Making mRNA COVID-19 vaccines more stable at room temperature
Official title: A deep learning and experiment integrated platform for stable mRNA vaccines development
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11228393 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using artificial intelligence together with lab experiments to redesign COVID-19 mRNA vaccines so they remain intact longer and need less strict cold storage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | November 22, 2021 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $357,387 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI165433-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228393 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is primarily lab-based with no patient enrollment, though eventual recipients would be people eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
✕Less likely to help
People not at risk for COVID-19 or those already protected by other vaccine types or therapies may not see direct benefits from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
The team uses modern AI models to learn which parts of an mRNA molecule are most likely to break down and why. They then synthesize redesigned mRNA vaccine sequences and test their stability in the lab to see if the AI predictions hold true. Results from those experiments are fed back to improve the AI models, creating a faster cycle for finding more stable vaccine designs. The project focuses on COVID-19 vaccine sequences but the methods could apply to other mRNA vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines that are easier to store and distribute, expanding access and reducing reliance on strict cold chains.
How similar studies have gone: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have proven highly effective, and improving their room-temperature stability is an active and promising research area with some early encouraging results but not yet standard practice.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Qing — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Sun, Qing
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.