A Nigerian biomedical researcher, Sodiq Hameed, is leading a global scientific movement aimed at revolutionising vaccine development through mucosal mRNA technologies, Guardian Nigeria has learnt.

Hameed, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow and graduate of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Leading International Vaccinology Education (LIVE), is the lead author of a groundbreaking peer-reviewed study on mucosal mRNA vaccines, which experts say could significantly transform global pandemic preparedness.

The study, titled “Towards the Future Exploration of Mucosal mRNA Vaccines Against Emerging Viral Diseases”, presents scientific insights into how messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines—praised for their success during the COVID-19 pandemic—can be reengineered for oral and intranasal delivery. This approach, Hameed argues, addresses viral infections at their primary entry points: mucosal surfaces in the nose, mouth, and respiratory tract.

“Most viral pathogens, whether COVID-19, RSV, or influenza, enter the body through mucosal surfaces,” Hameed said in a statement. “Yet current vaccines largely ignore these critical frontlines. Our work focuses on how mRNA technologies can be used to generate strong immune responses at these sites, blocking infection before it begins.”

Hameed’s publication not only dissects the scientific mechanics behind mucosal immunity, but it also explores previous and ongoing vaccine innovations such as oral polio and nasal flu vaccines. The paper identifies and proposes solutions to biological, technological, and regulatory hurdles limiting the expansion of mucosal vaccine strategies.

The research outlines key advantages of mucosal mRNA vaccines: needle-free delivery that is ideal for low-resource settings, quick adaptability to new viral variants, and potential to stop virus transmission through sterilising immunity. “We are not just improving convenience. We’re rethinking the entire architecture of vaccine design to fit real-world needs,” Hameed added.

Beyond this study, Hameed has co-authored several high-impact scientific papers. One such work, “Crosstalk between the intestinal virome and other components of the microbiota”, explores how microbes in the gut—viruses, bacteria, fungi—interact to shape immune responses. His research holds critical implications for treating gastrointestinal and systemic diseases through mucosal targeting.

In another recent study, Hameed collaborated with international researchers to map mucosal immune structures in dogs using advanced techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence. Titled “Characterisation of Canine Peyer’s Patches by Multidimensional Analysis,” the study enhances cross-species understanding of mucosal biology, offering promising leads for future vaccine innovation.

Hameed also used the opportunity to call for a shift in global vaccine development, encouraging more investment in African research capacity. “Africa must move from being a recipient of vaccines to a creator of vaccine solutions,” he said. “This means investing in translational research, regional biotech ecosystems, and training the next generation of African scientists.”

As the world prepares for future pandemics in an age of global mobility and rapid viral evolution, Hameed’s work positions African science at the forefront of immunological innovation, where breakthroughs may now come not from vaccine factories abroad, but from the labs of researchers like him.