Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett: Viral Immunologist & Vaccine Pioneer
Discover the scientific journey of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a viral immunologist whose years of foundational research were pivotal to rapid vaccine development.
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is an American viral immunologist whose research was a prominent part of the team that designed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her work placed her at the forefront of the global response to the pandemic. Her expertise in coronavirus biology and vaccine development was a significant factor in the accelerated timeline for creating a defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Formative Years and Educational Path
Raised in North Carolina, Dr. Corbett’s early interest in science guided her to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was part of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a secondary major in Sociology in 2008. This dual focus provided a unique perspective on the intersection of science and society.
Her undergraduate experience as an NIH scholar solidified her path toward biomedical research. She continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2014. Her doctoral research concentrated on understanding viral pathogens.
Pioneering COVID-19 Vaccine Development
Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Corbett was appointed a research fellow at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a division of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), where she became the scientific lead for the Coronavirus Vaccines & Immunopathogenesis Team. Her laboratory had already invested years studying coronaviruses, which gave her team a substantial head start when SARS-CoV-2 emerged. Her work focused on the spike proteins, the structures that allow coronaviruses to penetrate human cells.
Understanding the architecture of these proteins was important for designing an effective vaccine. Dr. Corbett and her colleagues had previously developed experimental vaccines for other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS, creating a “plug and play” approach that could be adapted. When the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was released, her team rapidly designed the spike protein for the mRNA-1273 vaccine.
The information was sent to Moderna, which used the sequence to synthesize the messenger RNA for the vaccine. This collaboration allowed for an unprecedented development timeline, with the first clinical trial beginning just 66 days after the virus’s genetic code was made public. The resulting vaccine demonstrated 94.1% efficacy in Phase 3 trials.
Broader Contributions to Viral Immunology
Dr. Corbett’s scientific contributions extend beyond her work on COVID-19. Over her career, she has studied a range of viral threats, including dengue virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza. Her research has contributed to novel vaccine development for pandemic preparedness.
A significant area of her work has been the pursuit of universal vaccine candidates. Before the pandemic, she dedicated several years to developing a universal influenza vaccine, a project slated for Phase 1 clinical trials. Her team also developed concepts for a universal coronavirus vaccine to protect against multiple strains and future variants.
Her patent portfolio reflects this broad expertise, including concepts for universal coronavirus and influenza vaccines. She has also contributed to the development of novel therapeutic antibodies designed to treat viral infections.
Advocacy, Recognition, and Future Endeavors
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Corbett is a prominent advocate for public health education and for increasing diversity in scientific fields. She actively works to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly within underserved communities, to build trust and promote a clearer public understanding of science. Her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists is also a core part of her professional identity.
Her work on the Moderna vaccine earned her numerous accolades, including the Benjamin Franklin Next Gen Award and the Salzman Memorial Award in Virology. In 2021, she was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
Dr. Corbett has since transitioned from the NIH to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, she leads her own laboratory. Her current research focuses on pandemic preparedness and developing next-generation coronavirus vaccines.