Surrogate markers to predict protection from a human leptospirosis vaccine
Official title: Development of Surrogate Biomarkers for Supporting Clinical Trials of Human Leptospirosis Vaccines
Funded at Luna Bioscience, INC. · NIH-11314110 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program aims to create simple lab tests that predict whether a VM protein–based leptospirosis vaccine could protect people, using samples from vaccinated animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Luna Bioscience, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Westport, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $300,239 |
| NIH project number | 1R41AI197598-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314110 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable at this stage; early work involves preclinical models and surrogate markers.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or clinical benefit at this stage; it is a preclinical development project.
What this research studies
The project focuses on Luna Bioscience’s VM protein vaccine candidate for human leptospirosis and develops in vitro tests to predict vaccine efficacy. Researchers will measure how antibodies from vaccinated animals block VM protein functions and use these markers to forecast protective immunity. They will create IgG inhibition assays and compare them to animal challenge results to benchmark predictive value. This work moves toward a safer, more effective human vaccine by identifying reliable surrogate markers of protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these surrogate markers could speed up and de-risk human vaccine development against leptospirosis and inform future clinical trials.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in vaccines has used surrogate markers and animal data to predict human protection, but this project focuses on a VM protein–based approach for leptospirosis.
Where this research is happening
-
Luna Bioscience, INC.
Westport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Powell, Thomas J — Luna Bioscience, INC.
- Study coordinator: Powell, Thomas 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.