How your immune system remembers the flu vaccine
Computational Models of Adaptive Immunity to Influenza
This project compares immune responses over time in adults who get yearly Flublok flu vaccine versus those who delay vaccination, using blood tests and computer models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262802 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to keep receiving the Flublok flu vaccine each year or to wait and get vaccinated later. Researchers will take blood samples over time to measure antibody levels and to map B and T cell types that help fight flu. They will compare people who make strong, long-lasting, broad immune responses to those who don't, and use computer and statistical models to understand why. The team will look at how past infections and vaccinations shape immune memory and response to future vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who have prior Flublok vaccination history and are willing to provide blood samples and attend follow-up visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those unable to give blood or attend clinic visits, or those seeking immediate individual protection rather than contributing to research are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design vaccines or vaccination schedules that give longer-lasting and broader protection against influenza.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified antibody and T-cell markers linked to flu protection, but combining a repeat-vaccination trial with detailed immune-repertoire analysis and computational modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cobey, Sarah — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Cobey, Sarah
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.