On Monday, June 1, the Center for RNA Biomedicine will host RNA biology and RNA drug development expert Sarah Herridge, Ph.D., for a lecture titled, “Beyond COVID19 Vaccines: Translating RNA Science into Real-World Medicines.”

Schedule — Monday, June 1 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
4:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m. | Sarah Herridge, Ph.D. Lecture — 3695 North Lecture Hall, Medical Science Building II

Download a pdf flyer

Abstract and Speaker Info

Abstract:
RNA medicines have long promised a new way to treat disease, offering speed,
precision, and modularity that other therapeutic modalities may struggle to match. Well
before the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA-based approaches, including mRNA and
oligonucleotide therapeutics, were already reshaping how disease could be targeted,
particularly in oncology. These early programs demonstrated both the potential of RNA
and the practical complexity of translating it into robust, patient-ready medicines.

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a pivotal moment for the field. RNA science was
translated at unprecedented speed and scale into effective vaccines, demonstrating
clear real-world impact. As the world moves beyond the pandemic, the question
becomes: what comes next for RNA medicines? This talk explores how lessons from
RNA therapeutics and vaccines are now converging to expand RNA-based approaches
beyond infectious disease, particularly in oncology and other complex indications.

Drawing on her own career spanning academia, startups, and biopharma, Sarah will
share a personal perspective on the evolution of RNA medicines. She traces her
journey from leading an academic laboratory to founding and scaling two startups at the
intersection of oligonucleotide therapeutics and artificial intelligence, and now to
supporting RNA research translation and commercialization within a global biotech
organization. This journey provides a practical lens on how RNA science moves from
discovery to development, and why translational thinking must begin long before clinical
trials.

Finally, the presentation will focus on how BioNTech is working with the global research
ecosystem to support this next phase of RNA innovation. By combining deep RNA
expertise with partnerships, manufacturing, and mentoring capabilities, BioNTech aims
to help researchers move RNA discoveries from the lab toward innovative medicines,
ensuring that the momentum built during the pandemic translates into lasting health
impact.

About Sarah Herridge, Ph.D.:
Dr. Sarah Herridge is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in RNA therapeutics development for oncology, spanning the full spectrum from target discovery to clinical trials. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in Germany and completed her postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she collaborated with Ionis Pharmaceuticals on pioneering RNA-based cancer therapies. Sarah has held leadership positions in academia, including as Lab Head at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and served as the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer for two startups in the RNA therapeutics sector: Amaroq Therapeutics and Fold AI.

She currently serves as Director of Research & Scientific Affairs at BioNTech in Australia. In her current role, Sarah leads the development and execution of research strategy, manages scientific collaborations and external partnerships, oversees the onboarding of new research projects, and drives the implementation of scientific engagement initiatives to advance BioNTech’s mission globally.

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Sponsored by the RNA Student and Postdoc Council

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