Immunity in the Nose to Flu: Correlates of Vaccine Efficacy
Official title: Immunity in the Nose to inFLUENza: Correlates of Efficacy (INFLUENCE)
Funded at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine · NIH-11420443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how immune protection in the nose helps prevent flu infection and how to improve vaccines, using easy nasal sampling to learn what works best.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | May 4, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $151,114 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3AI176172-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Healthy adults and individuals with prior influenza exposure who can participate in nasal sampling and provide or access biobanked samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not suitable for nasal sampling or without access to relevant biobanked materials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at mucosal immunity in the upper airways to understand how nearby antibodies and T cells may prevent influenza infection. It uses a simple nasal sampling method called nasosorption to collect nasal secretions and analyze immune mediators. The study will compare samples from healthy volunteers with data from past influenza infection challenges to establish reliable tools for mucosal immune study. A second goal is to determine the functional activity of mucosal antibodies to inform next‑generation vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better nasal sampling methods and clearer targets for vaccines that strengthen mucosal protection against flu.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for mucosal sampling methods, but robust functional analysis of nasal antibodies remains an area of active development.
Where this research is happening
-
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thwaites, Ryan — Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
- Study coordinator: Thwaites, Ryan
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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.