Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Heel-prick blood samples from newborns could provide important insights into protection against serious infection

A new study from Aarhus University shows that heel-prick blood samples can measure antibodies against Group B Streptococcus in newborns, providing important insights into protection against serious infections. The method could contribute to the development of vaccines designed to protect infants against serious infections.

SourceAarhus University·JournalThe Lancet Microbe·TypeCase study·DateOct 2, 2026

Q&A: The safety and sterilization of pharmaceuticals manufacturing

Pharmaceutical products can become contaminated with microorganisms, posing serious health risks. Sterilization processes vary in time and cost, with heat sterilization and gamma irradiation being traditional methods. Aseptic processing and sterile filtration are also used to produce sterile drug products.

SourcePenn State·JournalBiotechnology Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 1, 2026

Recreating key features of the antibody factory in a dish

Scientists at the University of Osaka have developed a method to recreate human B cells with germinal center features using three immune signals, which closely match those found in human tonsils. This breakthrough could help improve vaccine-induced antibody responses and identify targets for autoimmune disease.

SourceImmunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) - The University of Osaka·JournalScience Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2026

Scientists overcome key barrier to self-amplifying vaccines

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London discovered a way to overcome cell's natural defences against self-amplifying mRNA vaccines, enabling the production of significantly more of their target protein. This innovation could provide longer-lasting protection at lower doses, opening new possibilities in gene therapy, cancer immuno...

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2026

Korea University study uncovers how mRNA vaccination may broaden flu antibody responses

A Korea University study found that an mRNA-based influenza vaccine elicits a more diverse and broader serum antibody repertoire than traditional vaccines. This leads to greater binding and neutralizing breadth against diverse influenza strains, suggesting potential for broader, longer-lasting protection.

SourceKorea University College of Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 11, 2026

Antivaccine legislation is rising rapidly in US states, driven primarily by GOP push

A new study reveals that Republican lawmakers sponsored 86% of antivaccine bills introduced in state legislatures after the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers supported provaccine bills, highlighting partisan polarization's impact on vaccine access and public health.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateJul 17, 2026

Newly discovered target for genital herpes vaccine

Genital herpes is a viral infection that establishes a lifelong infection by entering nerve cells and can be relieved with medication. Researchers have identified glycoprotein G as a promising target for a future vaccine, which could provide protection against HSV-2 spread to the nervous system.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalPLOS Pathogens·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

New study advances dry mRNA vaccine patch design

A new study at RMIT University has identified conditions that help protect mRNA particles in dry vaccine patches, providing practical guidance for future patch design. This research could make future mRNA vaccines easier to store and distribute, particularly in lower-resource settings where cold-chain logistics are a barrier.

SourceRMIT University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

Tuberculosis vaccine changes brain’s immune environment and Alzheimer’s biomarkers in older adults

A new study found that BCG vaccines can modify Alzheimer's biomarkers in non-Alzheimer's participants, suggesting a potential biological explanation for the observed link between BCG vaccination and lower disease risk. The vaccine also promoted increased immune responses in healthy participants without Alzheimer's pathology.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalCommunications Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 6, 2026

Boosting vaccine uptake goal for experts’ Colombia meeting

Aberystwyth University experts Dr Kate Parsons and Dr Simon Payne will lead sessions on boosting vaccine uptake at the upcoming international meeting in Colombia. The workshop aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world impact by applying behavioural science principles to improve vaccine acceptance and delivery.

NIH-funded researchers share early results of lassa fever vaccine in phase 1 clinical trial

In a phase 1 clinical trial, researchers found the LASSARAB vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated, inducing strong immune responses against Lassa fever and rabies. The vaccine demonstrated robust neutralizing antibody levels against the rabies virus, exceeding WHO's established threshold for protection.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 9, 2026

Testing AI against public health’s existing tools

A new study found that AI-powered chatbots can make vaccine-hesitant parents more likely to say they will immunize their children against HPV, but no more than standard written public health materials. Additionally, the effects of the chatbots did not last longer than those of government health materials.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 8, 2026

Dengue vaccine shows favorable safety profile in travellers from non-endemic regions

A study of over 1,000 people vaccinated with TAK-003 in Catalonia found no serious adverse events and provided new evidence on the vaccine's short-term safety in travelers. The findings suggest that the dengue vaccine has a good tolerability profile among travelers from non-endemic regions.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeObservational study·DateJun 3, 2026

Cancer vaccine sustains 49 percent melanoma reduction after 5 years

A new study shows that a cancer vaccine in combination with immunotherapy reduces the risk of skin cancer recurrence and death by 49 percent. After five years, patients who received the combination therapy had a 68.8% chance of remaining cancer-free compared to 50.2% for those receiving immunotherapy alone.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 1, 2026

We can help the body fight entire viral families

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that combining key vaccine ingredients could give the body the tools it needs to fight the entire family of arenaviruses with a single vaccine. This approach may protect against life-threatening infections from Lassa virus, Junin virus, and many other arenaviruses.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2026

Seasonal COVID-19 vaccination in 2025/26 reduced risk of illness by half in Canada

A Canadian study found that seasonal COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the risk of illness in 2025/26, with vaccine protection extending beyond its target strain. The vaccine was particularly beneficial for people aged 65 or older, offering 53% effectiveness against severe COVID-19.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 7, 2026

New study suggests ‘freedom framing’ more effective than mandates for vaccine-hesitant Americans

Researchers propose a new approach to overcoming vaccine hesitancy by framing vaccines in terms of personal autonomy and freedom, which showed greater willingness among those with higher concerns. The study suggests that traditional universal approaches may not be effective for everyone, highlighting the importance of individual values.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 6, 2026

Cervical cancer: A growing gap between high- and low-income countries

A growing gap in cervical cancer incidence rates between high- and low-income countries threatens to escalate unless prevention efforts are increased. Researchers urge universal vaccination for girls and boys, as well as catch-up campaigns, to close the gap and prevent nearly 37 million cases of cancer by the end of the century.

SourceUniversité Laval·JournalThe Lancet·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 30, 2026

Your nose is a battlefield

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered that FluMist can trigger an immune response directly in nasal tissue, training immune cells to recognize and fight influenza virus infection. This response stays in the upper airways and cannot be detected via blood samples.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2026

New study examines effectiveness of maternal RSV vaccination and nirsevimab in preventing and reducing severity of RSV-related illness in infants

A new study found that infants receiving maternal RSV vaccination or Nirsevimab after birth had significantly lower RSV infection rates and fewer severe complications. The study showed a high uptake of the vaccines among pregnant patients and newborns, leading to declining rates of RSV-related illnesses.

Tumor vaccines in hepatocellular carcinoma: advances, challenges, and the path toward precision immunotherapy

Recent studies have explored tumor vaccine platforms, including peptide, dendritic cell, and nucleic acid-based vaccines. Personalized neoantigen vaccines are refining precision in HCC treatment, but challenges persist due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and heterogeneity.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateApr 22, 2026

Scientists uncover how vaccine adjuvants separate protection from reactogenicity

Researchers found that squalene-based adjuvants activate distinct pathways for vaccine protection and reactogenicity, including the role of IL-1β in enhancing efficacy and IL-1α in triggering local swelling. The study's findings could lead to safer vaccine design by targeting specific immune mechanisms.

SourceThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo·Journalnpj Vaccines·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026