Nationwide blood donor study to track respiratory viruses and immune responses
Official title: RFA-IP-24-046: Nationwide Cohort of Blood Donors to Estimate Burden of Respiratory Viruses and Immunologic Response
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11395017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a large national blood donor network to monitor how common respiratory viruses are and what antibodies people have, helping us understand how past infections and immunity change over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,500,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01IP001266-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who regularly donate blood through major U.S. blood collection organizations and are willing to provide samples and survey information.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not donating or not providing consent for use of their samples or data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
A collaboration among major blood centers will follow a cohort of about 30,000 donors over several years, regularly analyzing thousands of samples to track antibody levels and virus infections. The study will use advanced serology tests and survey data to map regional differences in respiratory viruses, starting with SARS-CoV-2 and expanding to RSV. Researchers will combine donor sample data, existing donor databases, and statistical analyses to provide quarterly regional estimates that inform public health decisions. Participants provide blood samples as part of routine donation and may contribute survey information; the effort emphasizes ongoing monitoring rather than individual risk or treatment guidance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve understanding of how respiratory viruses spread and persist in the population, guiding public health responses and vaccination strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous donor-based studies have demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale serology and infection surveillance, though this project expands and modernizes approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Busch, Michael Paul — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Busch, Michael Paul
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.