How the immune system and vaccines can help people clear hepatitis C
Official title: Mechanisms of spontaneous and vaccine mediated hepatitis C virus control to direct rational development of a novel HCV vaccine
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11076719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how people’s immune systems and candidate vaccines help some people clear hepatitis C, aiming to guide better vaccines for people at risk of infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,568,667 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI159822-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people with prior hepatitis C infection (especially those who cleared it), people at high risk of exposure, and healthy volunteers willing to take part in vaccine research and blood sampling.
✕Less likely to help
People without any history of hepatitis C exposure or those unable or unwilling to provide blood samples or attend study visits are unlikely to get direct benefits from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare T cell and antibody responses in people who naturally clear hepatitis C and in volunteers given experimental vaccine candidates. They will analyze blood samples and immune cells, including from people repeatedly exposed who controlled reinfection, to find immune patterns linked to virus control. The team will use those immune signatures to design vaccine components that aim to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies and strong T cell responses. Participation may include blood draws, clinic visits, and follow-up monitoring at Johns Hopkins or affiliated sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to an effective hepatitis C vaccine that prevents new infections and reduces liver disease worldwide.
How similar studies have gone: Previous vaccine work produced strong T cell responses and lowered peak virus levels but did not prevent chronic infection, while natural clearance with broadly neutralizing antibodies has been observed, so this approach builds on partial successes.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cox, Andrea L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cox, Andrea L
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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.