A new vaccine to prevent ear infections in children
Official title: Trivalent Live Attenuated Vaccines for Bacterial Acute Otitis Media
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11018602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $220,675 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI178085-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018602 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are at risk for recurrent ear infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or those who do not experience recurrent ear infections may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosch, Jason W. — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rosch, Jason W.
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.