Understanding flu and COVID-19 vaccine responses in people and in the lab
Official title: Understanding Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses, in vivo and in vitro
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11591264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers at Stanford explore how flu and COVID-19 vaccines work in people and in lab tests to improve protection for adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2003 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,795,320 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI057229-23S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11591264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who may benefit from improved vaccines or immune response understanding, especially with conditions that affect immunity.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unlikely to participate in or benefit from vaccine-focused translational studies.
What this research studies
This project looks at how vaccines for flu and SARS-CoV-2 perform in adults, especially those with higher health risks, by studying antibodies and immune responses. It combines patient-derived data with lab experiments to understand what makes vaccines work well or poorly and to test new antigen designs. The work includes advanced analyses of antibody features and immune signaling, with a focus on improving vaccine effectiveness and durability. The team aims to translate these insights into better vaccine strategies for real-world protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more effective flu and COVID-19 vaccines and better protection for adults, including those with pre-existing conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on antibody structures and immune responses has informed improved vaccine design, supporting the potential for impactful advances here.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Mark Morris — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Mark Morris
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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.