Understanding how norovirus immunity works in breastfeeding mothers and their infants
Official title: Norovirus immunity at the maternal-child interface
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11005713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how breastfeeding mothers respond to norovirus and how their immune protection can help their babies, with the goal of improving norovirus vaccines for both moms and kids.
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 | January 3, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $168,740 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI180612-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include lactating women and their infants, particularly those who may be at risk for norovirus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not breastfeeding or who do not have infants may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune response to norovirus in breastfeeding mothers and how it affects their infants. The study focuses on the development of norovirus vaccines and aims to understand how these vaccines can generate specific antibodies in breastmilk. By analyzing the immune responses in lactating women, the research seeks to inform future vaccination strategies that could enhance protection against norovirus for both mothers and their children. The findings may also help in developing pediatric vaccines for young children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccination strategies that enhance immunity against norovirus in both breastfeeding mothers and their infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing vaccines for norovirus, but this specific approach focusing on maternal immunity and breastmilk is relatively novel.
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
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.