On Jul. 7, 2021, scientists at Rice University’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP) announced they are part of a study to develop an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine.

The project led by Rutgers University and CTBP scientists at Rice and Northeastern University has produced two vaccine strategies. Both are scalable and adaptable and can be transported and stored at room temperature.

One strategy employs modified bacteriophage particles that can be inhaled to deliver protection via the lungs to the immune system. The other delivers injectable adeno-associated virus-phage particles that directly encode protection against the virus in immune cells.