Creating a new vaccine to prevent future coronavirus pandemics
Official title: Rational design of a unique vaccine for emerging pandemic coronaviruses
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11073482 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new vaccine that aims to protect against future coronaviruses by boosting the body's immune response, which could help keep you safe from new variants that might come up in the years ahead.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | December 6, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $755,225 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI188950-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073482 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be adults aged 21 and older who are at risk of exposure to coronaviruses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of exposure to coronaviruses or those who are not adults may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a vaccine that targets emerging coronaviruses, particularly those from the Sarbecovirus and Merbecovirus lineages. The approach involves using a unique strategy that enhances the degradation of the spike protein in the proteasome, which has shown promise in inducing strong T cell responses. By anticipating future variants and potential pandemic threats, this vaccine aims to provide broader protection against coronaviruses that may emerge in the coming years. Patients may benefit from this innovative approach to vaccine design, which seeks to address the limitations of current vaccines against new variants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a vaccine that offers protection against a wide range of future coronaviruses, potentially preventing future pandemics.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, previous research has shown success in developing vaccines targeting specific viral proteins, indicating potential for this novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiao, Liang — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Qiao, Liang
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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.