Immune memory after COVID-19, vaccination, and other respiratory infections

Human immune memory to COVID-19, vaccines, and respiratory pathogens

NIH-funded research La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11377291

This project looks at how people's immune systems remember COVID-19, vaccines, and similar respiratory infections to help improve protection.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLa Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-11377291 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be asked to give blood and brief health information so researchers can measure antibodies and immune cells. Scientists at the La Jolla Institute will compare immune memory in people who've had COVID, people who received different vaccines, and people exposed to other respiratory germs. They will use lab tests that count B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and antibody levels and will follow participants over months or years to see how protection changes. That information will be used to understand who keeps good protection and to guide booster timing and better vaccine designs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants include people who have had COVID-19 or who have received COVID vaccines and are willing to provide blood samples and health information over time.

Not a fit: People whose medical needs are unrelated to respiratory infections or who cannot give blood samples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify who needs boosters, improve vaccine schedules, and guide design of longer-lasting COVID and respiratory vaccines.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier La Jolla Institute and other studies have already shown clear T and B cell responses to COVID and vaccines, so this work builds on successful, well-established findings.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.