Michelson Laureates Showcase Innovative Research at Keystone Symposium

Michelson Medical Research Foundation hosted a special event at Keystone Symposia’s Positive Strand RNA Viruses: Interdisciplinary Advances in Virology, Pathogenesis, Immunology, and Technology Development conference in Killarney, Ireland. This event celebrated the groundbreaking work of Michelson Laureates and explored the motivation behind the Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants—a collaboration between the Michelson Medical Research Foundation and the Human Immunome Project.

The highlight of the event was the opportunity for two Michelson Laureates to present their award-winning research. Before introducing the presenters, Michelson Philanthropies Executive Director Geoff Baum reflected on how the grants have transformed the career trajectories of young scientists, providing them with funding opportunities often inaccessible through traditional avenues. 

Baum went on to introduce a video featuring Michelson Philanthropies Founder and Co-chair Dr. Gary Michelson, who described the overall purpose of the grants:

“When we empower young, brilliant minds and invest in high quality, cutting edge medical research, it is with the idea that a single, scientific breakthrough discovery could affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people,” Michelson said. 

“So be bold, go big, disrupt the status quo, accelerate your career path, and apply for the Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants.”

Dr. Claire Otero, a postdoctoral associate in pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College, was the first to present. In 2023, Dr. Otero was named a Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants recipient in recognition of her proposal to develop vaccines against cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that can cause birth defects in newborns. 

Dr. Otero explained that, despite years of research, there is no licensed vaccine for CMV, a condition that is particularly prominent in pregnant women in developing countries. The sticking point relates to proteins called FC receptors found in CMV. While most vaccines will cause an antibody response that neutralizes a virus, the FC receptors in CMV act like ‘shields,’ clinging to antibodies and negating their intended effect.

From left: Geoff Baum, Dr. Claire Otera, and Dr. Romain Guyon

“These proteins can help the virus evade detection by the immune system through host FC receptors [with] a couple of different mechanisms, including bipolar bridging, where the protein binds at the FC region,” Dr. Otero explained. 

The goal of her research is as follows: “Can we improve FC-mediated immunity by targeting these proteins through vaccination?” In short, developing a vaccine that includes viral FC receptors—the ‘shields’—so that the immune system learns to target these receptors and give stronger protection.

Up to this point, Dr. Otero’s research has found that this approach appears to be working, with positive results in tests on rabbits. However, further tests on rhesus monkeys will be required to indicate whether or not future treatments will be effective for humans.

Thanks in part to the Michelson Prize Next Generation Grant, Dr. Otero will be able to continue her investigations into CMV. Her success in developing a vaccine could not only limit the virus in newborns, but also people with suppressed immune systems who are more susceptible to developing complications from a CMV infection.

Next to present was Dr. Romain Guyon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Jenner Institute & Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford, who was selected as a recipient of the 2022 Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants. Guyon was awarded the grant before completing his Ph.D., “A reminder,” Baum said, “that our grants aim to identify and support talent early in their careers.”

Romain Guyon, 2022 Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants Recipient

Guyon was chosen as a Michelson Prizes recipient due to his focus on developing single-dose vaccines. “I’ve developed a microfluidic based technology…that will deliver the booster dose after a certain time inside the body,” Guyon explained. “The impact of my research is to improve vaccination coverage, in particular in countries where the access of medical facilities is limited, [and] provide a single dose vaccine that would ensure complete immunization to protect people’s lives.”

Alongside his research team, Guyon has developed injectable microcapsules with a liquid center that holds the vaccine, and a solid outer shell made of biodegradable material. The tiny capsules, which are below 100 microns in diameter, stay at the injection site and release the booster over time by slowly disintegrating until the outer shell becomes porous. This creates a delayed effect similar to a second vaccine shot.

To conduct the tests, Guyon’s team injected the capsules containing a malaria vaccine into a group of mice. They also administered a traditional two-dose vaccine to a second group and a single initial shot vaccine to a third. The results were promising, showing that the microcapsules worked similarly to a traditional booster regime.

In a video introducing his presentation - filmed after he was selected to receive a grant - Guyon explained how the Michelson Prizes will change the trajectory of his career.

“The Michelson Prize is a wonderful opportunity for me to establish myself as an independent researcher,” Guyon said. “It will give more visibility to the single-dose vaccine project and open more doors for collaboration on the project. It will allow me to assess the compatibility of the technology with different vaccines and investigate new manufacturing strategies.”

Guyon’s progress so far suggests he was right – his work could have a profound effect on the efficacy of vaccines, eliminating the physical, financial, and logistical obstacles that boosters entail. The potential impact of this research, and that of Otero and other Michelson Laureates, is a testament to Dr. Gary Michelson’s belief in supporting early-career immunologists.