Talk: From Viral Entry to Immune Targeting: Redefining Vaccine Design for Emerging Viruses
When: June 1 at 11 a.m.
Where: Health Sciences Research Facility II Auditorium
Biography: Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, PhD, is the Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar, and an associate member of the Ragon Institute. Her research establishes a framework linking viral entry to immune targeting, enabling the rational design of vaccines and antibody-based therapies against emerging viral pathogens.
Her work has been recognized globally, including with the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding. Named a TIME Magazine “Hero of the Year” in 2021, she is best known for her central role in the development of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, which advanced from viral sequence clinical trial in record time and has since been credited with saving millions of lives — establishing a new paradigm for rapid vaccine development against pandemic threats.
Dr. Corbett-Helaire received her BS in biological sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as a Meyerhoff Scholar and NIH Undergraduate Scholar, and her PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She previously served as a research fellow and scientific lead at the NIH Vaccine Research Center. With over 15 years of experience spanning dengue, RSV, influenza, and coronaviruses, her work integrates fundamental immunology with translational vaccine design, including a patent portfolio focused on universal vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. She pairs field-defining scientific leadership with a sustained commitment to mentorship and to shaping public trust in vaccines.
Registration is not required for this event.