How mRNA COVID-19 vaccines shape immunity in children and breast milk
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced mucosal, serological, and cellular immunity in children and human milk
This project follows young children, breastfeeding mothers, and their infants to see how mRNA COVID-19 vaccines create immune protection in blood, nasal/saliva tissues, and breast milk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146432 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to join a group of about 560 people including children (down to 6 months), lactating mothers, and their infants, plus adults from an existing cohort. Researchers will collect nasal swabs, saliva, blood, and breast milk (if breastfeeding) every three months after vaccination to measure immune responses over time. The team will compare children's immune responses to adults and look at whether antibodies in milk might protect infants. This builds on a cohort started in 2020 and follows participants for several years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children (including those as young as 6 months) receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, lactating mothers and their breastfed infants, and adults enrolled in the existing cohort.
Not a fit: People who are not getting mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, who cannot provide repeated samples, or who live far from the study site may not see direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help protect infants and children by guiding vaccine timing and breastfeeding recommendations to boost protection.
How similar studies have performed: Previous adult studies show mRNA vaccines produce antibodies in blood and breast milk, but long-term mucosal and pediatric data remain limited.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pannaraj, Pia S — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Pannaraj, Pia S
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.