Protecting mothers and babies from Zika during pregnancy
Official title: A novel strategy for vaccine-induced protection against maternal-to-fetal transmission of Zika virus
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11327407 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaccine approach aims to help pregnant people protect their babies from Zika infection that crosses the placenta.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $873,282 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180196-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327407 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
In future human testing, ideal participants would be pregnant people or those planning pregnancy who live in or travel to areas with risk of Zika exposure.
✕Less likely to help
People not at risk for Zika exposure or those already infected before vaccination may not receive direct benefit from this vaccine approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing RNA-based vaccines that try to protect pregnant people and their babies from Zika virus. Researchers are using mouse models to refine vaccines that boost both antibody and CD8 T cell responses because antibodies alone may not reliably protect fetuses. They compare vaccines carrying different Zika proteins (prM/E versus NS3) and measure infection and fetal outcomes in those models. The lab results will guide vaccine designs that could be tested in people in later trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a vaccine that prevents Zika infection during pregnancy and reduces the risk of congenital Zika-related birth defects.
How similar studies have gone: Past Zika vaccines have mostly focused on antibody responses with mixed fetal protection, and focusing on strong CD8 T cell responses is a newer approach supported by promising animal data.
Where this research is happening
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La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shresta, Sujan — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Shresta, Sujan
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.