September 22, 2025

The science of mRNA – a new frontier in medicine?

mRNA technology became public knowledge during the pandemic with the welcome arrival of Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. More recently mRNA has been in the news again after NHSE announced clinical trials of cancer vaccines – personalized treatments given to patients after surgery to stop the cancer returning. But there are many more possible applications of this technology and in some science circles people are talking excitedly about an mRNA Revolution.

Meanwhile the technology has also been in the news for all the wrong reasons after RFK Jr, the controversial U.S Health Secretary, publicly stated that mRNA vaccines are ineffective against upper respiratory illnesses like COVID‑19 and the flu. In August, he cancelled millions of pounds worth of contracts to develop mRNA vaccines for respiratory viruses, including COVID‑19, flu, and avian flu. That move has led some in the UK to talk about the opportunity for UK science to lead the world in this technology.

There were a number of events on mRNA technology, including a 2 day scientific meeting being hosted by CPI, Imperial College London, and the Bioindustry Association (BIA), and the official Ministerial opening of a new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC), a state-of-the-art mRNA research, development, and manufacturing facility, located at the Harwell in Oxfordshire. To mark these events the SMC put together a press briefing on the all the exciting science of mRNA. Speakers covered the basic discovery science; the challenges of manufacturing; the range of applications and the new ways of regulating the technology.

Speakers included:

Professor Robin Shattock, Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London

Prof Sarah Danson, NIHR National Speciality Lead for Cancer: Early Phase Trials, and the Co-Clinical Lead for Cancer in the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway and Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Sheffield

Jonny Ohlson, Executive Chair & Founder, Touchlight

Julian Beach, Executive Director of Healthcare, Quality and Access, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

Parker Moss, R3G Program Director, Wellcome Leap