By Clinical Research News Staff 

August 18, 2026 | Digital Immune-Optimized Synthetic vaccines (DIOSynVax) is betting that the future of vaccination lies not in chasing individual viral variants, but in designing broadly protective vaccines that target entire virus families. The University of Cambridge spinout is using artificial intelligence (AI), genomics, synthetic biology, and immunology to create vaccine antigens that could be delivered through a range of existing vaccine platforms, with early clinical data supporting the concept. 

The company's approach recently reached an important milestone with the publication of a phase 1 trial of its pan-sarbecovirus DNA vaccine in the Journal of Infection (DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2026.106759). Designed to protect against SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and related coronaviruses, the vaccine was found to be safe and generated immune responses against broadly shared viral targets. The study provides an early proof of concept for DIOSynVax's strategy of targeting conserved regions across virus families rather than rapidly evolving viral variants. 

"To be clear, this is not a single vaccine intended to protect against all infectious diseases,” clarified Jonathan Heeney, professor of comparative pathology at the University of Cambridge and cofounder of DIOSynVax. “Rather, the approach involves designing ... vaccines against specific viral families or pathogen groups, each intended for a particular clinical indication.”  

Instead, the company aims to develop vaccines that provide broad protection against specific viral families, including influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and hemorrhagic fever viruses. The technology emerged following the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, when researchers sought to develop a vaccine capable of protecting against multiple hemorrhagic fever viruses, including Marburg, Sudan, and Lassa viruses. These infections often present with similar symptoms, while limited diagnostic testing can delay identification and contribute to uncontrolled outbreaks. 

Rather than focusing immune responses on a single viral strain, DIOSynVax uses AI to analyze large genomic datasets and identify conserved features shared across related viruses. Researchers then design synthetic antigens intended to stimulate immune responses against multiple stages of a virus's lifecycle. Those antigens can be incorporated into a variety of vaccine platforms—including mRNA, DNA, viral vectors, protein-based formulations, and live-attenuated vaccines—allowing developers to select the most appropriate delivery system for a given indication. 

The company's next priority is a "supra-seasonal" influenza vaccine designed to provide protection across multiple flu seasons instead of targeting only the strains predicted to circulate each year. Pre-regulatory animal work has been completed. According to Heeney, manufacturing could begin next year pending funding, with clinical trials expected to follow.  

To read the full story written by Deborah Borfitz, visit Bio-IT World News.