How T cells respond to COVID-19 and rabies vaccines
Official title: Systems biological assessment of T cell responses to vaccination
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11388607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how mRNA and adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccines, and the effects of antibiotics given before rabies vaccination, change T cell responses in adults including people with allergies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | March 7, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,780 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI167903-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older receiving the specified COVID-19 or rabies vaccinations, including healthy volunteers and people with allergic (atopic) conditions or those taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, would be the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
Children under 21 and people not receiving the specified vaccines or otherwise excluded by trial criteria would likely not be eligible to participate or receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you took part, researchers would compare T cell responses in adults who receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines or vaccines using the Matrix-M adjuvant, and in people given broad-spectrum antibiotics before rabies vaccination. They would collect blood and immune cells and use new tools called spheromer probes to detect specific T cells, GLIPH2 to analyze T cell receptor patterns, and immune organoids to study how those cells function. The team will compare healthy adults with people who have atopic (allergic) conditions to identify differences in T cell frequency, phenotype, and function. The goal is to produce a detailed map of vaccine-induced T cell responses at high scale and depth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help design vaccines that trigger stronger, longer-lasting, or safer T cell responses, especially for people with allergies or altered gut microbiomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows mRNA COVID-19 vaccines produce measurable T cell responses, but using spheromer probes, GLIPH2 TCR grouping, and immune organoids together in human vaccine cohorts is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
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Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Mark Morris — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Mark Morris
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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.