mRNA vaccine to prevent and treat genital herpes
Nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine for prevention and treatment of genital herpes
An mRNA vaccine that aims to prevent genital herpes and help control outbreaks in people who are already infected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11099981 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is developing an mRNA vaccine that teaches the immune system to recognize three HSV-2 proteins (gC2, gD2, gE2). The team is moving the vaccine into early human testing and is analyzing antibody responses from earlier animal studies to learn what immune responses protect against infection. They use advanced lab tools and panels of antibodies to see whether vaccine-induced antibodies block viral tricks that evade immunity, such as complement binding and Fc-mediated interference. The researchers also plan to develop the mRNA approach as a therapy to reduce outbreaks in people with existing genital herpes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at risk for HSV-2 infection or adults with recurrent genital herpes who meet early-phase trial eligibility would be the main candidates for participation.
Not a fit: People with long-standing latent HSV-2 that cannot be reached by immune responses or those with severe immune suppression may not get direct benefit from the vaccine's therapeutic goals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could prevent new genital herpes infections and reduce the frequency or severity of outbreaks in people already infected.
How similar studies have performed: mRNA vaccines have worked very well for other viruses like SARS-CoV-2, but developing an effective vaccine for herpes has been challenging, so this mRNA application to HSV is promising but relatively unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Friedman, Harvey Michael — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Friedman, Harvey Michael
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.