Immune differences between sexes in early life and childhood health
Official title: Impact of immune sex differences in the first 1000 days of life and in childhood and adolescence
Funded at University of Oxford · NIH-11401418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how boys and girls may develop their immune systems differently from birth through adolescence to tailor vaccines and treatments for better health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oxford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oxford, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | June 17, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $515,659 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI168655-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children from birth through adolescence who are part of the studied cohorts or who could benefit from sex-specific vaccine strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Results may be less directly applicable to children outside the studied cohorts or without access to the specific vaccines examined.
What this research studies
The project uses data from existing, well-characterized child cohorts in Oxford to understand why immune responses differ by sex from birth through early childhood. It includes three aims, focusing on birth BCG vaccination, 6-month measles vaccination, and how infections like CMV and HIV interact with immune differences between sexes. The team will analyze both specific protection against diseases like TB and measles and the broader effects of vaccines on overall child health, using stored samples and observational data. They have already completed the early-life response work to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and will extend the work to other immunizations and infections to inform future vaccine design. Collaboration with established cohorts aims to translate findings into more personalized pediatric care in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more effective, sex-tailored vaccines and treatments for children, potentially reducing infection-related illness and mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown immune responses can differ by sex and influence vaccine outcomes, supporting the potential for similar findings here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goulder, Philip J — University of Oxford
- Study coordinator: Goulder, Philip J
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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.