New ways to prime HIV antibodies using RNA and protein vaccines
Scientific Project One
This project compares RNA and protein vaccine approaches to help the immune system make broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV for people who could benefit from a preventive vaccine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242069 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing vaccines that aim to 'teach' specific B cells to develop into cells that make broadly neutralizing VRC01-class antibodies against HIV. They built a protein immunogen that activates the right naive B cells and a booster protein that helps those antibodies mature, but the response is not yet complete. To speed up finding the best booster sequences, the team is testing self-amplifying RNA vaccine platforms because they are easier to modify and manufacture and may not need adjuvants. The project will directly compare the quality of B cell and antibody responses generated by the RNA vaccines versus adjuvanted protein immunogens to guide future clinical vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for follow-up clinical testing would be adults eligible for HIV vaccine trials, typically HIV-negative volunteers at risk of exposure or healthy participants in preventive vaccine studies.
Not a fit: People already living with HIV or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this preventive vaccine research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pave the way to an HIV vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies and offers better prevention options.
How similar studies have performed: Related germline-targeting approaches have produced promising antibody responses in animal studies and some early human trials, but fully maturing VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibodies in people remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stamatatos, Leonidas — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Stamatatos, Leonidas
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.