Mapping how the flu and your immune system change during a real infection
High resolution profiling and computational modeling of influenza virus-immune dynamics during natural infection
This project follows people with new influenza infections to track virus levels and immune responses over time using frequent tests and blood samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266214 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will identify you early after a positive PCR or new flu symptoms and collect daily nasal swabs and repeated blood draws over the first days to weeks of infection. The team will measure virus amounts, antibodies, and immune cell changes and combine those measurements with computer models. Their goal is to find immune patterns that link to milder illness or lower chance of passing the virus to others. The work builds on an existing screening program on the University of Illinois campus that already finds infections early.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who develop influenza symptoms or test positive for influenza within the first few days and who can attend frequent sample collections near the study site are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without an active influenza infection or those unable or unwilling to undergo frequent nasal swabs and blood draws are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design vaccines or treatments that better prevent severe flu and reduce transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Intensive sampling and modeling have helped in other infections, but applying high-resolution longitudinal sampling to natural seasonal influenza in humans is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brooke, Christopher Byron — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Brooke, Christopher Byron
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.