Stanford Researchers Discover Potential Universal Vaccine to Prevent Global Pandemics

Preventing the next worldwide pandemic from happening before it even starts — researchers at Stanford University think it’s possible. Stanford researchers believe that future pandemics can be prevented through the use of universal vaccines. Professor Bali Pulendran and his colleagues have been exploring the potential of the innate immune system to fight off various illnesses, including viruses that the body has never been exposed to before. The innate immune system, found in all creatures, can provide broad protection against different strains of viruses with just a single shot. While the innate immune system vaccine cannot replace traditional antibody vaccines, it could serve as a stop-gap measure until more specific treatments can be developed. The research has shown promising results in laboratory mice, and Dr. Pulendran aims to move to human trials within the next two years. The goal is to have a universal vaccine readily available to deploy at the first signs of a pandemic, preventing it from escalating further. By ramping up the body’s innate immune response, researchers hope to revolutionize the way we combat infectious diseases in the future.