Better vaccines and treatments for COVID and Long COVID
Official title: Project-002
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11517295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing ways to strengthen immune protection against COVID-19 and reduce the chance and severity of long COVID for people who were infected or vaccinated.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 10, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,709 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI175399-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, people with breakthrough infections after vaccination, and individuals experiencing long COVID symptoms are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without prior COVID-19 exposure, those ineligible for adult-focused protocols (such as children if the work targets adults), or anyone needing urgent clinical care rather than research participation may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
You'll learn how vaccine-triggered antibodies and T cells change over time and why protection drops after a few months. Researchers will compare immune responses in vaccinated people, those with breakthrough infections, and people with long COVID using blood samples and clinical data. The team will study how new SARS-CoV-2 variants evade immunity and develop improved vaccine or treatment approaches. Participation may involve clinic visits for blood draws, symptom questionnaires, and possible enrollment in treatment-related protocols at Ohio State.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce vaccines or therapies that provide longer-lasting protection and reduce the risk and impact of long COVID.
How similar studies have gone: Booster and variant-tailored vaccine efforts have shown partial, temporary improvements in protection, but long COVID and variant escape remain challenges, so this project builds on mixed prior success while testing new approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amer, Amal O — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Amer, Amal O
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.