Broad NA antibody vaccines to protect against diverse influenza strains
Official title: Influenza neuraminidase antibodies and immunogen design
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11429474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are designing vaccines focused on neuraminidase antibodies to help protect people from a wide range of flu strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,068,770 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI201339-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for influenza or those interested in influenza vaccination strategies may benefit from advances in NA-focused vaccine design.
✕Less likely to help
Participants in unrelated clinical settings or those not targeted by influenza vaccination improvements may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project seeks to understand how neuraminidase antibodies recognize and neutralize influenza viruses across different subtypes, with a goal of creating vaccines that elicit broad protection. The team will study the structure and function of NA antibodies and identify key epitopes that drive broad immunity. By integrating immunogen design with insights into antigenic diversity, the work aims to guide the development of more universally protective influenza vaccines. The studies will involve analyses that could inform future human vaccination strategies and improve protection against seasonal and zoonotic flu risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to vaccines that offer broader protection against many influenza strains, reducing illness and outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showing NA antibodies can mediate protection supports the potential for similar broad-protection strategies, though this project addresses knowledge gaps in NA antigenicity.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Nicholas C. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Wu, Nicholas C.
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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.