Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire immersed herself in the world of science at the age of 16. During an internship at a nearby university in North Carolina, she discovered the freedom and creativity inherent in scientific research. “Science is, in a way, liberating - when I go to work in the morning, I feel free. Free to decide what I want to think about today, whether I want to cancel a meeting or not, which research approaches I want to pursue. Science is almost an art form for nerds," she reflects.

Vaccines to Tackle Health Inequalities

As an undergraduate, Corbett-Helaire took courses in both biology and sociology - a combination that would later influence her approach to vaccine research. In early 2004, when the HIV pandemic was at its peak, she realized how unequal access to healthcare really was in the U.S. population. “I thought, if I wanted to make any impact on the inequitable distribution of healthcare resources, I had better use my scientific intellect to figure out how to make vaccines more effective and accessible," says Corbett-Helaire. Driven by a deep curiosity and a desire to understand why some people contract viruses and others do not, she decided to dedicate her future research to vaccine development: "Vaccines have the potential to reduce health inequalities," she is convinced.

Today, Corbett-Helaire leads a laboratory of eleven researchers at Harvard. Her interdisciplinary team includes researchers in molecular virology, viral immunology, and artificial intelligence. Together, they are working to better understand how viruses cause disease and how the immune system responds to them.

Breakthrough in the Fight against COVID-19

Corbett-Helaire's work on a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine earned her international recognition. She was instrumental in the rapid development of the Moderna vaccine, an achievement she attributes to a combination of scientific rigor and a willingness to accept failure. “We deliberately used low doses of the vaccine for our experiments and accepted that it would not be effective. We already knew what the vaccine could do. However, this was the only way we could find out where the vaccine's weaknesses and limitations lay,” she explains. This approach enabled her team to find out what amount of vaccine is required for an effective immune response, how the body reacts if this amount is not reached and what adverse reactions occur if the immune response is too weak. Specifically, this enabled a better understanding of the potential side effects, such as ‘vaccine-induced enhanced diseases’, which was an important area of research at the outset.

Even after the success of the COVID-19 vaccine, Corbett-Helaire is looking to the future. She is currently investigating the use of nanoparticles - tiny particles in the nanometer range that often serve as carriers for active ingredients - to produce vaccines against respiratory viruses with a broader spectrum of activity. “This innovative approach combines protection against several viruses in a single vaccination, for example, against influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), and coronaviruses, thus extending the limits of vaccine efficacy,” she says.

Overcoming Challenges and Supporting Future Researchers

Corbett-Helaire is aware that a career in science is fraught with challenges. These range from securing research funding to gaining and maintaining public trust in science, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic: "The pandemic left a stale taste in people's mouths about science. It is crucial to keep up the momentum in science communication.”

She advises young researchers to set their own boundaries and goals early on. “It is okay to be selfish about the scientific questions you ask and to let your personal interests influence your research. For example, someone with a family history of diabetes might feel the need to investigate why certain viruses affect diabetics more than others. I think that would be perfectly legitimate." Corbett-Helaire adds: "When you reach a certain career stage in research, you often do not have the time anymore to agree to everything. That's why it's important to learn to say 'no'," she stresses.

Corbett-Helaire is passionate about improving STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and increasing diversity in research, particularly among disadvantaged communities. She notes that funding for such initiatives is often scarce: "Science communication is often seen as a community service rather than an intrinsic part of science," she regrets. From a young age, she has acted as a link between the scientific community and the public. “In my family and community, I was always the one who knew about scientific and medical issues and informed our church community. This role later extended to my career in research," she says.

Unprecedented Speed of Scientific Progress

With her innovative research and tireless dedication, Corbett-Helaire has great potential to make even more progress in the field of virology and immunology. Vaccines are among mankind's most brilliant inventions," says Marcel Zwahlen, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Bern and Chair of the 2024 Prize Committee. “The speed with which a highly effective vaccine was developed was a true technological marvel" and, therefore, deserves to be recognized with the prestigious Hans Sigrist Prize 2024.

Sven Rottenberg, President of the Hans Sigrist Foundation at the University of Bern, says: “The Foundation is delighted to not only support this year's prize field, but also to invite Corbett-Helaire and other experts in the field to speak at the annual Hans Sigrist Symposium. The University of Bern is an excellent forum and has the convening power to bring top researchers together to discuss infectious diseases and biomedical research." Marcel Zwahlen adds: “This fascinating research paves the way for future applications, such as personalized cancer therapy."

Winning the Hans Sigrist Prize is important to Corbett-Helaire. She plans to use the prize money for further research into nanoparticle-based vaccines and concludes: "It is an honor to be recognized as part of the movement to promote the medical potential of mRNA.”