A new nasal spray vaccine for preventing influenza in children
Official title: New Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccine for Children
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso · NIH-10653579 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new nasal spray flu vaccine just for kids that could help prevent and treat the flu, making it safer and more effective than current options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $480,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HD109732-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10653579 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0 to 21 years who are at risk for influenza infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or those with contraindications to vaccination may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel nasal spray influenza vaccine specifically for children. It aims to create a self-attenuated influenza virus that can provide both preventive and therapeutic benefits against influenza infections. The approach involves using artificial microRNAs to target essential viral and host genes, potentially improving vaccine efficacy and reducing the risk of drug resistance. By addressing the challenges of current influenza vaccines and antiviral drugs, this research seeks to enhance protection for young children against influenza.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and safer influenza vaccine for children, reducing the incidence of influenza and its complications.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in influenza vaccines, this specific approach using self-attenuated viruses and artificial microRNAs is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeng, Mingtao — Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
- Study coordinator: Zeng, Mingtao
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.