Vaccine to prevent liver-fluke–linked bile duct cancer
Official title: Anti-cancer vaccine targeting the host-parasite interface during fluke infection
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11416185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create a vaccine that blocks liver fluke infections to help people in places where the parasite is common avoid bile duct cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2012 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $56,808 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA164719-12S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in or from liver‑fluke endemic areas (for example Northeast Thailand and Laos) or those with known exposure to raw freshwater fish are the most relevant future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without any exposure to liver fluke or whose bile duct cancer is caused by unrelated factors are unlikely to benefit from this vaccine approach.
What this research studies
Liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) infections are common in parts of East Asia and greatly raise the risk of bile duct cancer. Researchers are studying proteins and tiny particles the fluke releases that let it survive and change cells, then choosing several of those parasite molecules as targets for a multi‑component vaccine. The team will test these vaccine candidates in the lab and in preclinical models to see if they stop infection and the early cancer-related changes. If promising, the work would move toward testing in people in areas where the fluke is endemic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could prevent liver fluke infection and substantially reduce bile duct cancer in high‑risk communities.
How similar studies have gone: Some experimental anti‑helminth vaccines have shown promise in animals, but vaccines specifically aimed at preventing liver fluke–driven bile duct cancer are largely new and untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
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George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brindley, Paul J — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Brindley, Paul J
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.