A bovine adenovirus vaccine for broad protection against seasonal and pandemic flu

Adenoviral Vector-based Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

NIH-funded research Purdue University · NIH-11326214

This project is developing a bovine adenovirus-based vaccine designed to protect people from seasonal influenza and potential pandemic avian flu strains.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPurdue University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (West Lafayette, United States)
Project IDNIH-11326214 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers use a harmless bovine adenovirus (BAd3) as a delivery platform to present flu proteins to the immune system, aiming for protection across multiple influenza strains. They add a short autophagy-inducing peptide (AIP-C5) to boost T cell responses and strengthen immune memory. In mice the platform produced higher antigen expression and stronger innate and adaptive responses than common human adenovirus vectors and is not affected by existing human adenovirus immunity. The team aims to move from animal studies toward clinical testing to determine if this approach protects people against seasonal and avian influenza.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Likely candidates for future trials would be adults at risk of influenza exposure, such as healthcare workers, older adults, and people in regions with avian flu outbreaks.

Not a fit: People who are severely immunocompromised, have known allergies to vaccine components, or who cannot or do not want to join clinical trials may not receive benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a broadly protective flu vaccine that covers seasonal and potential pandemic strains while needing lower doses.

How similar studies have performed: Adenovirus-based influenza vaccines have shown promise in animals and some human trials, but combining a bovine Ad3 platform with an autophagy-inducing peptide is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

West Lafayette, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.