IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-In vitro modeling for the in-depth characterization of mRNA vaccines

Video Transcription

Video Summary

David Forgatch from Sanofi’s mRNA Center presented an in vitro “MIMIC” system used to evaluate mRNA vaccines and predict reactogenicity before clinical trials. The human PBMC-based model, combined with endothelial cells and sometimes myoblasts, was shown to correlate strongly with clinical serum cytokines and reported adverse events across multiple vaccine formulations. The talk highlighted how mRNA purity, ionizable lipids, and helper lipids each influence innate immune activation, cytokine release, and antigen expression. The system also helped identify key sensing pathways, including TLR3 and possibly TLR9, and showed that CD14+ monocytes are major contributors to inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-1β and IL-6. Interestingly, antigen expression and cytokine production occurred in overlapping but not identical monocyte subpopulations, suggesting paracrine signaling. Overall, the MIMIC platform appears useful for ranking formulations, optimizing components, and understanding vaccine mechanism of action.

Meta Tag

Date April 18, 2026 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Room 157

Session Mechanistic Insights into Determinants of Vaccine Immunogenicity

Speaker David Forgacs

Track Vaccines and Immunotherapy (VAC)

Year 2026

Keywords

mRNA vaccines

MIMIC system

reactogenicity

PBMC model

innate immune activation

April 18, 2026 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

157

Mechanistic Insights into Determinants of Vaccine Immunogenicity

David Forgacs

Vaccines and Immunotherapy (VAC)

2026