KSHV vaccine platforms and a chimeric mouse virus for in vivo testing
Official title: Development of three KSHV vaccine platforms and chimeric MHV68-K-G for in vivo mouse infection study
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11416486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing three vaccine approaches against Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and a mouse surrogate virus to test them in live animals, aiming to prevent disease in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $971,475 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA294881-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for KSHV-related disease or populations with higher KS incidence, once vaccines move toward clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
Current KS patients or those not eligible for vaccine trials may not directly benefit during the preclinical phase.
What this research studies
This project will test three innovative vaccine approaches against KSHV and create a chimeric mouse virus (MHV68-K-G) to serve as a safer stand-in for in vivo studies. The work uses a mouse model to evaluate how well the vaccines trigger protective immune responses and reduce infection-related disease. By combining vaccine development with a surrogate virus, researchers can study efficacy and safety in a controlled animal setting before any human trials. If successful, these vaccines could inform strategies to prevent KS and related diseases in people living with or at risk for KSHV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to effective vaccines that reduce KS and related cancers in people worldwide.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies with vaccine platforms and surrogate viruses have shown promise in other herpesviruses, but this exact KSHV approach is innovative and still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jung, Jae U — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Jung, Jae U
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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.