Prime-pull TB vaccine to boost lung-resident T cells
Official title: A prime-pull TB vaccine regimen optimized to induce lung-resident T cells
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11451312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new TB vaccine approach aims to better protect children by boosting lung-trapped immune cells that fight TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,033,950 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI202709-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents at risk for TB exposure or infection, in settings where protection against TB is urgently needed.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without TB exposure or who are not enrolled in vaccine development programs may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on developing an mRNA-LNP TB vaccine designed to induce lung-resident T cells (both CD4 and CD8) to provide stronger protection against tuberculosis in the lungs. It builds on animal data showing TRM cells are key to defense and uses innovative testing methods in mice to evaluate safety and immune responses before moving toward human studies. If successful, this strategy could lead to a vaccine that works better in real-world exposure, especially in children. The grant supports collaboration between Akagera Medicines and Seattle Children’s Research Institute to advance lead vaccine candidates through preclinical optimization and testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could provide stronger, longer-lasting protection against TB, potentially reducing illness in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous TB vaccine efforts highlighted the importance of TRM cells, but few candidates explicitly target lung TRM induction, making this approach relatively novel but based on encouraging preclinical signals.
Where this research is happening
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Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Urdahl, Kevin B — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Urdahl, Kevin B
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.