Microneedle patch gonorrhea vaccine for broad protection
Official title: Project 3 -Translational development of a microneedle patch gonorrhea vaccine (CIIG)
Funded at Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med · NIH-11394902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A translational program to develop a safe, skin-delivered gonorrhea vaccine using microneedle patches to induce durable immune protection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $726,680 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI189178-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for gonorrhea exposure who are eligible for vaccine research, including adults willing to participate in skin-vaccine studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with known contraindications to vaccinations or incompatible medical conditions may not benefit from this specific trial.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a needle-free vaccine approach against Neisseria gonorrhoeae that can be easily administered and stored. Researchers will use skin-targeted immunization with microneedle patches, combining novel antigen constructs and adjuvants to boost immune responses. The work combines cutting-edge materials and immunology to move a promising gonorrhea vaccine toward practical use, with careful safety, efficacy, and stability testing. The effort will collaborate with core facilities to align vaccine design, adjuvant choices, and patch manufacturing for real-world deployment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could provide safe, easy-to-use protection against gonorrhea that is accessible in diverse settings.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work suggests microneedle vaccine approaches can elicit protective skin immune responses, supporting potential success in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
Bethesda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Korkmaz, Emrullah — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Korkmaz, Emrullah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cooperation partners of SETBP1 in AML development
This grant explores how SETBP1 and AF9 (MLLT3) work together to drive acute myeloid leukemia and whether targeting related epigenetic regulators could help treat aggressive CK-AML.
-
U.S. Military HIV Research Program Clinical Trials Unit expansion
A nationwide network of clinical trial sites is being expanded to test HIV prevention and treatment approaches through DAIDS-supported trials.
-
Novel protein biomarkers of chronic pain in adults using a pain registry biobank
A study in adults with chronic pain will look for new protein biomarkers in blood samples to understand better why pain persists and how to improve treatment.
-
Tailored antibody cures for HIV using AI and vaccines
A study to design personalized antibody-based strategies to achieve HIV remission, using lab experiments and computer models to tailor vaccines or antibody treatments to individuals or small groups.
-
Understanding how antibody protection works using 3D protein structures
Researchers will build a 3D-based method to see which viral features relate to prevention by antibodies, using data from people in HIV vaccine and monoclonal antibody trials.
-
Military HIV Clinical Network
This program runs HIV and TB prevention and treatment clinical studies for adults in military-associated and high-HIV-burden communities.
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.