Developing vaccines to eliminate C. difficile infections
Official title: Core C. Clinical Core/Human subjects
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11037948 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for people with C. difficile infections to help test a new type of vaccine that could help fight these infections by understanding how our immune system responds, and you'll provide stool samples and information to help researchers track how well the vaccine works over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $254,993 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI174998-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037948 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include individuals diagnosed with recurrent C. difficile infections, particularly those across various age groups and with different health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have C. difficile infections or those who are not eligible for enrollment due to specific health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating modified mRNA vaccines aimed at eradicating C. difficile infections. It involves building a system for identifying human subjects, collecting stool samples, and gathering clinical data to study the immune responses related to C. difficile. Patients will be enrolled to provide samples and information that will help researchers understand the relationship between microbial ecology and immune responses in the context of C. difficile infections. The project also aims to track patient outcomes over time to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective vaccines that prevent or eliminate C. difficile infections, improving patient health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing vaccines for infectious diseases using similar mRNA technology, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Brendan Joseph — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Brendan Joseph
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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.