Creating a vaccine to protect against Marburg virus disease
Official title: Development of a Marburgvirus subunit vaccineadjuvanted with a novel TLR7/TLR8 agonist
Funded at Abvacc, INC. · NIH-11043421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new vaccine to help protect people from Marburg virus disease, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments, by creating a special ingredient that boosts the immune response while keeping it safe and effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Abvacc, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, United States) |
| Project start | February 26, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $297,099 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI181292-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals at risk of exposure to Marburg virus, particularly in outbreak regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of exposure to Marburg virus or those with existing immunity to the virus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a vaccine for Marburg virus disease (MVD), which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments. The approach involves designing a specific immunogen based on the Marburg virus glycoprotein to elicit a strong immune response while avoiding non-neutralizing antibodies. The vaccine is combined with a novel adjuvant that has shown safety and effectiveness in previous vaccinations. The goal is to induce robust neutralizing antibodies and provide protection against lethal strains of the virus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to an effective vaccine that protects against Marburg virus disease, potentially saving lives during outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in developing vaccines for similar viral diseases, indicating potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Abvacc, INC.
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kailasan, Shweta — Abvacc, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kailasan, Shweta
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.