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Kizzmekia Corbett: The African American Scientist Behind the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine


Kizzmekia Corbett is a renowned African American scientist and a leading researcher in the field of virology. She was born on August 5, 1986, and grew up in Virginia, United States. Corbett is best known for her role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which has been instrumental in the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Corbett received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from North Carolina Central University in 2008, and went on to earn her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015. During her PhD studies, Corbett became interested in the field of virology and developed a keen interest in understanding how viruses interact with cells. 

In 2015, Corbett joined the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she became a key researcher in the effort to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Working closely with other scientists and researchers, Corbett helped to identify the genetic sequence of the COVID-19 virus and developed a vaccine using mRNA technology. The vaccine she helped develop, known as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, was authorized for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2020, and has since been administered to millions of people around the world. 

Corbett’s work on the COVID-19 vaccine has been widely recognized and she has received numerous accolades and awards. In 2021, she was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world and was also included in Forbes' 30 under 30 in Science. Corbett continues to work at the NIH and is currently a researcher in the Vaccine Research Center. 

Kizzmekia Corbett is a trailblazer in the field of virology and a true inspiration to young African American scientists and women in STEM fields. Her innovative work has had a profound impact on the world and will continue to inspire generations to come.