Understanding how the body fights mumps: mapping human antibodies to mumps surface proteins
Official title: Mapping the humoral immune response to the surface glycoproteins of the mumps virus
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11289258 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how people’s antibodies recognize and target mumps surface proteins to improve protection from the vaccine and natural infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $279,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI196816-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289258 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are individuals who have been vaccinated against mumps or who have recovered from mumps infection, from whom usable antibody samples can be obtained.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to vaccination history or immune samples may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to identify and study human monoclonal antibodies that bind to the mumps virus surface proteins HN and F, using samples from people who were vaccinated or recovered from infection. By creating panels of these antibodies, the team hopes to map which parts of the virus are most effectively targeted by the human immune system. The work will help reveal why current vaccines sometimes fail to prevent outbreaks and could inform future antibody-based therapies or improved vaccines. The study is conducted under an NIH grant and involves human-derived immune components, with potential downstream benefits for cancer patients who may be affected by mumps exposure or vaccine strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better vaccines or antibody therapies that provide stronger protection against mumps for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has advanced antibody mapping in other viruses, but human antibodies against mumps have not been well characterized, making this approach novel for mumps.
Where this research is happening
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La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saphire, Erica Ollmann — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Saphire, Erica Ollmann
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.