Kizzmekia Corbett

Kizzmekia Corbett portrait

Kizzmekia "Kizzy" Corbett is an American immunologist and scientist who has played a pivotal role in the development of the mRNA vaccine technology used in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Born on January 26, 1986, in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, Corbett has been instrumental in advancing research in vaccine development, particularly in the rapid development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Early Life and Education

Kizzmekia Corbett grew up in a small rural community in North Carolina. From a young age, she showed a keen interest in science and aspired to become a scientist. Corbett pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was a part of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, a program aimed at increasing diversity in the science and engineering fields. She graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences in 2008. Following her undergraduate studies, Corbett earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014, where her research focused on dengue virus pathogenesis and vaccine development.

Career

After completing her Ph.D., Corbett joined the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a postdoctoral fellow. At the VRC, she worked under the guidance of Dr. Barney Graham and quickly became a key figure in the study of coronaviruses, including MERS and SARS. Her work focused on understanding the spike protein structure of coronaviruses, which is crucial for the virus's ability to infect human cells. This research laid the groundwork for the rapid development of an mRNA-based vaccine when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.

In 2020, Corbett was part of the team that collaborated with Moderna to develop one of the first mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. Her contributions to the vaccine's development, particularly in designing the mRNA sequence that instructs cells to produce a harmless piece of the spike protein to stimulate an immune response, were critical. This work has been hailed as a significant breakthrough in the fight against the pandemic, leading to millions of lives being saved worldwide.

Impact and Recognition

Kizzmekia Corbett's work has received widespread recognition and numerous awards for her contributions to science and public health. She has been featured in various media outlets and has been invited to speak at numerous conferences and panels to discuss her work and the importance of vaccine development. Her role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine has also made her a prominent figure in discussions about diversity in science and the importance of representation in the field.

Current Work and Future Directions

As of the last update, Corbett has continued her research in immunology and vaccine development, focusing on other infectious diseases and potential pandemics. She is also involved in mentoring the next generation of scientists, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.

See Also

• mRNA vaccine
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Vaccine Research Center
• National Institutes of Health