Boosting T and B cell responses to malaria with IL-15
Official title: Enhancing T and B cell responses to Plasmodium via IL-15
Funded at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute · NIH-11347707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether a natural immune signal called IL-15 can strengthen and lengthen protection from malaria vaccines and infections in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $661,037 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI198555-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11347707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are at risk of malaria or who would consider improved malaria vaccines are the likely candidates for future trials informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
Children, pregnant people, and individuals with serious immune system disorders may not benefit from or be eligible for approaches developed here.
What this research studies
Researchers are using laboratory mouse models to see how IL-15 affects the T and B cells that fight Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria. They will give IL-15 together with infection or vaccination and track antibody and cellular memory using advanced lab tools such as peptide:MHC class II and B cell tetramers and adoptive transfer techniques. The team aims to find why immunity to malaria often fades quickly and whether IL-15 can make immune protection more durable. Results from these experiments could guide the design of stronger vaccines or immune therapies for adults at risk of malaria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to vaccines or treatments that provide stronger, longer-lasting protection against malaria.
How similar studies have gone: IL-15-based approaches have enhanced immune responses in animal models and in some cancer/infectious disease research, but applying IL-15 to improve malaria vaccine protection is relatively new and primarily at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
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Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burrack, Kristina Stoermer — Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Burrack, Kristina Stoermer
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.