The Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group: 35 Years of Advancements in Infectious Disease Research

December 12, 2024 – Ames, IA – It is a common belief among scientists that the pursuit of science is not about finding a definitive answer. Rather, it’s about uncovering better questions. The Vaccine Research Group based at the Mayo Clinic is tackling the tough questions within vaccinology only to be met with tougher questions regarding how to halt infectious diseases. The senior members of the vaccine research group recently appeared on the Nanovax Podcast to give us perspective on their decades-long work and their outlook on the future of vaccines.

The Vaccine Research Group was founded in 1989 by Dr. Gregory Poland, MD. His observations of the US measles outbreak and the failure of a vaccine to effectively protect individuals motivated him to form a research group around the genetic basis of viral vaccine response as a building block to develop better vaccines. The research within the group grew to include rubella, mumps, influenza, vaccinia, SARS-CoV-2, zika, herpes zoster, and other pathogens. It also expanded the focus to include understanding the factors necessary for protective immune responses, long-lived immunologic memory, and drivers of adverse vaccine reactions in vaccine recipients.

“Our group established the field of immunogenetics of viral vaccine immune response,” says Inna Ovsyannikova. “So, we’re the first one who studied genetic basis of immune response to measles, to mumps, to rubella vaccine and demonstrated that genes play a big role in immune response to vaccination.”

In 1997, Inna Ovsyannikova, PhD, first joined the group as a postdoctoral researcher. Ovsyannikova’s work focuses on the host genetics of immune responses to both viral and bacterial vaccines, meaning she aims to understand the genetic underpinnings of immune responses to improve efficacy through personalized approaches. Lastly, Richard Kennedy, PhD, joined the group in 2003. Kennedy’s work centers on the development of durable immune responses post-vaccination, including the decline in both humoral and cellular immune responses as individuals age.

Scientific ambition, societal challenges, and innovation have been central to the work of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic over the past 35 years. Scientific contributions include promoting the field of immunogenetics in vaccine response and the genetic factors influencing vaccine efficacy and durability from a systems biology framework. A systems biology approach involves seeing beyond individual pathways, cells, or molecules as an interconnected biological system.

“[We thought], what if we step back and use these tools and do a comprehensive assessment? Let’s look at everything we can look at and see not just the individual parts, but how they’re connected, rather than the standard reductionist approach” says Gregory Poland.  

When we were faced with a global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic beginning in December 2019, the Vaccine Research Group had the unique opportunity to investigate the immune response to the disease and later, the vaccines, in a global naïve population, which is a rare occurrence to observe and understand. Using tandem mass spectrometry, the group developed the ability to “see what T-cells see” during an immune response in a way that could not be studied before. This study was able to leverage insights gained from understanding the immune response to determine more effective platforms for vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 and to help inform approaches to other infectious diseases. This work emphasized the significance of learning from the pandemic to develop vaccines of the future. As members of the Nanovaccine Institute, the Vaccine Research Group is examining the use of nanoparticles in vaccines to boost the immunogenicity of peptide-based vaccines to make them more efficient and longer-lasting to protect individuals.

“It’s not good enough to have a vaccine that works for a year or a month. We want vaccines that protect us for decades,” says Richard Kennedy.

With 35 years of experience and wisdom working in the field of vaccine research, the trio sees upcoming advancements in vaccine platforms with plug-and-play vaccine designs to improve rapid response to pandemics, as well as the inclusion of nanotechnology to enhance effectiveness, distribution, and storage of vaccines. They see a greater focus on personalized medicine tailored to specific genetic profiles and dose optimization. Additionally, the use of Artificial Intelligence will increase and be leveraged to accelerate vaccine development. While there is great technology within our grasp to improve the science of vaccines, the group sees ongoing societal challenges that will also need to be overcome, such as addressing vaccine hesitancy and vaccine safety through education and trust-building. 

When reflecting on his time leading the group through the challenge of addressing the tough questions across almost four decades, Gregory Poland maintains a sense of humor and optimism.

“I’m laughing because if I had to do it over again, I’d have picked simpler questions,” says Gregory Poland.

The Nanovaccine Institute would like to celebrate the 35 years of research from the Vaccine Research Group and look forward to supporting their work in the years to come.

Written by Hanna Bates, Research Administrator III