Universal coronavirus vaccine built with nanoparticle-delivered nucleic acids
Official title: Structural vaccinology guided development of a universal CoV vaccine utilizing nucleic acid delivered nanoparticles
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11404992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused vaccine project aims to create a broadly protective COVID-19 vaccine using cutting-edge DNA/RNA delivery inside tiny nanoparticles.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $877,556 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI165066-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for COVID-19 and related coronaviruses may benefit from future vaccines developed under this project.
✕Less likely to help
This grant is primarily focused on vaccine development and preclinical work; direct benefits to patients would come later if a candidate advances to clinical trials.
What this research studies
This NIH grant supports developing a universal coronavirus vaccine that could protect against current and future related viruses. Researchers will explore how vaccine components, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses, with a focus on mucosal surfaces and broad protection. The work will involve preclinical testing in appropriate models to study safety and immune breadth before moving toward human studies. If successful, it could reduce the impact of future coronavirus outbreaks and simplify vaccination strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people could gain broader and longer-lasting protection against diverse coronaviruses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous coronavirus vaccines have shown promise, but this project emphasizes broader protection across multiple coronaviruses, which is more novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiner, David B. — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Weiner, David B.
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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.