A newer, safer BCG vaccine for tuberculosis
Official title: A Novel Hyper-Immunogenic Low Virulent BCG vaccine against Tuberculosis
Funded at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NIH-11415944 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A modified BCG vaccine designed to be safer and give stronger protection against tuberculosis for children and adults at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburg, United States) |
| Project start | February 3, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $643,430 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI175837-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415944 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
If the vaccine reaches human testing, people at risk for TB — including children and adults in areas with high TB rates — would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with severely weakened immune systems (for example advanced HIV/AIDS or those on strong immunosuppression) may not be able to receive or benefit from a live BCG-based vaccine.
What this research studies
Researchers are modifying the existing BCG vaccine by removing three bacterial genes that help it hide from immune cells. They will create the triple-knockout BCG strain (BCG-TKO) and test it in laboratory and animal studies to see whether immune cells process it better and produce stronger responses. The team will measure immune signaling, antigen presentation, and protection in animal models to compare the new strain with standard BCG. If laboratory and animal results are promising, this work could move toward future human vaccine trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a safer, more effective BCG vaccine that provides longer-lasting protection against pulmonary tuberculosis.
How similar studies have gone: Other recombinant BCG approaches have shown improved immune responses in animal studies, but this specific triple-gene deletion strategy is novel and not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhandayuthapani, Subramanian — University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Study coordinator: Dhandayuthapani, Subramanian
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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.