Universal flu vaccine strategy to protect against diverse influenza strains
Official title: Development of vaccination strategies to elicit broadly protective immunity against influenza
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11384802 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is testing new vaccine designs aimed at broad protection against many flu strains for people who want lasting immunity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 18, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $845,133 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI145870-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384802 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for influenza exposure who would benefit from broader, longer-lasting protection once such a vaccine is developed.
✕Less likely to help
Current seasonal vaccines or vaccines targeting only specific strains may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers plan to create mosaic influenza hemagglutinin immunogens that steer the immune system toward conserved epitopes, potentially providing broad protection beyond current strain-specific vaccines. The project will evaluate these mosaic antigens in preclinical models to see if they can induce antibodies that recognize many influenza variants. The work focuses on improving vaccine-induced immunity so that a single vaccine could offer long-lasting protection against future pandemics. The study is led by Jeffrey V. Ravetch at Rockefeller University and spans several years to optimize immunogens and assess safety signals in early models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to a universal flu vaccine that reduces seasonal illness and pandemic risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research into conserved-flank HA epitopes has shown promise in eliciting broader responses, but a broadly protective universal vaccine remains an ongoing challenge.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ravetch, Jeffrey Victor — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Ravetch, Jeffrey Victor
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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.