Adjuvants for Skin mRNA Vaccines to Make Flu Shots Better
Official title: Spatial and Temporal Adjuvant Delivery for Skin mRNA Vaccination
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11404893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to test a new adjuvant delivered through the skin or nose to make flu mRNA vaccines work better and longer lasting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $709,833 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI194296-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for influenza or those interested in participating in vaccine development studies, particularly individuals in settings where new adjuvanted, skin-delivered vaccines could be deployed.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not receiving an influenza vaccination or those outside the study’s specific vaccine formulations and delivery methods may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore whether delivering a novel adjuvant either intranasally or through the skin can broaden and prolong protection from a trivalent influenza mRNA vaccine given via a microneedle patch. It builds on prior work showing timing and location of adjuvant delivery can avoid interfering with mRNA translation while boosting immune response. The team will create a self-amplifying mRNA flu vaccine encapsulated in liposomes and test how different delivery strategies affect immune breadth, durability, and safety, with a focus on how APCs respond. The ultimate goal is to enable more stable, broadly protective vaccines that require fewer doses and are easier to distribute globally.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to flu vaccines that are more effective for longer, easier to store and administer, and better at protecting against diverse flu strains.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that timing and location of adjuvant delivery can enhance mRNA vaccine responses without compromising translation, supporting potential benefit for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Mei X — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wu, Mei X
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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.