Prof. Dr. Steve Pascolo

Trained as an immunologist at the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France), Dr. Steve Pascolo used mouse models to test and develop mRNA-based vaccines (direct injection of mRNA) during his postdoc in Tuebingen, Germany, from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he cofounded CureVac with Dr. Hoerr and Dr. von der Mulbe. Dr. Pascolo was Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the company from 2000 to 2006, developing the technology, implementing the first worldwide pharmaceutical (GMP) production of mRNA, and performing the first worldwide clinical studies where humans (including himself) received injections of in vitro-transcribed mRNA. In 2006, he joined the Oncology Department of the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, and continued the development of immunotherapies based on RNA. In 2008, he founded Miescher Pharma to support this work. In 2017, Dr. Pascolo implemented in Zurich an academic mRNA platform (https://www.cancer.uzh.ch/en/Research/mRNA-Platform.html). In collaboration with several research and clinical departments in Zurich, he optimizes, tests, and implements mRNA-based vaccines and therapies.