Improving the oral vaccine for tuberculosis
Official title: Oral BCG: Optimizing mucosal vaccination against tuberculosis
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11049213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well a new oral version of the BCG vaccine works to protect against tuberculosis compared to the usual shots, and it's for anyone interested in better ways to prevent TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 24, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,162,224 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI183902-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals aged 21 and older who are at risk of tuberculosis or have limited access to current vaccination methods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already vaccinated with the standard BCG vaccine or those with contraindications to vaccination may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of an oral version of the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). It aims to optimize the oral BCG regimen and compare its efficacy to the standard intravenous and intra-dermal BCG vaccinations. Using advanced imaging and immunological techniques, the study will assess how well the oral vaccine protects against TB infection. Additionally, computational modeling will be employed to identify factors that correlate with successful vaccine-induced protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a more effective oral vaccine for tuberculosis, significantly reducing the incidence of this deadly disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with alternative administration routes for BCG, indicating potential for success with this novel oral approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Philana Ling — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lin, Philana Ling
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving an oral BCG vaccine for preventing tuberculosis
Seeing if giving the BCG vaccine by mouth can better protect adults from tuberculosis than the standard injected vaccine.
-
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This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
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Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
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Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
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Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
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.