Sensitive test to gauge whole cell pertussis vaccine potency
Official title: A sensitive and specific serology test for evaluating potency of whole cell Pertussis vaccines
Funded at Immport Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11399991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new blood test is being developed to better measure how strong a whole-cell pertussis vaccine is, which could help ensure vaccines released to patients are safe and effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Immport Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $292,254 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI195168-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals or sites involved in pertussis vaccine production and quality control, and researchers studying vaccine potency.
✕Less likely to help
Patients would not directly participate or benefit from this preclinical assay development.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a serology-based method using a B. pertussis proteome microarray to identify antibody markers that reflect vaccine potency in mice. It builds on decades-old methods but seeks a more reliable and scalable approach than the traditional Kendrick assay. If successful, the test could streamline quality control for wP vaccines and reduce bottlenecks in vaccine production. The study includes collaboration between Antigen Discovery, Inc., and the Wadsworth Center to link serological signals with actual vaccine strength.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could speed up and standardize vaccine potency testing, potentially improving the availability of safe pertussis vaccines.
How similar studies have gone: Prior efforts to replace the Kendrick assay with serology-based potency tests have faced sensitivity and variability challenges; this study seeks to overcome those issues, with pilot data suggesting identifiable antigen-specific IgG responses.
Where this research is happening
-
Immport Therapeutics, INC.
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campo, Joseph J. — Immport Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Campo, Joseph J.
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.