A platform led by Professor Jörg Fritz of McGill University to stimulate the discovery and development of new RNA vaccines.
Vaccines are essential for preventing infections and represent a cornerstone of strategies aimed at preparing for future epidemics and pandemics. The development of new RNA vaccines against emerging pathogens relies on the rapid identification of antigenic targets capable of eliciting effective protection against infection. However, this crucial step is often limited by the lack of efficient screening tools. Moreover, there is a need for a preclinical platform to evaluate new formulations and the effectiveness of RNA vaccines.
Professor Jörg Fritz of McGill University and his team are developing an innovative technology platform dedicated to the rapid discovery of vaccine targets and the accelerated evaluation of new RNA vaccine formulations. This structuring project, supported with $1,172,800 in funding through Médicament Québec and with the financial support of the Government of Québec, aims to enhance local preparedness in the face of emerging infectious threats.
The platform’s capabilities will be demonstrated through proof-of-concept studies, including the development of RNA vaccine prototypes against Lyme disease and Mpox. The team will test formulations in relevant preclinical models, exploring various innovative routes of administration (including oral and mucosal) to validate the candidates’ immunogenicity and efficacy.
This collaborative project brings together several partners: Montréal-based company RNA Technologies & Therapeutics, the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute for Genomic Medicine, the D2R initiative (from DNA to RNA) led by McGill, Dalhousie University, and Austrian firm NovoArc GmbH. With their contributions, the total value of the project amounts to $2,196,800.
Once deployed, the platform will be accessible to the entire Québec innovation ecosystem, fostering collaborative innovation and accelerating the development of vaccines tailored to the needs of the population.
Comments are closed.