Vaccines, a critical tool to protect the world from deadly disease, are difficult to access in some areas because of the complex, expensive cold-chain (refrigeration and/or freezing) required to store and distribute the life-saving health solutions. Researchers are studying novel formulations of vaccines, to improve the stability of vaccine drug products to reduce the cold chain requirements, ensuring equitable access to vaccines.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, can survive in extreme environments by producing a sugar that slows down cell functions to a near stop, without killing itself. This sugar, called trehalose, is a key ingredient in stabilizing vaccine ingredients so that vaccines can withstand ambient temperature conditions for extended periods of time.
