UTMB and University of Osaka Scientists Join Forces on an mRNA Vaccine Against Lassa Fever With About $600,000 in Funding
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, announced on October 30 that the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) has awarded approximately $600,000 to UTMB and the Center for Advanced Modalities and Drug Delivery System Vaccine Development (CAMaD) at the University of Osaka in Japan to advance development of a next-generation vaccine against Lassa fever.
Lassa fever is an acute viral disease found primarily in West Africa that infects an estimated 900,000 people each year. It can be severe, especially in pregnant women, and is associated with significant mortality. Despite its public health impact, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments. The disease spreads through contact with infected rodents or bodily fluids from infected individuals and is recognized as a priority disease for global public health and pandemic preparedness.
Under the two-year research agreement, the funding will support vaccine design, formulation optimization and preclinical testing of an innovative messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine candidate.
The candidate uses a novel bicistronic mRNA design, which enables a single vaccine molecule to produce two Lassa virus proteins, known as GPC and NP, simultaneously. Researchers believe this approach could broaden immune protection while improving manufacturing efficiency.
The team will also refine the vaccine delivery system and incorporate freeze-drying technology to improve stability at higher temperatures, which could reduce the need for ultra-cold storage and make the vaccine easier to transport and distribute in regions with limited refrigeration. UTMB will provide unique wild-type Lassa virus resources for evaluating the vaccine's immune response and protective efficacy through preclinical studies using several research models.
"Lassa fever remains a serious and underserved global health challenge," said Junki Maruyama, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at UTMB. The GHIT Fund-supported initiative builds on previous collaborative research between the University of Osaka and UTMB; in an earlier pilot study at UTMB, a related vaccine formulation demonstrated promising protection against Lassa virus infection.
The researchers expect the project to generate critical data supporting future vaccine development and to contribute to global preparedness for Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 德州大学医学分部该官方发布所配图片。德州大学医学分部新闻室，2026年10月30日。 / Image published with UTMB's official announcement. UTMB newsroom, October 30, 2026.
