First AI-designed coronavirus vaccine clears human safety trial

Cambridge Scientists Develop First AI-Designed Coronavirus Vaccine Tested in Humans

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have completed the first human clinical trial of a vaccine whose active component was designed entirely by artificial intelligence, marking a milestone in the effort to prevent future pandemics before they begin.

The trial, involving 39 healthy volunteers at National Institute for Health and Care Research facilities in Southampton and Cambridge, found that the AI-designed “super-antigen” vaccine is safe and has no significant side effects, according to results published in the Journal of Infection in June 2026.cam

How the Technology Works

The team, led by Professor Jonathan Heeney from Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and spin-out company DIOSynVax, used machine learning to analyze all available genetic sequence data for Sarbeco coronaviruses — the broad family that includes SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat viruses circulating in animal populations. From that data, the AI designed a synthetic super-antigen containing features common to the entire virus group, including strains that have not yet emerged in humans.cam

“We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof,” Heeney said. “Our vaccines will continue to provide protection against viruses even as they mutate into new strains.”cam

The vaccine triggered immune responses in volunteers not only to SARS-CoV-2 and SARS, but also to bat coronaviruses that could potentially jump to humans. It was delivered as a DNA vaccine through a needle-free micro fluid jet, offering an alternative to conventional injections.nhs

What Comes Next

A larger Phase 2 trial involving more than 200 participants will next assess the vaccine’s ability to generate strong, broadly protective immune responses in a more diverse population. The technology is also being applied to other virus families, including influenza and Ebola-group viruses.perspectivemedia

Professor Saul Faust of the University of Southampton, the trial’s chief investigator, said the approach could transform pandemic preparedness. “If we can develop and clinically advance this new class of vaccines before a virus outbreak begins, millions of lives could be saved, lockdowns avoided and the economy preserved,” he said.nhs

The research was primarily funded by Innovate UK. DIOSynVax, established in 2017 as a Cambridge spin-out, maintains a pipeline of vaccine candidates targeting seasonal flu, pandemic influenza, and haemorrhagic fever viruses alongside coronaviruses.cam