IDEAL project helps predict vaccine response, infections, and asthma in early childhood
Official title: Clinical Core: IDEAL shapes vaccine response, susceptibility to respiratory infectious disease and asthma
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11497516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Child-focused program will collect and share saliva, blood, and tissue samples from diverse infants to find biological patterns that predict how vaccines work, how respiratory infections occur, and who develops asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $271,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI168643-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11497516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants and young children enrolled in the included cohorts who have or are at risk for airway infections or asthma and have available biospecimens.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not in the included cohorts or without access to the relevant biospecimens are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project coordinates existing biorepositories and new clinical samples from early childhood cohorts to map omic signatures across blood and mucosal sites that relate to vaccine response, infections, and asthma. It draws on U.S. and international infant cohorts with varied genetics and vaccine exposures to build a broad picture. The Clinical Core will ensure standardized sample handling and data sharing to enable researchers to link clinical information with molecular findings from both systemic and mucosal compartments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to more personalized vaccination strategies and earlier identification of children at risk for respiratory infections and asthma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior child-focused immunology programs have shown that omic signatures can relate to vaccine responses and respiratory outcomes, supporting potential for meaningful insights here.
Where this research is happening
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Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levy, Ofer — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Levy, Ofer
Related research
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IDEAL: How early-life immune development shapes vaccine responses and asthma risk
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IDEAL: How immune systems develop in early life shape vaccines, infections, and asthma
A patient-friendly overview of a program at Boston Children’s Hospital exploring how early immune development affects vaccine responses, respiratory infections, and asthma in children.
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.