How maternal antibodies affect newborns' responses to flu vaccines
Official title: The interplay of maternal antibody and newborn vaccine responses
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11103093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the antibodies that mothers pass to their babies can affect how well infants respond to flu vaccines, with the goal of finding the best ways to protect little ones from getting really sick with the flu.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | April 17, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $793,102 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI189601-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns under 6 months old, particularly those born to mothers who have received the influenza vaccine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 6 months or those who have already received influenza vaccinations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how maternal antibodies can influence the immune response of newborns to influenza vaccines. It aims to understand the timing and effectiveness of vaccinating infants when maternal antibodies are still present, which could help in developing strategies to protect infants from severe influenza infections. The study will utilize models that closely mimic human antibody transfer to gain insights into the best vaccination practices for young infants. By addressing the challenges posed by maternal antibodies, the research seeks to enhance the immune protection of newborns against influenza.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccination strategies that better protect infants from influenza infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding maternal antibody effects on infant vaccination, but this specific approach is novel and aims to fill existing gaps in knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alexander-Miller, Martha Ann — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Alexander-Miller, Martha Ann
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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.