A team of British researchers, led by scientists at the universities of Cambridge and Southampton, has developed the first vaccine designed entirely by artificial intelligence to be tested in humans. The vaccine aims to provide broad, lasting protection against entire families of viruses, including coronaviruses and Ebola, and could transform how Europe and the world prepare for future pandemics.
“Viruses like Influenza, Coronaviruses and the Ebola group are evolving continuously, and by the time vaccines are rolled out, they may be poorly matched — the current ‘reactive’ vaccine system struggles to keep pace,” said professor Saul Faust from the University of Southampton, the trial’s chief investigator.
In recent years, multiple outbreaks caused by betacoronaviruses — the most significant being the COVID-19 pandemic — have highlighted the urgent need for vaccines that can keep up with viral mutations. The continued circulation of these pathogens has led to new variants, challenging traditional vaccine development.
How AI Designed a ‘Super-Antigen’
To create this vaccine, the researchers employed an entirely AI-designed active component known as a “super-antigen.” This computer-designed protein mimics shared features across multiple coronaviruses, rather than targeting a single specific strain. The goal is to trigger the body’s immune system to fight a broad array of pathogens with those base characteristics.
The team used all available genetic sequence data for Sarbeco coronaviruses — zoonotic viruses that primarily circulate in bats and can jump to humans or other mammals — recorded in surveillance programmes around the world. They then applied machine learning to create the super-antigen.
“We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof,” said professor Jonathan Heeney from the Lab of Viral Zoonotics at the University of Cambridge and the scientific lead of the research. “We’ve overcome the problem of traditional vaccines, which have limited protection. It means we can escape the constant cycle of chasing the virus variants circulating in humans and updating the vaccines to try to catch up, like a dog chasing its tail.” Heeney added that this new class of universal vaccines could also potentially protect against viruses that have not yet emerged.
Needle-Free Delivery and Global Implications
A further novelty is that this vaccine does not require a needle. It is administered through a microfluidic jet that propels the antigen directly into the skin via a high-speed liquid stream. The researchers noted that this delivery method increases global applicability by reducing volume requirements, eliminating sharps waste, and improving uptake in settings where needle-based administration is a barrier.
Such vaccines are also generally more thermostable than mRNA alternatives and do not require ultra-cold chain logistics, making them well-suited for use in low- and middle-income countries and in rapid-response scenarios. This aligns with broader European efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness, as seen in initiatives like the EU's high-stakes bet on electrification and other strategic investments.
Clinical Trial Results and Next Steps
Between December 2021 and September 2023, 39 volunteers were vaccinated in the first trial, designed to assess safety, tolerability, and the immune response triggered. The vaccine was well tolerated across all four doses, with no significant safety concerns reported, the researchers said.
“The remarkable success of this AI-designed ‘super-antigen’ trial marks a pivotal leap forward in our ability to deliver broad, lasting viral protection,” said professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director at the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Following these successful results, researchers will now start a phase 2 clinical trial to assess the vaccine’s ability to induce immune responses in a wider and more diverse population and confirm that it generates strong, broadly protective immunity. The development comes as the CEPI fast-tracks three Ebola vaccines in response to an ongoing outbreak in Central Africa, underscoring the urgency of such innovations.
For Europe, which relies on a network of twenty-seven member states plus partners like the UK, Switzerland, and Norway, this vaccine could represent a significant step toward a coordinated, future-proofed public health strategy. The ability to rapidly deploy a universal vaccine against unknown threats would reduce the continent's vulnerability to pandemics, complementing existing efforts in surveillance and response.
