How Personalised mRNA Cancer Vaccines Work
Our integrated pipeline for mRNA cancer vaccines takes personalised mRNA immunotherapy from tumour biopsy through to immune monitoring — eight steps from computation to clinic.
Tumour Biopsy & Normal Tissue
A tissue sample is collected from the patient's tumour alongside a matched normal tissue sample to serve as a germline reference.
Whole-Exome & RNA Sequencing
DNA from both tumour and normal samples undergoes whole-exome sequencing to identify somatic mutations. RNA sequencing confirms which mutated genes are actively expressed.
Neoantigen Prediction & Selection
Bioinformatic pipelines predict which somatic mutations generate novel peptides (neoantigens) that will be presented by the patient's own HLA molecules and recognised by T cells.
mRNA Construct Design
A synthetic mRNA sequence is designed encoding a polyepitope cassette — multiple neoantigen peptides joined by linker sequences, flanked by optimised UTRs and a poly(A) tail.
mRNA Synthesis & LNP Encapsulation
The designed sequence is synthesised by in vitro transcription then encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles to protect it from degradation and enable cellular uptake.
Quality Control & Release Testing
The formulated vaccine undergoes rigorous quality testing to confirm identity, purity, and potency before release.
Patient Administration
The personalised vaccine is administered to the patient, typically as a series of injections, often combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Immune Monitoring & Response
The patient's immune response is monitored to confirm neoantigen-specific T cell activation. Circulating tumour DNA and imaging assess clinical response.
Neoantigen Discovery
Computational analysis of tumour genome sequencing data to identify and prioritise neoantigens. Machine learning approaches predict which mutations will generate effective immune responses, validated through T-cell assays.
mRNA Vaccine Design & Manufacture
Rapid design and synthesis of personalised mRNA cancer vaccines using optimised codon design, nucleotide modifications and lipid nanoparticle formulation. Manufactured in as little as 2-3 weeks from synthetic DNA templates.
Preclinical Evaluation
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of mRNA vaccine candidates across multiple cancer models. Progression of promising candidates toward Phase-I clinical trials through our clinical manufacturing capabilities.