Proof of Prophylaxis - MIT Langer Lab

Guests: Dr. Ana Jaklenec, MIT Langer Lab & Dr. Kevin McHugh, Rice University

Vaccines save lives. Yet, despite concerted global efforts more than 1.5 million children die each year from vaccine preventable diseases. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are at the center of this massive endeavor, and have enlisted labs around the world to help solve intractable problems in the developing world, including work was recently published in Science Translational Medicine. The technology involves a microneedle patch that can administer a standard vaccine, painlessly, but also leave an invisible vaccination record right on the skin. Meaning those who need vaccines can get them, even in the most remote locations, and those who don't need them, can prove they are protected without the need for paper or even digital records. You could carry the proof of prophylaxis with you, invisibly, as long as the vaccine protects you.  

On this episode, we’ll meet two of the paper’s co-authors, out of the Langer Lab at MIT: Dr. Ana Jaklenec and Dr. Kevin McHugh.

This is the TomorrowScale Podcast. Hosted by Justin Briggs.

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Publication (McHugh 2019): https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aay7162

The TomorrowScale Podcast was created by Justin Briggs to showcase technology companies building the future. Interviews may be with old friends or were cold-contacted by Justin directly to be on the show. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own, and the content of this show should not be considered legal, tax, or investing advice. Thank you to our guests for sharing their time and knowledge with us.  And thank you for listening. Please science responsibly.