Understanding how children's immune systems respond to sapovirus
Official title: Mucosal immunity to sapovirus in early childhood
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10786130 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young children’s bodies fight off sapovirus, a virus that can cause stomach bugs, by checking their saliva and stool for antibodies, which will help in creating better vaccines for kids under 2 years old.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | February 14, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,513 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176633-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10786130 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 24 months of age who may be at risk for sapovirus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 24 months or those who have already been vaccinated against sapovirus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune response to sapovirus, a significant cause of gastroenteritis in young children. The study focuses on understanding how children's bodies produce antibodies against this virus, particularly in saliva and stool, which are crucial for developing effective vaccines. By examining the natural immunity in children under 24 months, the research aims to identify key immune responses that could inform future vaccine development. The approach includes collecting samples from children and analyzing their immune responses to sapovirus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective vaccines against sapovirus, reducing the incidence of gastroenteritis in young children.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on other enteric viruses, this specific investigation into sapovirus immunity is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Becker-Dreps, Sylvia Irene — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Becker-Dreps, Sylvia Irene
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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.