The Seattle-based Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) has announced a $26 million gift from the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation (CSSFF) to fund development of next-generation vaccine and therapeutic solutions that are accessible to patients around the world.

As new coronavirus variants emerge due to the lack of vaccination in rural communities and low- and middle-income countries, immunity wanes for people who have already received three doses of the mRNA COVID vaccine. The CSSFF donation will fund development and clinical testing of immune-enhancing technology that is temperature-stable, can protect against emerging variants, and stimulate not only broadly neutralizing antibodies, but also T cells that actively destroy infected cells. AAHI’s adjuvant and RNA technology can be applied to infectious diseases, cancer, allergies, fungal and parasitic infections, and other non-communicable diseases.

“A more sustainable solution is needed to end this pandemic and protect us from the world’s deadliest diseases,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, CSSFF founder and chair of AAHI’s board of directors. “Vaccines need to provide effective and lasting protection by inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies, killer T cells that will destroy the already infected cells, and importantly, memory T cells and B cells, which are cross-protective against multiple coronaviruses. AAHI has developed next-generation technology that through various approaches, including a mix-and-match vaccine regimen, can trigger all lines of immunological defense and reach all areas of the world, including low-resource areas.”