A T cell vaccine approach to prevent Dengue and Zika infections
Official title: A Novel T cell-based Vaccine to Prevent Dengue/Zika virus infection
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11520651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaccine approach aims to teach the immune system’s T cells to recognize and fight Dengue and Zika viruses without triggering harmful antibody responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $787,421 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI170894-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for Dengue or Zika exposure who may participate in future clinical development and trials once safety and efficacy are established.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage research or populations with different disease risk profiles may not directly benefit until later trial phases.
What this research studies
This project develops a vaccine that focuses on a dengue and Zika virus target to educate cytotoxic T cells, using a design that avoids parts known to cause problematic antibody responses. The strategy emphasizes delivering the vaccine components in a way that promotes T cell immunity through the proteasome pathway. The research is described as progressing through preclinical steps with the goal of translating findings into a safe human vaccine option. Participation would revolve around future clinical testing and long-term follow-up as the vaccine moves toward human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could reduce the risk of severe dengue and Zika-related diseases by generating strong T cell protection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous vaccines that relied on similar T cell-focused designs have shown potential in early models, but clinical success remains to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiao, Liang — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Qiao, Liang
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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.