Developing a vaccine for the tickborne SFTS virus

Tickborne SFTS Virus Vaccine Development

NIH-funded research Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-10893044

This study is testing four different vaccine options to see if they can help protect older people from Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a serious illness caused by a tick-borne virus, since there are no vaccines available for it yet.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-10893044 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a vaccine for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a serious tick-borne disease caused by the SFTS virus. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of four different vaccine candidates in protecting against SFTSV infection, particularly in older populations who are at higher risk. Researchers will use an age-dependent ferret model to assess how well these vaccines stimulate the immune response and provide protection. The study is crucial as there are currently no effective vaccines available for this emerging infectious disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals, particularly older adults, who are at risk of SFTS due to tick exposure.

Not a fit: Patients who are not at risk of tick exposure or who are younger than 50 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of a vaccine that significantly reduces the incidence and mortality of SFTS in affected populations.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been significant research into vaccines for other tick-borne diseases, this specific approach for SFTS is novel and untested.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, 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 2026-06-13 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.