Dr. Vinod Balachandran explains how he and his colleagues successfully treated pancreatic cancer with bespoke mRNA vaccines. Science journalist Charles Graeber says this could be cancer’s “penicillin moment.”This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover the revolutionary mRNA vaccination approach for pancreatic cancer by Dr. Vinod Balachandran, highlighting potential benefits for patients. Dive into the interaction between the immune system and gut microbiome, along with the rejuvenating effects of young blood components on aging. Explore the significance of T cell immunity in preventing influenza infections and the role of mentorship in a surgeon-scientist's career journey.