Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett-Helaire is a pioneering viral immunologist whose research helped change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. As scientific lead of the coronavirus vaccine team at the National Institutes of Health, she played a central role in developing the stabilized spike protein used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Building on years of coronavirus research, Dr. Corbett-Helaire and her colleagues helped move the vaccine from genetic sequencing to its first clinical trial in just 66 days—an extraordinary scientific achievement that contributed to protecting millions of lives worldwide.

Today, Dr. Corbett-Helaire is an assistant professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work continues to advance vaccine development, therapeutic antibodies and preparedness for future pandemics. Beyond the laboratory, she is a dedicated mentor, science educator and advocate for greater trust and representation in healthcare. Through her outreach to communities of color and her visibility as a Black woman leading groundbreaking biomedical research, Dr. Corbett-Helaire has inspired a new generation of scientists and demonstrated the profound impact that inclusive leadership can have on global health.

Photo credit: National Institutes of Health. Public-domain image available through Wikimedia Commons.