NIH-funded research R01 grant

Immune responses linked to severe primary dengue in children

Official title: Immune responses associated with severe disease in patients with primary dengue infection

Funded at Emory University · NIH-11406918 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project studies why some children with their first dengue infection get very sick by looking closely at their immune system.

More Dengue research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmory University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project startSeptember 10, 2024
Project endJuly 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$520,683
NIH project number5R01AI186371-03
Project IDNIH-11406918 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Pediatric patients (0-11 years old) with confirmed severe dengue, including those with primary or secondary infection, and who can provide samples.

Less likely to help

Children without severe dengue or without access to the study cohorts may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

Researchers will compare immune responses in children with severe primary dengue to those with severe secondary dengue, using samples from well-characterized patient groups in India. The study examines innate immune activity, dengue-specific antibodies, and T cell responses to understand what drives severity in primary infection. By analyzing how immune signals differ between primary and secondary cases, the team aims to identify factors that predict worse disease and inform better management and prevention. The outcomes could guide vaccine development and therapeutic strategies for pediatric dengue patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Understanding the triggers of severe dengue in children could lead to better risk prediction and targeted treatments.

How similar studies have gone: Prior dengue studies have identified antibody and T cell roles in disease severity; this study builds on known mechanisms but focuses on primary severe dengue.

Where this research is happening

  • Emory University
    Atlanta, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kaja, Murali Krishna — Emory University
  • Study coordinator: Kaja, Murali Krishna

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.