Improving the oral vaccine for tuberculosis
Oral BCG: Optimizing mucosal vaccination against tuberculosis
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 ID | NIH-11049213 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: Patients who are already vaccinated with the standard BCG vaccine or those with contraindications to vaccination may not benefit from this research.
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 performed: 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
Pittsburgh, United States
- 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
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.