Tracking respiratory viruses and immune responses in blood donors across the nation
Official title: RFA-IP-24-046: Nationwide Cohort of Blood Donors to Estimate Burden of Respiratory Viruses and Immunologic Response
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11036930 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at blood samples from over 30,000 donors to understand how common respiratory viruses are and how our immune systems respond to them, helping us learn more about these viruses across the country.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $4,500,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U01IP001266-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036930 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are healthy individuals who regularly donate blood and are willing to provide additional samples for research purposes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not blood donors or those with underlying health conditions that prevent them from donating blood may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research involves a nationwide cohort of blood donors who will provide blood samples to help estimate the burden of respiratory viruses and the immune responses to them. The study will collect and analyze samples from at least 30,000 donors, assessing antibody prevalence and infection rates quarterly. By utilizing advanced testing methods and a large database of donor information, the research aims to provide valuable insights into respiratory virus trends and immune responses across different regions. This approach leverages the unique access to blood donor samples and data from major blood collection organizations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of respiratory viruses and improve public health responses to viral outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies utilizing blood donor cohorts have successfully provided insights into epidemiology and public health, indicating that this approach has a track record of success.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Busch, Michael Paul — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Busch, Michael Paul
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.