High-dose versus standard flu vaccine for lung transplant patients
Comparison of High Dose vs. Standard Dose Influenza Vaccines in Lung Allograft Recipients
This project compares whether a higher-strength flu shot or the usual-strength shot (and whether giving two doses) helps lung transplant patients develop stronger protection against influenza.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262255 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a lung transplant patient, this work compares different flu vaccine approaches — a higher-strength (high-dose) influenza vaccine versus the standard-dose vaccine, and whether two doses in a season help more than one. Researchers will give the vaccines and track immune responses, vaccine safety, and any flu-related complications over the flu season using clinic visits and blood tests. The study focuses especially on patients early after transplant when infection risk is highest and on preventing outcomes like respiratory failure or rejection. The trial is led by Vanderbilt and may involve scheduled follow-up visits and sample collection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have received a lung transplant — particularly those early after transplant or on immunosuppressive medications — are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who have not had a lung transplant or who cannot receive inactivated flu vaccines (for example due to a serious vaccine allergy) would not be eligible or likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could give lung transplant patients stronger protection against flu and reduce severe lung complications.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials in other solid-organ transplant recipients found high-dose vaccines and two-dose schedules can increase immune responses, but they included few lung transplant patients and did not focus on the early post-transplant period.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halasa, Natasha Bassam — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Halasa, Natasha Bassam
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.