Designing better hepatitis C vaccines and vaccine combinations
Computational modeling for HCV vaccine trial design and optimal vaccine-based combination interventions
This project uses computer models to plan vaccine tests and find the best vaccine-plus-treatment approaches to prevent hepatitis C, especially for people who inject drugs.
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 ID | NIH-11222660 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers run computer simulations of how hepatitis C spreads and how vaccines and other interventions (like antiviral treatment, syringe services, and opioid treatment) interact to reduce infections. The models use data about high-risk groups, especially people who inject drugs, and health service access to simulate different vaccine and combination-intervention scenarios. Results will guide how to design real vaccine trials, including who to recruit, how large trials need to be, and which combinations are most promising. The goal is to inform future clinical trials and public health programs that could prevent more HCV infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials informed by this work would be people at high risk for HCV, especially people who inject drugs and those in areas with limited access to treatment or syringe services.
Not a fit: People who are already cured of HCV, have very low exposure risk, or are far from where future trials recruit may not see a direct benefit from this modeling work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed up effective hepatitis C vaccine trials and help pick vaccine-plus-treatment strategies that prevent infections in high-risk communities.
How similar studies have performed: Mathematical and simulation models have successfully guided trial design for other infections and some HCV modeling exists, but using models to plan HCV vaccine-plus-combination interventions remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Maywood, United States
- Loyola University Chicago — Maywood, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dahari, Harel — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Dahari, Harel
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 below.