Episode 5: Inside a University Vaccine Lab

Collegeland

During the COVID vaccine rollout in the U.S., major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna have become household names. But did they really create these vaccines by themselves?

Not by a long shot, says Dr. Deborah Fuller, a vaccinologist and professor of microbiology who runs her own lab at the University of Washington. She and her team have been working on DNA and RNA vaccine technology for years, laying the groundwork for the rapid, safe, and effective development of the COVID vaccines currently on the market, all of which got their start at universities.

Deborah makes the case for why we need to fund “unglamorous” basic research, describes what it’s like running a university vaccine lab during the pandemic, and notes an important shift happening in the science community, with more and more researchers collaborating and sharing their findings in real time.

Then, co-hosts Nan and Lisa are back to grading! For this Report Card segment, they take up student quarantine and new surveillance technologies on campus.

About our guest
Deborah Fuller is a vaccinologist and professor of microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her research focuses on virology, vaccines, and biotechnology.

Produced and edited by Richelle Wilson
Theme music by Josh Wilson
Show cover art by Margaux Parker
Episode cover art by cromaconceptovisual on Pixabay

A special thanks to Wisconsin Humanities for their support.

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