Developing a Broad Vaccine for Coronaviruses

Development of a pan-betacoronavirus vaccine

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11123408

This project aims to create a new vaccine that protects against many different types of coronaviruses, including future variants, by understanding how our bodies build strong, lasting immunity.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11123408 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project, called "PLUTO," is working to create a single vaccine that can protect against a wide range of coronaviruses, not just SARS-CoV-2. Researchers are carefully looking at how our immune system, specifically B cells, responds to past coronavirus infections and vaccinations. This deep understanding will help them design new vaccines that offer broad and long-lasting protection against current and future coronavirus threats. The goal is to develop a "variant-proof" vaccine that can keep us safe from many different types of coronaviruses.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research does not directly recruit patients, but future vaccine trials stemming from this work would seek individuals interested in receiving a new coronavirus vaccine.

Not a fit: Patients not interested in receiving a new vaccine or those who do not meet specific health criteria for future clinical trials would not directly benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a single vaccine that protects against many different coronaviruses, reducing the need for frequent updates and offering broader protection against future outbreaks.

How similar studies have performed: While current vaccines target specific coronavirus strains, this project explores a novel approach to achieve broad, pan-coronavirus protection.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.