Des Moines Sun

Gov. Kim Reynolds has designated about $2 million in CARES Act funding to promote the development of a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Office of Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The effort is through cooperation between the state, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

The funding will help the two universities present their trademarked technology in an attempt to advance a COVID-19 nanovaccine possibility. The effort will address the barriers of the vaccines that are under development.

“Through this important partnership, Iowa is supporting those on the frontlines of nanovaccine development,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a press release. “Iowa’s COVID-19 nanovaccine candidate will not require needles or refrigeration, and could provide long-term immunity from just a single dose. I am proud of the role of Iowa State University and the University of Iowa is playing in this cutting-edge development.”

The Nanovaccine Institute based at Iowa State was established in 2013 with this kind of global health challenge in mind, said Iowa State’s Balaji Narasimhan, the project leader, director of the Nanovaccine Institute and an Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering in a press release. 

“We’ve created a team that can innovate and moves our ideas beyond the lab. We’re ready to meet the urgent need for a COVID-19 vaccine," Narasimhan said.