Scientists from the University of Nottingham are leading the development of a Zika virus DNA vaccine that can be manufactured within weeks and safely deployed globally in future epidemics. Dr James Dixon in the School of Pharmacy and Professor Janet Daly, director of the University of Nottingham’s Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research are leading the programme.

Many DNA vaccines in development require devices to deliver the vaccine through the skin, with an injectable DNA vaccine being the target route of administration. The Nottingham team has developed a solution to this problem by developing a proprietary DNA formulation so it can be given by a simple injection. The project will involve the use of synthetic manufacture of the vaccine rather than bacterial fermentation, cutting the development time from 6 months to 6 weeks.

Touchlight’s enzymatic dbDNA technology represents a breakthrough in DNA production and offers a rapid, efficient and scalable method ideal for vaccine development. dbDNA offers the potential to reduce dose, eliminate antibiotic resistance and provide a solution for low cost, stable vaccines for the developing world.  Touchlight will provide GMP dbDNA material for the clinical study.

Further advantages of DNA vaccines are their ability to be produced rapidly and cheaply, without the requirement for the cold-chain storage applicable to mRNA vaccines. This makes DNA vaccines ideal for responding to future disease outbreaks, especially in less economically developed regions.

This innovative project is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as part of the UK Vaccine Network, a UK aid programme dedicated to developing vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries.

This research was funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as part of the UK Vaccine Network, a UK Aid programme to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries.

About Touchlight

Touchlight is an innovation-driven leading CDMO pioneering enzymatic GMP DNA production to enable the genetic medicine revolution. As pioneers, with an FDA Drug Master File accepted in 2022 followed in 2025 with the world’s first cell-free DNA GMP license, Touchlight’s enzymatic DNA technology is on the cutting edge of AAV, mRNA, DNA vaccine, and gene editing technology with its state-of-the-art facility recognised by ISPE’s Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) for Innovation.

With multiple client products already in the clinic, Touchlight’s evidence-based, synthetic DNA manufacturing solutions offer a scalable, sustainable alternative to plasmid DNA (pDNA) for all stages of pre-clinical, clinical and commercial development. The company and technology are built on the conviction that DNA is fundamental to the future of medicine. Traditional methods, based on bacterial fermentation, are slow, costly, and unable to meet the growing demands of genetic medicine due to limited scalability and speed. Founded in 2007, Touchlight’s team is inspired by breakthroughs in genetic medicine, recognising the urgent need for innovative DNA production techniques to support the future of genetic therapies.

About the University of Nottingham

Ranked 24 in Europe and 15th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia – part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.

Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024– the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.

The University is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The University is a major employer and industry partner – locally and globally – and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK’s top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research. We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.

About the UK Vaccine Network:

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the UK Government department which is responsible for helping people to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. This investment is part of the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN). UKVN was established to provide funding to support the development of promising vaccines and vaccine technologies that will help combat infectious diseases that have epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). UKVN is a UK Aid investment, which means all projects funded must support research primarily and directly for the benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

For more information please contact:

Karen Fallen, Chief Executive Officer
Verna McErlane, Chief Commercial Officer
E: info@touchlight.com
T: +44 20 8481 9200