Lecture series in memory of Dr. Walter F. Enz hosted by the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department's Graduate Student Organization.

Public Talk: Thursday, July 21, 2022 @ 11:00 am

The Covid Vaccine Story: The (Im)possible Journey

While we are aware of Covid as a virus that is still in our midst, the return of life to near normal pre-pandemic mode belies the enormous cost in lives the pandemic exacted, but also the incredible effort that went into the development and delivery of multiple-billion doses of the Covid vaccines throughout the world. mRNA-based vaccines have been pivotal for the rapid return to normalcy we are experiencing. This talk will give a view from the trenches of the journey from conceptualization to approval of Moderna’s covid vaccine.

Scientific Talk: Thursday, July 21, 2022 @ 3:30 pm

mRNA as a Drug: Opportunities and Challenges

The Covid pandemic brought mRNA-based vaccines into the limelight. However, development efforts for the use of mRNA in vaccines and in therapeutics have been ongoing for a long time. The challenges include the design of the mRNA, and most critically, the delivery into cells. This talk will cover some of the key aspects of mRNA delivery, the successes as well as the challenges that remain to be overcome.