A new vaccine to prevent ear infections in children

Trivalent Live Attenuated Vaccines for Bacterial Acute Otitis Media

NIH-funded research St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11018602

This study is testing a new vaccine designed to help protect young children from common ear infections caused by certain bacteria, making it easier for them to stay healthy and avoid painful earaches.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Memphis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11018602 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a live attenuated vaccine that targets multiple bacteria responsible for acute otitis media (AOM), a common ear infection in children. By using a novel platform, the vaccine aims to stimulate the immune system at the mucosal surface, providing better protection against infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The approach combines various protein components to enhance the immune response, potentially reducing the overall incidence of AOM in young children. The study will involve testing this vaccine in a controlled setting to evaluate its safety and effectiveness.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are at risk for recurrent ear infections.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or those who do not experience recurrent ear infections may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of ear infections in children, leading to fewer doctor visits and less reliance on antibiotics.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using live attenuated vaccines for similar bacterial infections, indicating a potential for success with this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Memphis, 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 2026-06-13 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.