Overview

• The experimental vaccine employs a non–tumor-specific mRNA formulation to mimic viral infection and broadly activate the immune system against cancer.
• In mouse models, the vaccine induced PD-L1 expression within tumors to sensitize them to immune attack.
• Pairing the mRNA shot with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors drove significant tumor regression across melanoma, brain and bone cancer studies.
• The preclinical findings were published July 18 in Nature Biomedical Engineering, signaling a shift toward off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapies.
• Supported by NIH funding, UF Health researchers are optimizing the vaccine formulation ahead of initial human safety and efficacy trials.