Bringing a stronger tularemia vaccine closer to people
Translation of a highly protective tularemia vaccine to the NHP model
Researchers are testing a promising tularemia vaccine in primates to find immune signs that could predict protection for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albany Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245768 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project moves vaccine candidates that worked in mice and rabbits into non-human primates to see which one best prevents inhaled tularemia and to identify immune markers linked with protection. Scientists will give different vaccine versions, expose animals to aerosolized Francisella tularensis at high doses, and measure blood and immune responses over time. The team will compare outcomes across vaccines and look for correlates of protection that could guide future human trials under the FDA Animal Rule. Results aim to make it clearer which vaccine and which immune tests should be used when testing in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most likely to benefit in the future include those at higher risk of tularemia exposure, such as laboratory personnel, military members, or people in outbreak settings.
Not a fit: Individuals with unrelated health concerns or those not at risk for tularemia exposure are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this animal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a vaccine that better protects people from inhaled tularemia and immune tests that speed safe human testing.
How similar studies have performed: Older human work showed partial protection with the live vaccine strain and recent mouse and rabbit studies identified promising candidates, but strong protection at high aerosol doses and human-relevant immune markers remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Albany, United States
- Albany Medical College — Albany, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hazlett, Karsten R.o. — Albany Medical College
- Study coordinator: Hazlett, Karsten R.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 below.