Antibodies that protect against group A strep infections
Official title: Protective antibody in streptococcal infection models
Funded at New York Medical College · NIH-10999401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking for antibodies that stop group A streptococcus and testing whether antibodies from adults could protect children from infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Valhalla, United States) |
| Project start | December 2, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $591,266 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173565-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999401 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would include young children at risk for group A strep and healthy adults willing to donate blood samples for antibody analysis.
✕Less likely to help
People with conditions unrelated to group A streptococcal infection or those seeking immediate treatment for an active infection would not directly benefit from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
The team compares blood taken from children just before they get a strep infection with blood from adults to find antibody gaps in kids. They will purify the relevant antibodies from adults and give them to mice that are vulnerable to infection to see which antibodies block low-dose, realistic exposures. Successful antibody targets will be combined into candidate multicomponent vaccines for broader protection against many strep strains. The work aims to pinpoint the specific bacterial parts that antibodies should target to prevent disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to vaccines or antibody-based protections that prevent group A strep infections in children worldwide.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and laboratory studies show antibodies can protect against strep and some vaccine candidates have promise, but a universally protective multicomponent GAS vaccine has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Medical College
Valhalla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bessen, Debra E — New York Medical College
- Study coordinator: Bessen, Debra E
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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.