Cryptosporidium vaccine: making better immunity for infants
Official title: Optimizing immunogenicity of novel Cryptosporidium vaccine candidates
Funded at Immport Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11392430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaccine approach aims to boost antibodies and gut immunity in young children to prevent Cryptosporidium infection and related health problems in LMICs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Immport Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI192105-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be infants and young children in high-burden settings where Cryptosporidium exposure is common and where mucosal immunity is especially important.
✕Less likely to help
Children in regions with very low exposure to Cryptosporidium or with particular health conditions that preclude vaccination may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on creating novel Cryptosporidium proteins and a strong mucosal vaccine adjuvant, then testing their ability to stimulate immune responses in preclinical animal models. It builds on prior work that identified antibody targets linked to protection and uses a mouse model to study immunogenicity and potential protection against infection. The effort includes formulating protein candidates and selecting routes of immunization to maximize mucosal immunity in the gut. The ultimate goal is to move toward a vaccine that could reduce infant diarrhea and its lifelong consequences in high-burden settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine candidates could provide protection against cryptosporidiosis in infants, potentially reducing diarrhea, malnutrition, and developmental impact.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work connected antibody responses to protection and demonstrated a feasible animal model to test vaccine candidates, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Immport Therapeutics, INC.
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campo, Joseph J. — Immport Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Campo, Joseph J.
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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.