Respiratory pathogen–specific T cell signals after infection and vaccination
Official title: Respiratory pathogen-specific T cell signatures following vaccination, natural infection, and treatment
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11398846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to map how immune T cells respond to flu, RSV, coronaviruses, TB, and pertussis after infection or vaccination, to help guide better vaccines and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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 15, 2015 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,297,950 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI118626-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21 years and older) who have had or received vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, or pertussis, and who are able to contribute blood or airway samples.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot provide samples or have conditions preventing safe participation may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow people who have had respiratory infections or received vaccines to map the specific T cell signatures that arise in the airways. They will track these immune cells over time after natural infection and after different vaccination platforms, including mRNA, viral vectors, and protein-based vaccines. The study uses blood and possibly airway samples to identify durable T cell responses and how they change with different pathogens and vaccines. The goal is to understand which T cell responses correlate with protection and long-term immunity. This work could inform future vaccine design and public health strategies for respiratory diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding protective T cell responses could lead to improved vaccines and better strategies to prevent severe respiratory infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has identified important T cell signatures in respiratory infections, supporting the potential for meaningful findings in this program.
Where this research is happening
-
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sette, Alessandro — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Sette, Alessandro
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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.