Spatially responsive mass vaccination for urban rabies
Official title: Spatially responsive mass vaccination strategies for urban rabies
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11519711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new plan uses data and maps to place vaccination sites where they’re most needed in cities, aiming to boost rabies vaccination for both people and dogs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $179,173 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI168291-05S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11519711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Residents and dog owners in urban areas where rabies vaccination campaigns are conducted, especially those who must travel to vaccination sites.
✕Less likely to help
People in areas where current vaccination access is already optimal may see little change.
What this research studies
This project tests whether adjusting where vaccination sites are located, based on real-time patterns of people and traffic, can increase turnout and shorten wait times during mass rabies vaccination campaigns. It uses cluster-randomized trials in an urban setting to compare standard site placement with spatially responsive placement. The study is conducted in Arequipa, Peru, with a focus on people who bring their dogs to receive vaccines and may benefit from faster, better-located vaccination options. Results could inform how cities plan future rabies vaccination efforts to reduce pockets of under-vaccinated individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could see faster access to vaccines and higher overall coverage, reducing the risk of rabies outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests spatial planning can improve service delivery, but direct application to mass vaccination campaigns in urban rabies is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castillo Neyra, Ricardo — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Castillo Neyra, Ricardo
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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.