Human Genomics and Genomic Medicine

Genomic Vaccination

Genomic vaccines are a new class of vaccines that use DNA or RNA to encode specific proteins. Once injected, these genetic materials enter human cells, which then produce the targeted proteins themselves. Compared to traditional vaccine production methods—such as growing proteins in cell cultures or eggs—this approach is often more efficient, faster, and cost-effective.

Conventional vaccines typically rely on inactivated or weakened pathogens, or proteins derived from those microorganisms, to stimulate an immune response. Similarly, many cancer vaccines use specific proteins to target tumor cells. In contrast, genomic vaccines represent a groundbreaking shift by using genes themselves as the basis for immunization, paving the way for significant advancements in both infectious disease prevention and cancer treatment.