黑料吃瓜网

Author: Sacha Billett

When the Athenian courier Philippides ran to Athens from Marathon with news of victory in battle, his story inspired the modern marathon. In their book, , cousins Jér?me and Nicolas Lemonnier used this image of a long-distance messenger to frame their exploration of mRNA vaccine development. It’s a tale of how institutions, researchers, and knowledge networks, together, support essential research. They bring together scientific history, personal exploration, and ideas’ evolutions, including their family’s meaningful connection to an early mRNA patent. This blog post takes a look at the 20-year scientific path and impact of mRNA vaccine technologies, the myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic, and the potential for a new era of personalised medicine.

For institutions across the research ecosystem, this story shows how important foundational research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and effective knowledge stewardship are. The book brings to life the value of clear scientific communication, long-term investment in scientific inquiry, and the integrated role institutions play in supporting discoveries that shape public health. As mRNA technologies make new, personalised approaches to medicine possible, this story celebrates the institutional environments that help scientific ideas become concrete solutions.

While neither Lemonnier cousin is strictly a biologist or immunologist (Jér?me Lemonnier is a biological engineer and Nicolas Lemonnier has a background in computer science and finance), discovering Nicolas’ father (and Jér?me’s uncle) listed on an underlying patent inspired the cousins to want to find out more. This book grew out of what they uncovered about how their family was part of the broader story of mRNA vaccine development, and the scientific communities that brought it to life.

A marathon, not a sprint: 20 years in development

The book’s title draws on the ancient Greek legend of Philippides, a soldier messenger who ran extraordinary distances to seek military support before the Battle of Marathon. After fighting in the battle, he ran back to Athens to announce the victory, only to collapse and die immediately upon delivering the message.

The authors said, “This is a metaphor for what medical research is, but also about the ways mRNA delivers genetic instructions before being quickly degraded. It also reflects the long and often challenging journey of scientific research, much like in the development of mRNA vaccines.”

When we deployed mRNA vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic, it looked to most of the world like a sprint; that this technology appeared suddenly. But, in reality, developing Covid-19 vaccines was the final kilometre of a 20-year development marathon. Research on mRNA vaccine technology, initially designed for cancer treatments, was already two decades old when the pandemic hit.

“I believed there was something important to write about. People now think the Covid-19 vaccines were developed in just one year, but we found a 20-year-old patent that already described immunogenic preparations related to mRNA vaccines. Discoveries made by French and other European researchers deserve to be known by the world,” said Jér?me Lemonnier.

This patent mentions Nicolas Lemonier’s father (who is also Jér?me’s uncle), a former research professor in immunology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Dr Steve Pascolo, the elder Lemonnier’s former student and now a researcher in his own right and the patent’s holder, cited his former professor in his patent. Finding this inspired Nicolas to reach out to Pascolo to ask about his father’s contribution, and this grew into a broader mission.

“We believed that people had the right to accessible scientific information about the history of mRNA vaccines, the right to ask questions and explore if Europe could benefit from its early innovations. This was the beginning of our story,” - Nicolas Lemonnier, co-author

Dispelling mRNA vaccine myths and misconceptions

Until the pandemic, mRNA vaccine development hadn’t been the type of research to make headlines. The fact that most people were unaware of this work has led to misconceptions about it, including that it appeared suddenly, but also about how mRNA vaccines work. “Our book has now become a tool in the fight against disinformation, but this was not necessarily its original aim,” Jér?me Lemonnier explains. “I think now, years after the pandemic, there is even more noise around the vaccine misconceptions than it used to be back when we wrote it.”

Nicolas Lemonnier explains how mRNA simply delivers a message to produce a protein, much like how traditional vaccines, including those for measles, mumps, and rubella, work. The difference lies in the purification and safety of the delivered protein. “Some people still describe the vaccine as a form of gene therapy, and I believe this is tackled in our book by discussing with experts and explaining how the vaccine works.”

The authors acknowledge that there are valid concerns about new technologies; and the book aims to provide clear, accessible explanations. “We wanted to provide rational answers and not answers inspired by fear,” Jér?me Lemonnier said. Rather than pushing people to accept vaccination through pressure, they believe in giving information that encourages informed decisions. Their book shares the same message, helping readers understand the long, often start-and-stop journey behind the science.

Explaining science with cartoons 

Cartoons which combine illustrations with humour can help explain sometimes complex scientific concepts. So, the Lemonniers collaborated with cartoonist Gilles Charrot, whose cartoons help break down scientific concepts into digestible bits, sparking readers’ curiosity. And while translating the humour from French to English was a challenge, the authors saw it as essential for keeping the book engaging to a wider audience. Whether you’re flipping through for fun or diving deep into the science, the cartoons add a unique and accessible layer to the story of mRNA vaccines.

Trust and promise of mRNA in cancer and genetic medicine 

Public discourse, and even politics, around mRNA vaccines has gotten worse since the pandemic. As an example: In February 2026, the US FDA initially refused to consider Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine (it eventually reversed this decision). When asked about this, the Lemonniers were pessimistic. Societal debates have created uncertainty, even among scientists, turning the topic into a battle between beliefs and evidence.

“With time, I think people eventually validate what is good, but we’re going through a period where a lot of people are doubting science and politics” Nicolas Lemonnier said. He compared Covid-19 vaccines with other medical breakthroughs that were once controversial but later became widely accepted.

Originally developed for cancer therapies, mRNA technology now shows even greater potential. Jér?me Lemonnier, who is working on a follow-up book with Chantal Pichon, sees the field as just the beginning. “It is something truly fascinating and we see progress before our eyes in genetic diseases, regenerative and personalized medicine. Covid-19 accelerated these advances, but costs remain a challenge. One dose to treat cancer can cost $100,000,” he explained.

Even so, he remains optimistic “I do think that we are entering the era of personalised medicine. As Nicolas mentioned, informatics and computer engineering will play an even greater role in the development of mRNA therapies, especially in treating cancer.” He describes this moment as the start of a medical revolution, comparable in importance to Pasteur’s discoveries, with interest growing worldwide.

Remaining challenges for global mRNA adoption

MRNA vaccines face additional logistical challenges, like the need for built-out cold storage infrastructure. Also, some diseases that researchers hope mRNA vaccines can treat are especially difficult. Cancer, for example, comes from the body’s own tissues and therefore evades most immune responses. HIV specifically attacks the immune system, making any vaccine approach, including mRNA vaccines, extraordinarily difficult.

Ultimately, trust is the decisive challenge while public confidence in medical technologies and in the institutions delivering them remains fragile. As Nicolas Lemonnier reminds readers, “Don’t be afraid of biology research.”

As years go by, new breakthroughs and crises strike the world, as the need for trusted resources becomes more important than ever. Stories like this recall the importance of research and its history to address misinformation and bring to light the stories behind medical breakthroughs. 

Learn more about the development of mRNA vaccines at  highlighting key moments of two decades of breakthroughs in science, medicine, technology, and beyond.

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