How different COVID-19 vaccines shape immune responses

Immune phenotyping of human immune responses to SARS CoV-2 vaccination and infection

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · NIH-11481643

This project compares immune reactions after mRNA and adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines to learn how long protection lasts and why some people get breakthrough infections or side effects.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11481643 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would be part of work that looks at blood and other samples taken before and after vaccination to see how antibodies and immune cells change over time. The team will compare responses from people who got mRNA vaccines to those who received adenoviral-vector vaccines and will study people who later had breakthrough COVID-19 or strong vaccine side effects. Selected severe cases will get deeper cellular tests to find patterns linked to worse illness. Lab experiments will also use human tonsil tissue treated with vaccine materials to see which cells pick up the vaccine and drive the immune response.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people who have received mRNA or adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines, especially those with documented breakthrough infections or vaccine-related side effects, and who can provide blood or other clinical samples.

Not a fit: People who are unvaccinated, have no available pre- or post-vaccine samples, or whose health issues are unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors decide who may need different vaccines or earlier booster shots and improve vaccine safety understanding.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies have shown strong antibody and T-cell responses after mRNA and adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines, but directly comparing immune signatures across vaccine types and validating findings in human tonsil tissue adds a newer, less-explored angle.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.