Developing vaccines to prevent infections from Group A Streptococcus
Official title: Assays for acceleration: from fit-for-purpose models to scalable assays of broad systemic and mucosal protection against all strains of Group A Streptococcus
Funded at Murdoch Children's Research Institute · NIH-10992610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on developing better vaccines to protect people from Group A Streptococcus infections by using human samples and a new tissue model to understand how our immune system fights this bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Murdoch Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melbourne, Australia) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $486,137 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173567-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals of all ages who are at risk of Group A Streptococcus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for Group A Streptococcus infections may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating effective vaccines against Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a bacterial pathogen that primarily infects humans. The team will utilize human samples and develop a new tissue model to identify immune responses that can protect against GAS infections. By moving away from traditional animal models, the research aims to create practical and accurate immunoassays that can be used in clinical vaccine trials. The goal is to enhance the understanding of human immune protection and facilitate the development of vaccines that can effectively combat GAS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of vaccines that significantly reduce the incidence of infections caused by Group A Streptococcus.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing vaccines for bacterial pathogens using similar human-centered approaches, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Melbourne, Australia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steer, Andrew — Murdoch Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Steer, Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how gender-affirming hormone therapy affects immune function
This study is looking at how hormone therapy affects the immune system in transgender people, specifically by checking blood samples from transgender women before and after they start treatment to see how the hormones might change their immune responses and risk of infections.
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.