How cell signals shape HPV-related airway papillomas and vaccine response
Official title: Cell-Cell Signaling Driving HPV-Induced Respiratory Disease and Vaccine Response
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11309147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why some people with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (caused by HPV 6/11) respond to the PRGN-2012 vaccine while others do not by examining viral and cellular signals in their lesions and blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $625,733 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA298630-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis caused by HPV types 6 or 11, especially those with severe or frequently recurring disease or who have received or may receive PRGN-2012, are the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without RRP or without HPV 6/11 infection, and those not eligible for the vaccine or clinic visits, would not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze papilloma tissue and blood from people with RRP who have received the PRGN-2012 vaccine to identify cellular and viral features linked to response. They will use single-cell and molecular methods to measure HPV gene levels, proteins such as keratin 17 (K17), and chemokines like CXCL9-11 and CXCL8, and to map which immune and epithelial cell types are present and active. The team will directly compare samples from vaccine responders and non-responders to find patterns of immune reprogramming in specific cell subpopulations. Findings will be used to pinpoint biomarkers that predict response and suggest ways to improve vaccine effectiveness for non-responders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor or improve vaccine-based treatment so more people with RRP respond and require fewer surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: A prior phase 1 trial of the PRGN-2012 vaccine showed about a 50% response rate in severe RRP, so the vaccine approach has promising early results while the detailed biomarker-guided personalization is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wells, Susanne I — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Wells, Susanne I
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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.