Dengue immunity markers to predict protection or risk
Official title: Identification of serological markers of protection and risk for dengue vaccines and natural infection
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11401808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re studying how the body’s antibodies and immune cells relate to protection against dengue and to illness after infection or vaccination.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $657,367 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175495-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who have had dengue infection, vaccination, or are part of long-term dengue cohorts and can provide samples from multiple time points.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to dengue or not involved in longitudinal sampling may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will look at how both neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies, along with cellular immune responses, change over several years in people previously exposed to dengue or vaccinated. By using samples collected from the same individuals over time, researchers aim to identify markers that signal protection or higher risk of disease. The study builds on existing cohorts, including people who received the licensed dengue vaccine and others followed for up to 13 years, to characterize immune responses in detail. Results could guide future vaccine design and better risk prediction for dengue outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve how we predict who remains protected after vaccination or infection and inform better dengue vaccines or boosters.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that immune responses over time influence protection and risk, but this study adds longitudinal, multi-parameter profiling of antibodies and cellular responses.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cummings, Derek a — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cummings, Derek a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immune responses linked to severe dengue in children (primary infection)
This grant studies why some kids get very sick from their first dengue infection and how their immune system reacts differently from secondary infections.
-
Phase 2b trial of dengue vaccines TAK-003 and Butantan-DV to boost lasting, broad antibody protection
A trial tests whether giving a second dengue vaccine (Butantan-DV) after an initial TAK-003 shot can create stronger, longer-lasting antibodies that work against all dengue types.
-
Protective dengue vaccines that steer T and B cell responses
A vaccine study aims to guide the body’s T and B cells to fight all four dengue virus types safely and effectively.
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Selective GAK inhibitors to fight dengue, VEEV and other emerging viral infections
A Stanford team is testing new, selective inhibitors of GAK to block how certain viruses enter and exit cells, with the goal of a broad antiviral approach that could help people exposed to dengue, VEEV, and similar infections.
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Defining immune markers predicting protection against dengue in a long-term family study in Thailand
This grant looks at how antibodies develop to protect against dengue in children from a long-running family cohort in Thailand, with the goal of identifying immune signs that predict protection across multiple dengue serotypes.
-
Understanding dengue protection in children from a long-term Thai family cohort
A long-term study in Thailand follows families to understand how early exposures to dengue shape protection and illness risk for children as they encounter the virus over time.
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.