Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett: The Architect of the Spike & Her Scientific Ancestors

In honor of Black History Month, I am making a personal and professional commitment to the ancestors and to you, my readers. For every day of February, I will be publishing a new article — 28 days of unearthing secrets, celebrating triumphs, and recovering the narratives that have been left in the shadows.

Our history is not just a collection of dates in a textbook; it is the ground we walk on. I challenge you this month to look back with reverence at the sacrifices and the brilliance of those who came before us, but I also challenge you to keep your eyes open to the present.

History is not just something that happened “back then” — it is being made daily in our communities, our protests, and our persistent joy. Let us “go back and get it” (Sankofa), but let us also recognize the history-makers walking among us today.

Join me every day this month as we unearth the past to empower our future.

Image from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

The Essential Question

What happens when a viral outbreak meets two decades of specialized research?

The Breakthrough: In 2020, Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett became a household name as the lead scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. But for Dr. Corbett, her success wasn’t a solo flight — it was the culmination of a “relay race” run by Black women in laboratories for over a century.

The Classroom Pivot: March 2020

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For many of us, the science of Dr. Corbett isn’t just a textbook chapter — it is a lived memory.

The Announcement: When the news of the COVID-19 pandemic first broke, the atmosphere in our classrooms shifted instantly from routine to high-stakes reality. As students and teachers, we watched the headlines with a mix of confusion and mounting concern.

The Reaction: * The “What Now?” Moment: There was the initial shock of seeing desks cleared and being told we were “going remote.”

• The Scientific Gap: We realized how little the general public understood about viruses. In those early days of masks and social distancing, there was a collective search for a hero — someone who could speak the language of science but understand the heartbeat of the community.
• The Recognition: When Dr. Corbett appeared on our screens, the reaction in our academic circles was one of profound relief. Seeing a Black woman at the helm of the NIH team didn’t just provide a path to a vaccine; it provided a sense of visibility and trust during a time of global isolation.

Part 1: The Science of the “Spike”

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While we were adapting to Zoom rooms and social distancing, Dr. Corbett was mastering the Spike Protein. Long before the pandemic, she was studying coronaviruses (like SARS and MERS), betting that if you could teach the body to recognize the “spike” on the virus’s surface, the immune system could win the war before it started.

• Speed vs. Safety: Her team designed the vaccine sequence in just 66 days.
• The mRNA Revolution: She helped prove that genetic “instructions” could be used to trigger immunity, changing the future of medicine forever.

Part 2: Standing on Shoulders

Dr. Corbett frequently uses her interviews to highlight the Black women who “built the lab” she works in. Three figures she often honors include:

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Dr. Alice Ball (1892–1916): At age 23, she developed the most effective treatment for leprosy (the “Ball Method”). Her work was stolen by a white male colleague and wasn’t credited to her until decades after her death.

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Dr. Jane Cooke Wright (1919–2013): A pioneer in chemotherapy who moved cancer treatment from “trial and error” to a targeted science.

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Dr. Marie Maynard Daly (1921–2003): The first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. She discovered the relationship between high cholesterol and clogged arteries.

The “Relay Race” Framework

Dr. Corbett views science not as a single discovery, but as a Relay Race:

• The First Leg: Early pioneers like Alice Ball broke the barriers to education.
• The Middle Leg: Scientists like Jane Cooke Wright developed the methodologies.
• The Current Leg: Dr. Corbett took the baton to apply these tools to a global crisis.

The Scholar’s Timeline

Part 3: The Discovery Lab

Reflective Discussion: Where Were You? The Prompt: Discuss with your peers the exact moment you realized the world was changing in March 2020. How did your understanding of science change once you saw Dr. Corbett’s work in the news?

Project: Mentorship Map Map out your own “scientific ancestors” — the people (teachers, authors, or historical figures) who provided the knowledge you use today.

Legacy Hunter: The Take Action Checklist

[ ] [Watch] Look up Dr. Corbett’s “Conversations in Harlem” or her interviews on medical trust.

[ ] [Follow] Support organizations like NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) or Black in Science Communication.

[ ] [Document] Identify a “Hidden Figure” in your own local community or school who is contributing to STEM.

Sources and Further Reading

1. NIH Statement: Statement on the Retirement of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett from NIH (2021). National Institutes of Health.
2. Nature Medicine: Corbett, K.S., et al. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine design enabled by prototype pathogen preparedness. 3. Time Magazine: The 2021 Time100 Next: Kizzmekia Corbett. Authored by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
3. The New York Times: Kizzmekia Corbett, an African American Scientist, Is at the Forefront of Vaccine Development (May 2020).
4. NASA Archives: Katherine Johnson Biography and The West Area Computers. (For historical context).