Creating a single injection vaccine for rabies prevention after exposure
Official title: Leveraging Controlled Release to Create a Single-Injection Post-Exposure Prophylactic for Rabies
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11094018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new rabies vaccine that only needs one shot instead of several, making it easier for people, especially in rural areas, to get the protection they need after being exposed to rabies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 23, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $232,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI183245-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been exposed to the rabies virus and require post-exposure prophylaxis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already received the traditional multi-dose rabies vaccination may not benefit from this new single-injection approach.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a single-injection rabies vaccine that can be used as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent rabies infection. Currently, rabies PEP requires multiple doses, which can be a barrier to access, especially in low- and middle-income countries. By utilizing an innovative drug encapsulation technique called PULSED, the researchers hope to create a more accessible and effective vaccination option. This could significantly improve survival rates for individuals exposed to the rabies virus, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could drastically reduce rabies-related deaths by making post-exposure vaccination more accessible and easier to administer.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been efforts to reduce the number of doses in rabies vaccination, this approach of a single-injection PEP is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mchugh, Kevin James — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Mchugh, Kevin James
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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.