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The Jenner Institute is based within the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and operates out of the Old Road Campus Research Building, in Headington, Oxford.
Genetic-based vaccines to tackle Chikungunya Virus
Chikungunya Vaccine Programme Genetic based vaccines to prevent Chikungunya virus disease The Chikungunya Vaccine Programme at the Jenner Institute is focused on the development of novel genetic based vaccines including mRNA and viral vector platforms to prevent Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. CHIKV is a mosquito borne alphavirus that causes sudden high fever and debilitating polyarthritis, often with long term joint pain. Outbreaks have occurred across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and more recently parts of Europe and China. There is currently no widely accessible or broadly recommended vaccine for chikungunya. Our programme aims to deliver safe, effective, and scalable vaccine solutions, particularly for populations in low and middle income countries where CHIKV is endemic and vaccine access remains limited. Current Vaccine Landscape Two chikungunya vaccines have recently been licensed: IXCHIQ (Valneva): A live attenuated, single dose vaccine licensed by the FDA in November 2023 for adults aged 18 years and older. It is also authorised in the EU, UK, Canada, and Brazil. Due to reports of serious adverse events, use in older adults (60 years and above) has been temporarily restricted in the US and was recently lifted with caution in the EU. VIMKUNYA (Bavarian Nordic): A virus like particle (VLP) vaccine approved in early 2025 for individuals aged 12 years and older. It does not use live virus and has shown a favourable safety and immunogenicity profile across age groups, including older adults. These developments mark important progress but highlight the need for additional vaccine platforms with improved safety, adaptability to emerging variants, and suitability for co formulation with vaccines for other co endemic arboviruses. Our Approach Led by Dr César López Camacho, our programme is advancing two genetic vaccine strategies: mRNA based vaccines encoding optimised CHIKV envelope proteins, formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for efficient delivery and strong immunogenicity. These are being developed for rapid manufacturing and responsiveness to outbreak settings. Adenoviral vector based vaccines using the ChAdOx1 platform. A Phase I trial of ChAdOx1 CHIKV, completed at the Jenner Institute, showed a strong immune response with a favourable safety profile. Both platforms are being adapted to target African and Asian CHIKV lineages and are designed to be suitable for use in diverse populations, including in sub Saharan Africa. Research Highlights • Structure informed design of CHIKV envelope antigens using AlphaFold and molecular modelling • In vitro validation of mRNA constructs, LNP encapsulation, and quality control • Preclinical studies in murine models showing strong antibody and T cell responses • Ongoing development of combined mRNA vaccines targeting both CHIKV and dengue virus Translational Focus We are currently seeking for funding for further clinical development of our CHIKV vaccines, including future Phase I and II trials. Contact For further information or collaborative opportunities, please contact: Dr César López Camacho Group Leader and Jenner Investigator cesar.lopez-camacho@ndm.ox.ac.uk
The Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
The Jenner Institute’s role in the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.