Finding why some adults don't make strong antibodies after hepatitis B shots
A systems immunology approach for predicting poor responses to Hepatitis B vaccination
This project looks for blood immune markers that explain why some adults, especially those with obesity, make weak antibody responses after hepatitis B vaccination.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169898 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, we will take blood samples before and at several times after hepatitis B vaccination to measure antibodies and immune cell activity. The team will focus on helper T cells (called circulating Tfh) and B cells and use systems-level lab tests to look at gene activity and cell types. We will compare people who mount strong antibody responses with those who do not, including people with chronic inflammation like obesity. The goal is to find biological signatures that could point to ways to improve vaccine protection for people who currently remain unprotected.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults eligible for hepatitis B vaccination, including people with chronic inflammatory conditions such as obesity, would be appropriate candidates to participate.
Not a fit: People who are not receiving hepatitis B vaccination, children under 21, or those unable to attend clinic blood draws are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify markers that help doctors predict who may need different vaccine schedules, extra doses, or tailored vaccine approaches to get protection.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using circulating Tfh cells showed links with influenza vaccine responses, but applying systems immunology to predict hepatitis B vaccine failure in adults, especially with obesity, is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herati, Ramin — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Herati, Ramin
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 below.