Vaccines and their components - why do we need them?

When harmful pathogens like viruses or bacteria enter our body, our immune system fights back - but sometimes that’s not enough.
That’s where vaccines come in. Vaccines train our immune system by showing it a harmless version or piece of an infectious agent, so our body learns to recognize and destroy the real pathogen later. But sometimes the immune response needs a boost. A small piece of the pathogen may not trigger a strong or lasting reaction. That’s the job of adjuvants - special ingredients added to vaccines that help the body respond strongly and remember the pathogen for longer. This means better protection against diseases like flu or COVID-19.

Thanks to vaccines, we can avoid getting seriously sick and help protect others too. And thanks to adjuvants, vaccines become more effective and safer - so everyone can benefit, from tiny babies to older grandparents. My project focuses on finding new adjuvants which may address some new vaccines. Moreover, I work with special compounds of those adjuvants to improve their sustainability and accessibility. A bit about myself: Since high school I was fascinated with microbiology. I started Bachelor of Engineering in biotechnology, and after that I was lucky enough to start European Vaccinology Master in 4 different countries. After that I started my industrial PhD at DTU and pharmaceutical company. Personally I am fascinated with entire vaccinology field, including their mode of action, immunology, but also social aspects such as hesitancy.