Evaluating a new vaccine to prevent pneumonia in young children
Official title: A Phase II Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Whole-Cell Pneumococcal Vaccine (wSp) in Reducing Nasopharyngeal Colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Young Children
Funded at Rochester General Hospital (Ny) · NIH-11056767 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new vaccine for young children that aims to help their bodies fight off a common bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can lead to serious illnesses, and it hopes to be a helpful addition to the vaccines already available.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rochester General Hospital (Ny) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $794,229 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI172733-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056767 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young children, particularly those under 11 years old, who are at risk for pneumococcal infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 21 years or those with existing severe pneumococcal infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new whole-cell pneumococcal vaccine designed to reduce the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in young children. The vaccine is serotype-independent and aims to elicit a strong immune response, particularly targeting Th17 cell-mediated immunity. By vaccinating children, the study will assess the vaccine's safety and effectiveness in preventing nasopharyngeal colonization, which is a precursor to pneumococcal diseases. The research will also explore the potential of this vaccine to complement or replace existing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a more effective and cost-efficient vaccine for preventing pneumonia in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise with similar whole-cell vaccine approaches, but this specific vaccine is novel and untested in this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Rochester General Hospital (Ny)
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pichichero, Michael E — Rochester General Hospital (Ny)
- Study coordinator: Pichichero, Michael E
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.