Scientists Join Forces to Build Better Vaccines for Older Adults

Researchers in New Zealand and Scotland are teaming up to create a world-first map of how immune cells change over time, with the ultimate goal of making vaccines work better for older people. Led by chief scientist Michelle Linterman, the Malaghan Institute is partnering with the University of Dundee on the project.

The Ageing Immune System

Vaccines are strong tools against disease, but getting older changes how immune cells make and handle proteins. Linterman compares this protein management to a house cleaner keeping a home neat. As people age, this internal cleaning slows down and things get messy, which stops immune cells from working as they should.

Overcoming Research Hurdles

Studying these changes has been hard because the specific immune cells researchers need are very rare in standard blood samples, usually showing up in tiny amounts after a person gets a shot. The University of Dundee brings new technology to this partnership that makes it possible to study proteins in such small cell samples for the first time.

Community Trust

The team is also working with the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust in Hamilton to connect with older community members. Linterman notes that research only helps if communities trust the science behind it, praising the trust for its work in supporting health and wellbeing for older adults.

Context

An ageing population means that finding ways to prevent avoidable illness in older adults is a growing priority for public health systems. Improved vaccines could mean fewer hospital stays and a better quality of life for seniors, making scientific partnerships across international borders increasingly common in medical research.