Developing new adjuvants to improve vaccine effectiveness against infections and cancers
Official title: VACCINES ADJUVANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN INFECTIOUS AND IMMUNE MEDIATED DISEASES
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11179078 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to make flu vaccines work better by using a special ingredient that boosts your immune system, and it aims to see how well this new ingredient can help improve protection against the flu.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,481,691 |
| NIH project number | 75N93023C00040-P00001-9999-1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179078 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who are at risk for infections or cancers and may benefit from enhanced vaccine responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for infections or cancers, or those who have contraindications to vaccination, may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing vaccine responses by developing novel adjuvants that activate the innate immune system. Using high throughput screening techniques, researchers have identified a promising compound that stimulates immune responses through specific receptors in human cells. The project aims to optimize this adjuvant's formulation and stability, and test its effectiveness in combination with existing influenza vaccines in both laboratory and animal models. Patients may benefit from improved vaccine efficacy, leading to better protection against infections and diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective vaccines that provide stronger and longer-lasting protection against infections and cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in enhancing vaccine responses through the use of adjuvants, making this approach promising and not entirely novel.
Where this research is happening
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Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heilherker, Tyson — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Heilherker, Tyson
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.