How lung memory T cells protect you after COVID-19 infection or vaccination
Official title: The generation and protective function of lung tissue resident memory T cells following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11291808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers want to see if immune cells that stay in the lungs after COVID-19 infection or vaccination help protect people from future severe lung illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $890,260 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167372-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults who previously had COVID-19 or have been vaccinated and are willing to provide blood and, if needed, lung samples or come to clinic visits.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot or will not provide samples, children, or those with no history of infection or vaccination may not be eligible and are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
This project studies immune "memory" T and B cells that live in the lungs of people who had COVID-19 or received COVID vaccines. You may be asked to give blood and possibly lung samples (for example, bronchoalveolar lavage or other clinical sampling) so the team can measure which immune cells are present and how long they last. The researchers will compare responses from people who recovered from infection with those who were vaccinated and test in the lab how well lung cells recognize virus variants. Some laboratory models will also be used to explore how these lung-resident cells might prevent severe reinfection over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design vaccines or treatments that boost lung-based immunity to lower the risk of reinfection and severe COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed long-lived T cell memory in blood after SARS and COVID-19, but demonstrating protective lung-resident T cells for SARS-CoV-2 is still relatively new and not yet well established.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teijaro, John Ross — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Teijaro, John Ross
Related research
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Understanding how lung memory T cells protect against COVID-19
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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.