Using nanoparticles to enhance immune responses
Official title: RIG-I Activating Nanoparticles for Immunopotentiation
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-10897100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system fight infections and diseases better by using tiny particles that can boost your body's natural defenses, which could lead to better treatments for you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $78,223 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB033822-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that could benefit from enhanced immune responses, such as viral infections or certain cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with autoimmune disorders or those who are immunocompromised may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing nanoparticles that activate the RIG-I receptor in the immune system to improve the body's response to infections and diseases. By engineering these nanoparticles, the team aims to overcome challenges in delivering therapeutic RNA molecules effectively to immune cells. Patients may benefit from enhanced antiviral responses and improved treatment options for various diseases through this innovative approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for viral infections and other diseases by boosting the immune system's ability to respond.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using nanoparticles for immune activation, indicating that this approach has potential based on previous successes.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, John Tanner — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Wilson, John Tanner
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how peer norms around alcohol and HIV prevention affect adolescents and young adults in rural Uganda
This project studies how what young people think their peers do or approve of influences drinking and HIV prevention behaviors in rural Uganda, with the goal of improving health outcomes.
-
Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
A technology-based program helps Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms manage chronic pain more effectively from home using a web app and mobile tools.
-
Targeted gene silencing in the brain using siRNA helpers
This grant tests a new way to turn off specific brain genes in particular CNS cell types using siRNA conjugates to help understand brain biology and disease.
-
RSELVES Study: How older couples influence daily life and function with Alzheimer’s risk
A study to understand how daily routines and support between older adults and their partners relate to the development of Alzheimer’s-related functional decline.
-
Molecular mechanisms of coat assembly and regulation in membrane trafficking
A research project seeks to understand how cellular coats organize and regulate the delivery of membrane-bound cargo, with a focus on proteins related to neurological diseases.
-
Synaptic nanostructure in neurodevelopmental disorders
This project aims to map the tiny architecture of brain synapses in native cells to understand how connections form and change in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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.