Two groundbreaking research projects are exploring how we can harness the immune system more effectively: one focuses on designing vaccines that provide longer-lasting protection, while the other investigates whether diabetes medications might help control autoimmune diseases. These studies represent a shift toward understanding the fundamental mechanisms that shape immune responses, rather than simply accepting current vaccine and treatment limitations.

How Can Vaccine Design Create Longer-Lasting Immunity?

Dr. Sheenam Verma, a postdoctoral researcher at the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), received the ReVAMPP Center Early-Stage Investigator Program Fellowship to investigate a critical gap in vaccine science: how different delivery methods and formulations affect the durability of immune protection. While vaccines remain one of the most effective public health tools available, researchers still don't fully understand why some vaccination approaches generate stronger, longer-lasting immunity than others.

Verma's work focuses specifically on B cell responses, which are the immune cells responsible for producing antibodies that protect against infection. Her research will systematically compare different vaccine platforms and routes of administration to determine how they influence the magnitude, durability, and tissue location of memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells. These are the cells that "remember" past infections and mount rapid defenses if you encounter the same pathogen again.

"Understanding how to generate durable, protective immune responses is central to improving vaccines. Our goal is to identify strategies that can enhance immunity against high-priority pathogens and better prepare us for future pandemics," said Dr. Verma.

Dr. Sheenam Verma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Benaroya Research Institute

By integrating advanced immunological techniques with novel vaccine candidates, Verma aims to inform the rational design of next-generation vaccines capable of providing broader and longer-lasting protection against emerging infectious diseases. This research could have significant implications for pandemic preparedness and for vaccines targeting diseases like influenza and COVID-19, where immunity wanes over time.

Could Diabetes Drugs Help Control Autoimmune Diseases?

In a separate but equally intriguing line of research, Dr. Sarah Kobernat, also a postdoctoral fellow at BRI, received an American Diabetes Association fellowship to explore an unexpected connection: whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), a widely used class of diabetes and obesity medications, might influence immune responses in autoimmune disease. This represents a completely different angle on treating conditions like type 1 diabetes and lupus, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 therapies have recently been associated with improvements in autoimmune disease symptoms, prompting researchers to ask whether these drugs do more than just regulate blood sugar. Kobernat's research will explore how GLP-1s alter immune cell metabolism and whether they can shift the balance between inflammatory effector T cells and regulatory T cells, which play a critical role in controlling autoimmune responses.

"We hope to better understand how these medications interact with the immune system in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If GLP-1s can modulate the cells driving autoimmunity, they may have therapeutic potential beyond their current use," said Dr. Kobernat.

Dr. Sarah Kobernat, Postdoctoral Fellow, Benaroya Research Institute

Ways These Research Findings Could Impact Patient Care

• Improved Vaccine Design: Understanding how immunization route and antigen formulation shape immune responses could lead to vaccines that require fewer doses or less frequent boosters, improving public health compliance and pandemic preparedness.
• Repurposed Medications: If GLP-1 drugs prove effective at modulating autoimmune responses, patients with type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions might benefit from medications already approved and widely available, potentially accelerating treatment options.
• Personalized Immunity: Research into how different vaccine platforms affect individual immune responses could eventually enable personalized vaccination strategies based on a person's immune profile and disease risk.

Both research projects reflect a broader shift in immunology toward understanding the fundamental mechanisms that govern immune function. Rather than treating symptoms after disease develops, researchers are increasingly focused on optimizing how the immune system responds to vaccines and how we can redirect harmful immune responses in autoimmune disease.

Dr. Jane Buckner, President of BRI, emphasized the significance of these fellowships: "These fellowships highlight the exceptional talent of early-career investigators at BRI. Drs. Kobernat and Verma are tackling important and complex questions that have the potential to transform how we treat autoimmune diseases and design effective vaccines." Together, their research reflects BRI's commitment to advancing the science of the human immune system and translating discoveries into meaningful improvements in patient care.

Jane Buckner, President of BRI

The implications of this work extend beyond individual patients. Better vaccines could strengthen pandemic preparedness, while new approaches to autoimmune disease treatment could reduce the burden of chronic conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. As these researchers continue their work, the results may reshape how we think about both prevention and treatment of immune-related diseases.