New research to help vaccines work better as we age
Researchers from New Zealand and the UK are investigating how cellular protein regulation, or proteostasis, changes with age to improve vaccine efficacy for older adults. The project emphasizes community trust by engaging with Māori elders to ensure the research is culturally inclusive.
Why it matters
Improving vaccine effectiveness for the elderly is a critical public health goal as global populations continue to age.
A collaboration between the Malaghan Institute and the University of Dundee will build a world-first, detailed picture of how immune cells change with age and bring a unique New Zealand perspective to the goal of developing more effective vaccines for older people.
Supported by Catalyst Seeding funding from the Royal Society Te Apārangi, the project will investigate how protein regulation changes with age and affects vaccine responses. Alongside the laboratory work, the team will engage with kaumātua (Māori elders), through the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust, recognising that vaccines only make a difference when communities trust the research behind them.
“New Zealand's population is ageing, and developing more effective vaccines for older adults is a promising way to support healthy ageing,” says the Malaghan’s Dr Michelle Linterman, who is leading the project.
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