Early infection proteins and vaccine development for Valley fever
Official title: Early in vivo expressed antigens and their role in virulence, immune response, and vaccines for coccidioidomycosis
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11393487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are finding proteins the Valley fever fungus makes early in infection to help create better vaccines and immune protections for people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Arizona University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flagstaff, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $314,647 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI166058-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who live in or travel to Valley fever–endemic areas, or those with a history of coccidioidomycosis who are willing to provide samples or join future trials, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with no exposure risk to Valley fever or who cannot meet trial eligibility or travel requirements are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this grant.
What this research studies
This multi-institutional center is identifying fungal proteins produced early in Valley fever infections and studying how they affect disease severity and the immune response. Teams use laboratory experiments, animal and primate models, and partnerships with clinical centers to test which antigens trigger protective immunity. Promising antigens will be developed into vaccine candidates and immune tests. The work is coordinated across universities and medical centers in Arizona and nearby regions to move findings toward human use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could produce vaccines or immune-based tools that prevent or reduce severe Valley fever for people in high-risk areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory and animal studies have identified potential vaccine targets for Valley fever but there is not yet a licensed human vaccine, so this work builds on promising preclinical findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barker, Bridget Marie — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Barker, Bridget Marie
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.