Longer vaccine exposure to boost flu stem nanoparticle antibodies in infants
Regulation of the HA stem nanoparticle vaccine response by antigen duration
This project tests whether giving a flu nanoparticle vaccine over a longer time helps young infants make stronger protective antibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307138 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were a parent, this research looks at whether slowly delivering a flu nanoparticle vaccine lets a baby’s immune system make better antibodies than a single quick shot. The team compares a standard bolus dose with a prolonged antigen delivery approach, using infant animal models to see antibody levels after vaccination. The vaccine targets the conserved HA stem of the influenza virus and measures antibody responses around two weeks after immunization. The goal is to find a vaccine approach that could produce high protective antibodies from a single primary dose in very young infants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The approach is aimed at protecting very young infants (especially those under six months) who currently cannot get standard seasonal influenza vaccines.
Not a fit: Older children, most adults, or people seeking protection against non-influenza illnesses would not directly benefit from this infant-focused vaccine strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a one-dose flu vaccine that protects infants too young for current seasonal vaccines.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle and prolonged-antigen vaccine approaches have produced promising antibody responses in animal models, though human testing is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alexander-Miller, Martha Ann — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Alexander-Miller, Martha Ann
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.