Immune memory after COVID-19 infection and mRNA vaccination
PROJECT 1: IMMUNE MEMORY
Researchers are following people who had COVID-19, got Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or both to see how long immune protection lasts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178453 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of more than 700 people recruited at sites in Atlanta and Seattle who have had different combinations of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and mRNA vaccination. The team will collect multiple blood samples from each person over up to eight years, and from some participants they will also collect bone marrow and mucosal samples. Lab tests will measure antibodies, B cells, T cells, and other immune markers, and biostatisticians will compare how immune responses change after infection, vaccination, boosters, and breakthrough infections. The goal is to track long-term cellular and molecular signs of immune memory in people over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who previously had SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and/or received Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines and who are willing to give repeated blood samples (and possibly bone marrow aspirates) over several years.
Not a fit: People who have never had COVID‑19 and never received mRNA vaccines, or who are unwilling to provide repeated samples or undergo bone marrow collection, may not be eligible or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify how long protection lasts and help guide vaccine and booster timing for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous long-term studies have tracked antibodies and T cell responses after COVID‑19 infection and vaccination, but extensive bone marrow sampling to study durable plasma cells is less common.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahmed, Rafi — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Ahmed, Rafi
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.