Paul McKay

Dr Paul McKay is an Advanced Research Fellow in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He leads research on self-amplifying RNA and mRNA vaccine technologies, focusing on immune response modulation and vaccine delivery systems. His work integrates virology, immunology, and biomedical engineering to address global health challenges like HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and zoonotic diseases.

Education:

• B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry, Imperial College London
• M.Sc. in Medical Immunology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School (now Imperial College)
• Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology, Imperial College London

Research Interests:

• Design of novel vaccine delivery systems (lipid nanoparticles, polymers)
• Preclinical evaluation of mRNA and self-amplifying RNA vaccines
• Mucosal immunity mechanisms and antibody responses
• Therapeutic modulation of immune pathways

Affiliations:

• Immuno-Pathology Network
• Section of Immunology of Infection
• Vaccine Research Network
• Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative
• Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research (FVMR) Hub

Scientific Contributions:

• Over 100 peer-reviewed publications
• 10 patents in vaccine technology
• Co-founder of an Imperial College biotech startup

Advancing Vaccinology: Dr McKay's lab develops next-generation vaccines targeting emerging pathogens, optimizing delivery systems to enhance immune durability and cross-variant protection. Current projects include mRNA-based solutions for HIV, coronaviruses, and bacterial infections like Chlamydia.