Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Research and Development Medical research is a global, world- wide process. Scientists from various countries usually work together and inform each other about their progress. Of course, some of the discoveries are private and protected by proprietary rights, but this is done mostly due to the financial benefits and restrictions when a certain discovery is promising large profits. Many preliminary discoveries that are crucial to further development are achieved in the lab of government institutions, similar to National Institute of Health in the US. From there, some studies are just abandoned, and some others are 'sold' to private institutions with private investments for further development. In some other instances, small labs can discover a revolutionary molecule or process and must'sell'it to bigger institutions due to need for funds for further studies. The history of mRNA vaccine for Covid-19 started in the 1960s. It continued in the '70s, but with a very limited spectrum. It was utilized in development of Ebola vaccines in Africa, but, due to such a limited geographic area, it was not really examined much further. It also had some technical challenges associated with how the actual product should be stored. It required very low temperatures to maintain stability and effectiveness and was very difficult to transport. It was not until the world-wide spread of Covid-19 for the actual mRNA to become a solution. And it seems like it worked very well and was further advanced for indications from HIV to cancer. According to world renovated scientists, it has a tremendous future opportunity to work in infectious diseases, immunotherapies, control of tumors and more. What is mRNA? It is not a simple medication or a shot as many patients assume. It is more of a delivery system to carry specific protein cells into the body. Those specific proteins are lab- developed, and they target certain areas of our immune system. The cells are dropped in the immune chain respective to particular indication (like HIV or COVID) and they are recognized by our bodies as foreign, which they truly are. Subsequently, our bodies Dema defend themselves by producing a 'fight' reaction and developing antibodies, protecting us from acquiring real- life disease. This is a very simplified version of the process that takes place in our organisms. 'm' in mRNA stands for a messenger, which it truly is. The challenges from years ago were overcome with the development of nanotechnology, which allowed us to create a 'bubble' to carry the messages with proteins to the proper target. Before it happened, many of the proteins were known to work as inducing the immune system responses, but they degraded and got wasted out from the body before delivering the message. If you study more information about science still working on improving these processes you realize how revolutionary the discovery was and how it combines various sources and scientific fields from medical to chemical to physical, at a very advanced level. One person or one lab could not do it. It was a highly effective combination of brilliant minds and hard teamwork around the world. It is too bad that our efforts to move forward were just stalled by removing funds to further develop mRNA. We are possibly missing out on our healthier future. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Research and Development Medical research is a global , world- wide process . Scientists from various countries usually work together and inform each other about their progress . Of course , some of the discoveries are private and protected by proprietary rights , but this is done mostly due to the financial benefits and restrictions when a certain discovery is promising large profits . Many preliminary discoveries that are crucial to further development are achieved in the lab of government institutions , similar to National Institute of Health in the US . From there , some studies are just abandoned , and some others are ' sold ' to private institutions with private investments for further development . In some other instances , small labs can discover a revolutionary molecule or process and must'sell'it to bigger institutions due to need for funds for further studies . The history of mRNA vaccine for Covid - 19 started in the 1960s . It continued in the ' 70s , but with a very limited spectrum . It was utilized in development of Ebola vaccines in Africa , but , due to such a limited geographic area , it was not really examined much further . It also had some technical challenges associated with how the actual product should be stored . It required very low temperatures to maintain stability and effectiveness and was very difficult to transport . It was not until the world - wide spread of Covid - 19 for the actual mRNA to become a solution . And it seems like it worked very well and was further advanced for indications from HIV to cancer . According to world renovated scientists , it has a tremendous future opportunity to work in infectious diseases , immunotherapies , control of tumors and more . What is mRNA ? It is not a simple medication or a shot as many patients assume . It is more of a delivery system to carry specific protein cells into the body . Those specific proteins are lab- developed , and they target certain areas of our immune system . The cells are dropped in the immune chain respective to particular indication ( like HIV or COVID ) and they are recognized by our bodies as foreign , which they truly are . Subsequently , our bodies Dema defend themselves by producing a ' fight ' reaction and developing antibodies , protecting us from acquiring real- life disease . This is a very simplified version of the process that takes place in our organisms . ' m ' in mRNA stands for a messenger , which it truly is . The challenges from years ago were overcome with the development of nanotechnology , which allowed us to create a ' bubble ' to carry the messages with proteins to the proper target . Before it happened , many of the proteins were known to work as inducing the immune system responses , but they degraded and got wasted out from the body before delivering the message . If you study more information about science still working on improving these processes you realize how revolutionary the discovery was and how it combines various sources and scientific fields from medical to chemical to physical , at a very advanced level . One person or one lab could not do it . It was a highly effective combination of brilliant minds and hard teamwork around the world . It is too bad that our efforts to move forward were just stalled by removing funds to further develop mRNA . We are possibly missing out on our healthier future . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net