Dual-Action Anti-tick Vaccine to Protect People and Pets
Official title: Novel Dual-Action Anti-tick Vaccine
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11454622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaccine aims to help protect people and animals from tick-borne diseases by targeting tick neuron ion channels to kill ticks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI196529-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals and animals in tick-endemic regions who are at high risk for tick bites and tick-borne diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not exposed to ticks or those unable to mount an adequate immune response may see little benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH grant supports developing a vaccine that trains the immune system to attack a tick’s neuron ion channels, potentially reducing tick bites and tick-borne illnesses. The approach builds on prior anti-tick vaccines but broadens effectiveness across tick species by focusing on conserved channels. The project uses antibody responses to disrupt GluCl channels in ticks, which could mimic traditional acaricides without harming humans. If successful, this could lead to fewer ticks surviving after feeding and lower disease risk for those in tick-prone areas. The work is conducted at Thomas Jefferson University under a team led by Matthias Schnell.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could reduce tick populations and tick-borne disease risk for people and animals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous anti-tick vaccines showed limited breadth and potency; this study builds on that by targeting conserved tick neuron channels and has shown feasibility in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schnell, Matthias Johannes — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Schnell, Matthias Johannes
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.