In Brasilia on November 18, 2025, the Second Regional Meeting on mRNA Research and Development in the Americas brought together R&D institutions, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and international partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the development and production of vaccines and health technologies based on messenger RNA (mRNA). Organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Program, and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), the event emphasized PAHO’s pivotal role in consolidating regional capacities and fostering sustainable production ecosystems for innovative vaccines.
Over the two-day meeting, experts shared scientific and technological progress, as well as policies and initiatives aimed at promoting mRNA development and production at both regional and local levels. Participants from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and Panama, alongside representatives from Asia and Africa, discussed advances in mRNA vaccines, such as those targeting H5N1 influenza and leishmaniasis, as well as collaborative projects on tuberculosis and orthopoxvirus. Other highlights included the development of therapeutic applications, innovations in critical inputs like lipid nanoparticles, and the importance of R&D, technology transfer, and collaborative models to strengthen regional capacities.
The meeting underscored the Region’s growing scientific and innovation base, positioning Latin America and the Caribbean to actively contribute to mRNA technology development. Experts stressed that achieving regional sustainability requires products developed within and for the Region, supported by integrated ecosystems linking research, manufacturing, regulation, and procurement. Reliance on externally developed technologies without local participation in early R&D stages is insufficient for long-term self-sufficiency, making regional coordination, South–South cooperation, and investment in human talent crucial.
With support from Global Affairs Canada, PAHO is promoting dialogue, knowledge exchange, and technical cooperation to create a dynamic environment for regional innovation and production. These efforts are strengthening value chains, improving pandemic preparedness, and fostering a more resilient and diversified supply of mRNA-based health technologies in the Americas. Complementing WHO’s mRNA Technology Transfer Program, PAHO’s Regional Platform for Innovation and Production provides technical cooperation to Member States to consolidate regional innovation and production capacities.
