How vaccination during pregnancy can help protect newborns
Maternal Immunization and Determinants of Infant Immunity
Looking at whether getting vaccines during pregnancy helps newborns and young infants stay protected from infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11082445 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're pregnant, this project will follow you and your baby to learn how a mother's immune response to vaccines affects the child. Researchers will collect blood and breast milk samples and run lab tests to measure antibody levels, antibody function, and B and T cell responses. They will study how antibodies cross the placenta and through breast milk and then track how those antibodies influence the baby's own responses to vaccines. The work combines clinical follow-up, sample collection, and detailed laboratory analyses at participating sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant and willing to provide blood and breast milk samples and have their newborns followed for immune testing and vaccine response.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, who cannot receive vaccines for medical reasons, or who cannot provide samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to clearer guidance on when and which vaccines to give during pregnancy so newborns get stronger protection from infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous maternal vaccine programs (for example, influenza and Tdap) have reduced infant illness, but many questions about the details of antibody transfer and infant immune development remain.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pasetti, Marcela F — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Pasetti, Marcela F
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.