mRNAs as Medicines

Amy Vanko is the Director of R&D Learning at Moderna, where she focuses on developing educational programs and curricula to support the growth and knowledge of scientists within the organization. She began her career as a bench scientist at Merck, specializing in high-throughput, multi-modality preclinical in vivo imaging to aid drug discovery and animal model validation. After nearly 20 years in laboratory roles, Amy transitioned into business leadership positions, where she excelled in strategy execution and communication. She founded PREPTalks and co-founded the imagine@Merck initiative, gaining recognition for her innovative approaches to scientific storytelling.

Dr. Melissa J. Moore is a distinguished scientist and educator known for her pivotal contributions to RNA research, serving as the Chief Scientific Officer of Platform Research at Moderna from 2016 to 2021, where she led the development of the company’s innovative mRNA technology, including the COVID-19 vaccine. With a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from MIT, she has an extensive academic background that includes postdoctoral training with Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp. Prior to her role at Moderna, Dr. Moore was a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where she co-directed the RNA Therapeutics Institute and contributed to drug translation initiatives. An elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has received numerous accolades for her work, including the RNA Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Since leaving Moderna, Dr. Moore has focused on educating the public about mRNA medicines, exemplified by her widely viewed TED talk on the topic, showcasing her commitment to making complex scientific concepts accessible to all.