Understanding how seasonal influenza viruses change to evade the immune system
Official title: Integrating measurements of immune escape and in vitro replication with computational models to understand and predict the antigenic evolution of seasonal A/H3N2 influenza viruses
Funded at University of Cambridge · NIH-11013307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the flu virus changes to avoid our immune system, which could help create better vaccines for people by understanding why some flu strains stick around longer than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cambridge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | February 7, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $512,818 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI165818-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals who are at high risk for influenza complications, such as the elderly, young children, and those with underlying health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by seasonal influenza or those who have already received the current year's vaccine may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how seasonal influenza A/H3N2 viruses mutate to escape the immune response, focusing on specific amino acid changes in the virus's hemagglutinin protein. By integrating laboratory measurements of these mutations with computational models, the study aims to predict how these viruses evolve over time. This approach could help in understanding why some strains persist for years despite their ability to mutate quickly. Patients may benefit from improved vaccine formulations that are better tailored to combat these evolving strains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective influenza vaccines that provide better protection against seasonal outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding viral evolution and immune escape, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Derek James — University of Cambridge
- Study coordinator: Smith, Derek James
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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.