Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett has emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against COVID-19. As a viral immunologist, her work has been instrumental in the development of vaccines, offering hope in a global pandemic. Currently 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, Corbett’s journey to the forefront of scientific innovation is a story of dedication and achievement.
Born in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, in 1986, Corbett’s early life was shaped by a close-knit family in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Her fourth-grade teacher recognized her exceptional talent, encouraging her to pursue advanced studies. Corbett graduated from Orange High School in 2004 and went on to earn a B.S. in biological sciences and sociology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2008 as a Meyerhoff Scholar. This program, known for supporting students in STEM fields, also fostered the talents of other prominent biomedical figures who rose to prominence during the pandemic. She completed her PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014, conducting research in Sri Lanka on the role of human antibodies in dengue virus pathogenesis.
Corbett’s career trajectory reflects her commitment to virology and immunology. Early research experiences, including a summer internship at Stony Brook University and work at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), laid the foundation for her expertise. From 2009 to 2014, she studied human antibody responses to dengue virus at UNC-Chapel Hill, including a period as a visiting scholar at the Genetech Research Institute in Sri Lanka.
In 2014, Corbett joined the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID NIH), where her work focused on developing novel vaccines for coronaviruses. Her research on SARS and MERS proved invaluable in the fight against COVID-19. Crucially, she and her team, in collaboration with researchers at Scripps Research Institute and Dartmouth College, identified a method to stabilize coronavirus spike proteins, making them more immunogenic and easier to manufacture.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Corbett’s expertise was critical. Leveraging her prior research, her team, in collaboration with Jason McLellan at the University of Texas at Austin, rapidly developed a vaccine candidate. They transplanted stabilizing mutations from the SARS-CoV S protein into the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, a key step in vaccine development. Partnering with Moderna, the vaccine quickly moved into clinical trials, demonstrating remarkable speed in response to the global health crisis.
Corbett’s contributions have been widely recognized. Anthony Fauci highlighted her central role in the development of the Moderna mRNA vaccine and the Eli Lilly therapeutic monoclonal antibody. Her work has been deemed essential to ending the pandemic. She was featured in Time’s “Time100 Next” list in 2021, with a profile written by Fauci.
Beyond her scientific achievements, Corbett has been a vocal advocate for public health measures during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of caution, respect, and avoiding stigmatization. She has also worked to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly within the Black community, recognizing the importance of trust and representation in public health outreach.
Corbett’s journey, marked by academic excellence and a dedication to scientific advancement, positions her as a leader in the field of immunology and a key figure in the ongoing fight against infectious diseases. Her work on the COVID-19 vaccine has not only saved lives but has also inspired a new generation of scientists.
