Celebrating Kizzmekia Corbett: A modern-day trailblazer

Discover the remarkable contributions of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a leading immunologist whose work shaped our world. Learn about her pivotal role in vaccine development and her ongoing dedication to public health.

The brilliant mind behind breakthroughs

Born on January 26, 1986, in North Carolina, Kizzmekia Corbett is a distinguished Black American immunologist whose work has profoundly impacted global health. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A pivotal role in vaccine development

Dr. Corbett worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she led research on coronaviruses for years before the COVID-19 pandemic. When COVID-19 emerged in 2020, her team's groundbreaking research made it possible to rapidly design the Moderna mRNA vaccine, a crucial step in mitigating the pandemic's impact. She was one of the teams of trailblazing doctors who helped to develop a vaccine to mitigate Covid.

Continuing her legacy in education and research

Following her monumental contributions at NIH, Dr. Corbett became a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Here, she continues to teach and conduct vital research on vaccines and infectious diseases, inspiring the next generation of scientists and driving forward medical innovation.