Infant COVID and Flu Sample Collection and Testing
Official title: Clinical Core
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11507368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Collects blood and nasal samples from infants and young children who have COVID-19 or flu (and from healthy controls) to track infection, viral load, and vaccine responses over the first three years of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $295,219 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI168632-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11507368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants enrolled in the first six months of life who have a confirmed influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection, or healthy infants whose families agree to provide serial samples and follow-up through age three.
✕Less likely to help
Children older than three years, infants enrolled beyond the initial six-month window for infection, or families unable to commit to repeat visits and sample collection are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit.
What this research studies
If my infant joins, the team will enroll them whether they have influenza or SARS-CoV-2 or are a healthy control, and collect blood and nasal swab samples at multiple times during the first three years. The Clinical Core runs PCR tests to measure viral levels and coordinates immune assays on those samples while keeping clinical data de-identified. They organize and share samples and clinical information with other project teams to ensure consistent testing and data quality. This coordination helps researchers compare infections and vaccine responses across infants over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors better understand how COVID-19 and flu affect infants and how vaccines shape their immune responses, which may improve future prevention and treatment.
How similar studies have gone: PCR viral load measurement and pediatric cohort sampling are established methods, though this coordinated, longitudinal collection from infancy through age three for both flu and COVID-19 is less common.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mejias, Asuncion — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mejias, Asuncion
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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.