Developing vaccines for viruses transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes
Official title: Project 1: Vaccine Design Neurotropic Flaviviruses
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10863002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new vaccines to help protect people from serious diseases caused by viruses spread by ticks and mosquitoes, like West Nile and Zika, so that everyone can have better defense against these illnesses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $4,728,047 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI181960-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10863002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of infection from neurotropic flaviviruses, particularly those living in areas where these viruses are prevalent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of exposure to tick- or mosquito-borne viruses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating vaccines to protect against neurotropic flaviviruses, which are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes and can cause severe neurological diseases. The team will use innovative immunogen design strategies to develop and optimize vaccine candidates, specifically targeting the envelope glycoprotein of these viruses. By employing a modular approach, they aim to create vaccines that can be adapted for various emerging viral threats. Patients may benefit from enhanced protection against diseases like West Nile virus and Zika virus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective vaccines that significantly reduce the incidence of severe viral infections transmitted by arthropods.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing vaccines for similar viral infections, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidt, Aaron Gregory — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Schmidt, Aaron Gregory
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using MRI to measure brain oxygen levels as an early sign of small vessel disease in the brain
This study is looking at how measuring oxygen levels in the brain with MRI can help spot early signs of small vessel disease, which is linked to memory problems and dementia, especially Alzheimer's, so if you're at risk due to age or high blood pressure, you might be able to participate in MRI scans to learn more about
-
Advanced Methods & Modeling for Better Patient Care
A funding opportunity focused on developing new modeling methods to improve health care for patients through better data use and analytics.
-
Advanced methods and modeling for health research at Washington University
A health research grant at Washington University funds new modeling methods to support future patient-focused studies.
-
Center for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology, Surveillance and Pathogenesis
A NIH program will study and monitor emerging viruses from the Midwest U.S. and three Asian sites to understand how they spread and affect people.
-
How Poverty and the Environment Affect Heart Disease in Haiti and Beyond
This grant studies how poverty-related factors like food insecurity, stress, and pollution contribute to heart disease and aims to follow a large group of adults to better understand and prevent the disease.
-
Wearable tech to track blood loss during childbirth
A wearable device monitors cardiovascular signals to detect postpartum hemorrhage early so clinicians can act quickly to protect mothers.
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.