporting research into AI and quantum computing applications for accelerating mRNA medicine design. This project, part of the framework agreement established between U of T and Moderna in 2022, takes place in the Matter Lab led by Alán Aspuru-Guzik, a professor of computer science and chemistry and leader in applying AI and quantum computing to healthcare and next-generation therapeutics.
Postdoctoral researcher Mohammad Ghazivakili leads the Matter Lab project, which explores quantum-driven algorithms to tackle structural complexities around mRNA. The research aims to shorten development timelines for new vaccines and therapeutics while reducing production costs.
Building Scientific Excellence
"This collaboration exemplifies how universities and industry can work together to accelerate innovation," said Leah Cowen, U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. "By supporting next-generation researchers and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we're building the foundation for breakthroughs that will benefit Canadians and people around the world – from harnessing AI to accelerate mRNA design to developing vaccines that stop infections at the door."
Rahbar Rahimpour, director of R&D Strategic Alliances at Moderna Canada (search), emphasized the company's commitment to Canadian research excellence. "Canada is home to some of the most innovative scientific minds in the world, and our partnership with the University of Toronto reflects Moderna's long-term commitment to advancing mRNA science through local research excellence," he said. "Together, we're not only supporting the next generation of researchers but also building an mRNA centre of excellence to help fuel scientific breakthroughs that will benefit Canadians and global health alike."
Translating Research to Clinical Impact
The Gommerman lab has extensively studied IgA (search) antibodies in mucosal immunity, with recent research published in Cell providing new insights into IgA responses in the gut. Gommerman, who co-directs the Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Disease at Temerty Medicine, explained the translational potential: "As we learn more about how sterilizing IgA is generated in the first place, we can then potentially engineer vaccines to take advantage of those natural pathways that we learn about."
The partnership structure includes regular presentations by Edner and collaborators to Moderna's team as research progresses, providing opportunities for academic researchers to connect with and learn from industry scientists. "It's really helpful to get an idea of how people who work in industry think about these things," Edner noted. "At the end of the day, we want to get better vaccines on the market, so they can help us to understand what's required to actually make that happen."