Bioengineer Michael Fischbach studies alternative vaccine delivery methods, like self-administered creams with no needles, health professionals, or side effects. He teases a day when vaccines that don’t make you feel bad come in the mail in ketchup-style packets. Such innovations would greatly improve vaccine uptake, especially in developing countries, and speed global response to novel viruses. It would change how we think about vaccines, Fischbach tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Episode Reference Links:

Stanford Profile: Michael Fischbach

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Michael Fischbach, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.

(00:04:24) Cream-Based Vaccines

The discovery that revealed the skin’s ability to spark systemic immunity.

(00:07:36) Engineering Immunity

Modifying staph epidermidis to carry antigens and test immune response.

(00:09:38) Tumor Regression

How engineered bacteria triggered tumor-killing immunity in mice.

(00:12:53) Antibody Discovery

Evidence that skin exposure can generate long-lasting antibodies.

(00:17:02) Antibody Response in Humans

Whether humans show antibody responses to their own skin bacteria.

(00:18:42) Turning Bacteria into Vaccines

Embedding harmless pathogen fragments into bacterial surface proteins.

(00:20:55) Immunity Without Shots

How mice achieved vaccine-level immunity through topical application.

(00:24:00) Reimagining Vaccine Delivery

The potential for self-applied, needle-free, and multiplexed vaccines.

(00:26:50) Mechanism Behind Skin Immunity

How skin immune cells may constantly sample microbes for defence.

(00:28:14) Next Steps in Development

The path toward testing safety, dosage, and delivery in higher models.

(00:29:57) Choosing Vaccine Targets

Viruses and diseases that could be targets for early skin-based vaccines.

(00:31:11) Safety and Reversibility

Ensuring safety with reversible bacteria and limited trial participants.

(00:33:04) Transitioning to Biotech

Transitioning research from Stanford to large-scale biotech development.

(00:34:31) Future In a Minute

Rapidfire Q&A: creative science, vaccine innovation, and biology’s future.

(00:36:56) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

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The future of topical vaccines

The Future of Everything