Sleep and vaccines in teens: can better sleep boost their vaccine response
Official title: Sleep and Adolescent Vaccine Immunogenicity: The SAVI Clinical Trial
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11451323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small study will test whether improving sleep in healthy 11–12 year-olds can boost their vaccine immune response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI196558-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Healthy 11–12 year-olds who are likely to receive the meningococcal vaccine and have no major health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Teens with serious health conditions or sleep disorders requiring treatment may not experience the same benefit.
What this research studies
This project will recruit about 88 healthy early adolescents who will receive the meningococcal vaccine. The study explores whether sleep duration and quality affect how strongly the immune system responds to vaccination. Researchers will monitor sleep patterns and vaccine responses to see if sleep acts as a behavioral boost to immunity. The results could guide recommendations for sleep and vaccination timing to maximize protection in youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to simple, non-drug ways to enhance vaccine effectiveness in teens through better sleep.
How similar studies have gone: Adult studies suggest sleep can influence vaccine responses; this pediatric study seeks to confirm applicability in youth.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beebe, Dean W. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Beebe, Dean W.
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.