UCLA

Rapid developments in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine showcased the power of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems in fighting infectious diseases. In addition, mRNA therapeutics are also in development for cancer immunotherapy. Recently, mRNA therapy has been expanded to induce immune tolerance, the opposite of immune-boosting effects, to treat diseases involving enhanced immune responses including allergies and autoimmune diseases. mRNA LNPs have been used to treat peanut allergy by us and autoimmune experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by Ugur Sahin. It is expected that more and more research is going to delve into the immune tolerance field for allergies and autoimmune diseases, where effective therapies are in short supply.