Center for Rational HCV Vaccine Design and Evaluation
Official title: Center for Rational HCV Vaccine Design & Evaluation
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11452658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports a major effort to design and test vaccines against hepatitis C by guiding the immune system to target conserved parts of the virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,282,170 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI201696-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for Hepatitis C exposure or those who could participate in future vaccine trials or related immunology studies.
✕Less likely to help
People not at risk for Hepatitis C exposure or those not eligible for vaccine trials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Hepatitis C causes long-term liver disease, and a safe, effective vaccine could prevent infection and transmission. The project uses advanced structural biology and vaccine design to reveal how conserved viral pieces are displayed and recognized by the immune system. Scientists will create and test vaccine immunogens that aim to elicit broad antibodies and versatile T-cell responses, with the goal of durable protection. The work combines imaging, protein engineering, and preclinical evaluation to move toward clinically translatable vaccine candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine designs could lead to broadly protective vaccines that prevent Hepatitis C infection and reduce disease worldwide.
How similar studies have gone: Prior vaccine design efforts for HCV have faced challenges, but recent structure-guided approaches show promise for eliciting bnAbs and T-cell responses.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Law, Mansun — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Law, Mansun
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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.