mRNA vaccines compared head-to-head in world-first study
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
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L-R: Prof Stephen Kent, Dr Yi (David) Ju, Dr Shiyao Li
view moreCredit: Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
GLOBAL: A world-first study by Australian researchers compared three mRNA-LNP vaccine platforms in human blood samples, generating findings that could revolutionise cancer treatment and vaccine design.
mRNA-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) transformed the way that vaccines are delivered to humans when they became widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
mRNA-LNPs are tiny parcels, ~800 times smaller than the width of a human hair, made of fatty acids (lipids) and containing cargo (messenger RNA) that needs to be delivered inside the body to generate a treatment response (for example, immunity to a virus).
Today, researchers around the world are investigating mRNA-LNPs as candidates for “cancer vaccines” that would deliver mRNA cargo to boost the patient’s immune system and empower it to kill cancer more effectively.
Led by researchers at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, this study analysed 327 blood samples from 73 participants who received Moderna, Pfizer, or an investigational COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
The team assessed whether the mRNA cargo was present in the blood and remained intact after delivery, the stability of the lipid-based packaging and where degradation occurred in the mRNA cargo.
Dr Yi (David) Ju, senior author of the paper published in ACS Nano and laboratory head at ONJCRI, affiliated with La Trobe University as the School of Cancer Medicine, said:
“mRNA vaccines do not all behave the same way in the bloodstream. We found differences in how quickly their mRNA and lipid components declined, and how long sections of the mRNA remained intact.”
The researchers also found that much of the circulating mRNA measured in the Moderna and Pfizer groups was fragmented. A more detailed analysis in six Moderna recipients found that the mRNA was less intact near one end of the mRNA molecule, a pattern also seen in the original vaccine formulation.
The findings provide strong clues on how to make the vaccines more stable, likely making them much more efficient so that patients can receive lower vaccine doses that cause fewer side effects.
Prof Stephen Kent, first author of the study and laboratory head at the Doherty Institute, said:
“These findings give us a way to compare the mRNA cargo and lipid delivery components of different vaccines in people. That knowledge will help us design and evaluate future improved, more efficient mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, including approaches being developed for cancer.”
By establishing a framework to compare mRNA-LNP platforms in humans, the study can help guide the development of more effective mRNA-based medicines.
ENDS
Publication available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6c09226
About the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI)
ONJCRI is a global leader in advancing cancer research, driven by the singular goal of improving patient outcomes. We drive progress by discovering and developing diagnostics and therapeutics that are more effective, tolerable, and accessible. ONJCRI adopts a tumour-agnostic approach, targeting shared pathways across multiple cancer types. This innovative strategy enables us to deliver scalable and impactful therapies that benefit diverse patient populations, accelerating progress across the entire landscape.
By bridging laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, ONJCRI is redefining how cancer treatments are designed and delivered: from bedside to bench to bedside. With a steadfast commitment to equity, innovation, and collaboration, we strive to transform cancer care, addressing unmet needs and overcoming disparities in access for all communities. For more about the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, visit www.onjcri.org.au.
ONJCRI is an independent medical research institute and is affiliated with La Trobe University as the School of Cancer Medicine.
Journal
ACS Nano
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Human tissue samples
Article Title
In Vivo Blood Kinetics and Transcript Integrity of Three mRNA–Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccines in Humans
Article Publication Date
15-Oct-2026
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