Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Lecture Series
Wed, September 24, 2025 2:00 PM - Wed, September 24, 2025 3:30 PM at MSU College of Human Medicine Secchia Center, 15 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids
Please join us.
You are invited to attend an engaging presentation on Preparing for Future Pandemics: The Aftermath of the COVID Vaccine on September 24 for the fall 2025 Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Lecture. Hosted by Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, this lecture series celebrates Ambassador Secchia's spirit of collaboration and innovation. The college warmly welcomes Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, PhD, renowned viral immunologist from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Wednesday, September 24
2:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.
- Location: MSU College of Human Medicine Secchia Center
15 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids. - Smaill bites, beverages and coffee wil be served.
- Questions? Contact Melissa Veneklase at kacosmel@msu.edu.
Preparing for Future Pandemics: The Aftermath of the COVID Vaccine
Leading immunology and infectious disease expert Dr. Corbett-Helaire will discuss how pandemic preparedness led us to rapidly develop a highly effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and therapeutic antibodies. These feats were facilitated by a basic understanding of the antigenic landscape of the major CoV surface protein, the spike (S) protein. As the field progresses towards a universal coronavirus vaccine, we continue to utilize viral immunology to inform vaccine development. Additionally, there are 26 viral families with pandemic-potential. This talk will overview vaccine history, the COVID-19 vaccine development process, the successes and failures of COVID-19 vaccines, and how vaccine development since COVID-19 proceeds.
About the Speaker
Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, PhD, is Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. Dr. Corbett-Helaire’s laboratory studies host immune responses to coronaviruses and other emerging and re-emerging viruses to propel novel vaccine and antibody therapy development. Prior to Harvard, she was a research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center.
A leading COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, was co-designed by Dr. Corbett’s NIH team from viral sequence and rapidly deployed for Phase 1 clinical trial, which unprecedently began only 66 days from viral sequence release. Alongside mRNA-1273, Dr. Corbett-Helaire boasts a patent portfolio which also includes universal vaccines and novel therapeutic antibodies. In all, she has over 15 years of experience studying various viruses, garnering several prestigious awards and recognitions, such as the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding.
About the Series
The Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Lecture Series encourages collaboration among biomedical researchers, faculty, students, and entrepreneurs within the medical industry. Made possible by philanthropic support from the Secchia family, the series was established in 2023 by the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine to support the value of free enterprise as it pertains to medical research. It features biomedical researchers, medical industry entrepreneurs and business executives, and other experts from the health care community.
RSVP for September 24 Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Lecture Series