Presented By: Center for RNA Biomedicine
“Beyond COVID19 Vaccines: Translating RNA Science into Real-World Medicines.”
Sarah Herridge, Ph.D., BioNTech Australia – Lecture
The Center for RNA Biomedicine presents Sarah Herridge, Ph.D., Director, Research and Scientific Affairs, BioNTech Australia
On Monday, June 1, the Center for RNA Biomedicine will host RNA biology and RNA drug development expert Sarah Herridge, Ph.D., for a lecture titled, “Beyond COVID19 Vaccines: Translating RNA Science into Real-World Medicines.”
Schedule — Monday, June 1 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
4:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m. | Sarah Herridge, Ph.D. Lecture — 3695 North Lecture Hall, Medical Science Building II
Abstract and Speaker Info
Abstract:
RNA medicines have long promised a new way to treat disease, offering speed, precision, and modularity that other therapeutic modalities may struggle to match. Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA-based approaches, including mRNA and oligonucleotide therapeutics, were already reshaping how disease could be targeted, particularly in oncology. These early programs demonstrated both the potential of RNA and the practical complexity of translating it into robust, patient-ready medicines.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a pivotal moment for the field. RNA science was translated at unprecedented speed and scale into effective vaccines, demonstrating clear real-world impact. As the world moves beyond the pandemic, the question becomes: what comes next for RNA medicines? This talk explores how lessons from RNA therapeutics and vaccines are now converging to expand RNA-based approaches beyond infectious disease, particularly in oncology and other complex indications.
Drawing on her own career spanning academia, startups, and biopharma, Sarah will share a personal perspective on the evolution of RNA medicines. She traces her journey from leading an academic laboratory to founding and scaling two startups at the intersection of oligonucleotide therapeutics and artificial intelligence, and now to supporting RNA research translation and commercialization within a global biotech organization. This journey provides a practical lens on how RNA science moves from discovery to development, and why translational thinking must begin long before clinical trials.
Finally, the presentation will focus on how BioNTech is working with the global research ecosystem to support this next phase of RNA innovation. By combining deep RNA expertise with partnerships, manufacturing, and mentoring capabilities, BioNTech aims to help researchers move RNA discoveries from the lab toward innovative medicines, ensuring that the momentum built during the pandemic translates into lasting health impact.
About Sarah Herridge, Ph.D.:
Dr. Sarah Herridge is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in RNA therapeutics development for oncology, spanning the full spectrum from target discovery to clinical trials. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in Germany and completed her postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she collaborated with Ionis Pharmaceuticals on pioneering RNA-based cancer therapies. Sarah has held leadership positions in academia, including as Lab Head at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and served as the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer for two startups in the RNA therapeutics sector: Amaroq Therapeutics and Fold AI.
She currently serves as Director of Research & Scientific Affairs at BioNTech in Australia. In her current role, Sarah leads the development and execution of research strategy, manages scientific collaborations and external partnerships, oversees the onboarding of new research projects, and drives the implementation of scientific engagement initiatives to advance BioNTech’s mission globally.
On Monday, June 1, the Center for RNA Biomedicine will host RNA biology and RNA drug development expert Sarah Herridge, Ph.D., for a lecture titled, “Beyond COVID19 Vaccines: Translating RNA Science into Real-World Medicines.”
Schedule — Monday, June 1 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
4:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m. | Sarah Herridge, Ph.D. Lecture — 3695 North Lecture Hall, Medical Science Building II
Abstract and Speaker Info
Abstract:
RNA medicines have long promised a new way to treat disease, offering speed, precision, and modularity that other therapeutic modalities may struggle to match. Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA-based approaches, including mRNA and oligonucleotide therapeutics, were already reshaping how disease could be targeted, particularly in oncology. These early programs demonstrated both the potential of RNA and the practical complexity of translating it into robust, patient-ready medicines.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a pivotal moment for the field. RNA science was translated at unprecedented speed and scale into effective vaccines, demonstrating clear real-world impact. As the world moves beyond the pandemic, the question becomes: what comes next for RNA medicines? This talk explores how lessons from RNA therapeutics and vaccines are now converging to expand RNA-based approaches beyond infectious disease, particularly in oncology and other complex indications.
Drawing on her own career spanning academia, startups, and biopharma, Sarah will share a personal perspective on the evolution of RNA medicines. She traces her journey from leading an academic laboratory to founding and scaling two startups at the intersection of oligonucleotide therapeutics and artificial intelligence, and now to supporting RNA research translation and commercialization within a global biotech organization. This journey provides a practical lens on how RNA science moves from discovery to development, and why translational thinking must begin long before clinical trials.
Finally, the presentation will focus on how BioNTech is working with the global research ecosystem to support this next phase of RNA innovation. By combining deep RNA expertise with partnerships, manufacturing, and mentoring capabilities, BioNTech aims to help researchers move RNA discoveries from the lab toward innovative medicines, ensuring that the momentum built during the pandemic translates into lasting health impact.
About Sarah Herridge, Ph.D.:
Dr. Sarah Herridge is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in RNA therapeutics development for oncology, spanning the full spectrum from target discovery to clinical trials. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in Germany and completed her postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she collaborated with Ionis Pharmaceuticals on pioneering RNA-based cancer therapies. Sarah has held leadership positions in academia, including as Lab Head at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and served as the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer for two startups in the RNA therapeutics sector: Amaroq Therapeutics and Fold AI.
She currently serves as Director of Research & Scientific Affairs at BioNTech in Australia. In her current role, Sarah leads the development and execution of research strategy, manages scientific collaborations and external partnerships, oversees the onboarding of new research projects, and drives the implementation of scientific engagement initiatives to advance BioNTech’s mission globally.
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