A New Vaccine for Shigella Infection
Shigella Conjugate Vaccine (SCV4) Development, Characterization, and Pre-clinical Evaluation
This project is creating a new vaccine to protect young children in areas with limited resources from severe diarrheal illness caused by Shigella bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11085962 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Shigella infection causes serious diarrhea and many deaths in young children, especially where healthcare resources are scarce. We are working on a new vaccine, called SCV4, that targets four common types of Shigella bacteria. This vaccine uses a special approach where parts of the bacteria are linked to a carrier protein, which helps young children develop a stronger and longer-lasting immune response. Our team has successfully used this method for a cholera vaccine, which is now moving into human testing, and we are applying that proven technique to develop this Shigella vaccine.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The vaccine is specifically designed to protect young children, particularly those aged 0-11 years living in resource-limited settings where Shigella infection is common.
Not a fit: Patients outside of the target age group or those not at risk for Shigella infection would likely not receive direct benefit from this specific vaccine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this vaccine could significantly reduce severe diarrheal illness and save the lives of many young children in vulnerable communities worldwide.
How similar studies have performed: A similar vaccine platform developed by this partnership for cholera has shown promising results and is currently moving into human clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Edward T. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Edward T.
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 below.