BBC Inside Science Can we prevent the next pandemic?
12 snips
Apr 23, 2026 
Lizzie Gibney, Nature reporter covering robotics and Big G measurements. Frankie Dunn, researcher who described the Ediacaran fossil Auroralumina, linking early animals to modern groups. John Tregoning, vaccine immunology professor and author on pathogens and preparedness. They discuss avian flu risks and mRNA vaccine preparedness. They also explore ancient fossils and surprising science news like a ping-pong robot.
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mRNA Platforms Turn Vaccine Manufacture Into A Rapid Swap
- mRNA platforms let us treat vaccine production like a 3D printer, swapping sequences to match emerging flu strains quickly.
- John Tregoning explains bridging studies using haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) correlates to predict efficacy without waiting for natural outbreaks.
Use HAI Antibodies To Bridge Vaccine Trials
- Established correlates of protection (HAI titers) enable smaller clinical pathways for flu vaccines by targeting antibody levels known to prevent infection.
- Tregoning cites 1970s human challenge data and long-term HAI use to justify bridging immunogenicity studies instead of large outcome trials.
Prepare With Platforms Not Promises
- Do not assume a single technology solves pandemics; focus on preparedness rather than a definitive solution.
- Tregoning advises maintaining vaccine platforms and manufacturing capacity as a seatbelt for unknown future threats.
