A new vaccine to prevent Dengue and Zika virus infections
Official title: A Novel T cell-based Vaccine to Prevent Dengue/Zika virus infection
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11167318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new vaccine designed to help protect kids and others from getting sick with Dengue and Zika viruses, which are spread by mosquito bites, by safely boosting the immune system to fight off these viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $781,718 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI170894-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adults living in areas where Dengue and Zika viruses are prevalent, particularly those who have not been previously infected.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been infected with multiple serotypes of Dengue virus may not benefit from this vaccine due to their existing immune responses.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel vaccine aimed at preventing infections from Dengue and Zika viruses, which are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and can lead to severe health complications. The approach involves targeting a specific protein (NS3) of the Zika virus to stimulate the immune system without causing harmful antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) that can occur with existing vaccines. By using innovative techniques to enhance the degradation of this protein in the body, the vaccine aims to generate a strong immune response specifically against the virus. This could potentially provide long-lasting protection for individuals, especially children, who are at higher risk of severe disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a safe and effective vaccine that protects against both Dengue and Zika viruses, significantly reducing the incidence of severe diseases associated with these infections.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been challenges with existing vaccines due to ADE, this approach is novel and aims to overcome those issues, making it a potentially groundbreaking advancement in vaccine development.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiao, Liang — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Qiao, Liang
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This grant looks at how antibodies develop to protect against dengue in children from a long-running family cohort in Thailand, with the goal of identifying immune signs that predict protection across multiple dengue serotypes.
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Understanding dengue protection in children from a long-term Thai family cohort
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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.