Today In Black History: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett
Immunologist who developed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Issue #894 Today In Black History, Monday, July 21, 2025
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a distinguished immunologist, played a pivotal role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her team's research became the backbone of vaccine development, pioneering approaches that significantly accelerated the production of an effective COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Corbett was born in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, on January 26, 1986, to Rhonda Brooks. She grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
In 2008, Dr. Corbett received a B.S. in biological sciences and sociology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). In 2014, she received a PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Corbett is an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Shutzer Assistant Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute since June 2021.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Corbett started working on a vaccine to protect people from coronavirus disease. Corbett's team leveraged their prior knowledge of optimal coronavirus proteins to address COVID-19. S proteins form a "crown" on the surface of coronaviruses.
In May 2020, The Washington Post reported that Corbett had been scrutinized for tweets lamenting the lack of diversity on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, as well as for her responses to other tweets about data that African Americans were disproportionately dying from the virus.
Dr. Corbett leverages her expertise in viral immunology to drive the development of novel vaccines for pandemic preparedness, including mRNA-1273, a leading vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine concept incorporated in mRNA-1273 was designed by Dr. Corbett's NIH team using viral sequences and rapidly deployed to industry partner Moderna, Inc., for a Phase 1 clinical trial, which began unprecedentedly only 66 days after the viral sequence was released.
Alongside mRNA-1273, Dr. Corbett’s patent portfolio includes concepts for universal coronavirus and influenza vaccines, as well as novel therapeutic antibodies. In total, she has over 15 years of experience studying dengue virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, and coronaviruses, and has several prestigious awards.
Dr. Corbett dedicates a significant portion of her time to underserved communities, serving as an advocate for STEM education and vaccine awareness.
In a field historically dominated by men, particularly white men, Dr. Corbett stands out not only for her scientific accomplishments but also as a powerful symbol of breaking barriers for Black women in the STEM field.
Today In Black History
In 1896, the National Association of Colored Women was founded in Washington, D..C., and elected Dr. Mary Church Terrell as its first president.
In 1950, Black troops of the 24th Infantry Regiment recaptured Yechon after a 16-hour battle, scoring the first U.S. victory in the Korean War.
In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first Black person to win a major U.S. tennis tournament.
In 1959, Elijah Jerry “Pumpsie” Green became the first African American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last Major League Baseball team to integrate.
In 1985, Amina Fakir of Detroit, Michigan, was crowned the 18th Miss Black America.
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