Developing new vaccine adjuvants to improve immune responses
Official title: VACCINES ADJUVANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN INFECTIOUS AND IMMUNE MEDIATED DISEASES
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-10935774 · 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 helps boost your immune system, which could lead to stronger protection against the flu for everyone.
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 | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,818,454 |
| NIH project number | 75N93023C00040-0-9999-1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10935774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who are at risk for influenza and may benefit from enhanced vaccine responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for influenza or who have contraindications to vaccination may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing vaccine effectiveness by developing novel adjuvants that activate the immune system. By using high throughput screening techniques on human cells, researchers have identified a promising compound that stimulates immune responses through specific receptors. The project aims to optimize this adjuvant in combination with existing influenza vaccines to improve their ability to protect against infections. Patients may benefit from improved vaccine responses, leading to better protection against diseases like influenza.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective vaccines that provide stronger and longer-lasting protection against infectious diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using adjuvants to enhance vaccine responses, making this approach promising and not entirely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heilherker, Tyson — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Heilherker, Tyson
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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.