New TB vaccine designed to strengthen lung-focused immune responses
Development of a novel adjuvanted Th1- and Th17-inducing subunit TB Vaccine
This project develops a subunit TB vaccine that uses two new adjuvants to boost lung-targeted Th1 and Th17 immune responses for adults, including people who previously received BCG.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325902 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you were offered this vaccine, it would pair selected TB proteins with two novel adjuvants that drive Th1 and Th17 immune responses aimed at the lungs. The team will optimize which antigens to include and test different prime-boost schedules to find combinations that generate strong, lasting T-cell responses. They will measure immune cell types and protective effects in laboratory and preclinical models and analyze immune samples to guide design. Early work is being done at the University of Chicago with the goal of informing future human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older, including people who previously received BCG or who are at risk for TB exposure, would be the likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: Children under 21, people without TB exposure risk, or those with certain immunosuppressive conditions may not be eligible or expected to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce a TB vaccine that gives stronger, longer-lasting protection in the lungs compared with current BCG-based immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Approaches that boost Th1 responses have shown promise in animal models and some early human work, but consistently protecting people from TB has been challenging and combining novel TLR7/8 and Mincle agonists to drive both Th1 and Th17 is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khader, Shabaana a. — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Khader, Shabaana a.
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.