Whole-cell pneumococcal vaccine to reduce nasal carriage in young children
A Phase II Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Whole-Cell Pneumococcal Vaccine (wSp) in Reducing Nasopharyngeal Colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Young Children
This trial gives a low-cost, whole-cell pneumococcal vaccine to young children to help reduce bacteria living in the nose and lower the chance of ear and other pneumococcal infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rochester General Hospital (Ny) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325717 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child would receive a killed, non-capsulated whole-cell Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine (wSp) that aims to trigger broad immune responses against many pneumococcal types. The study enrolls young children and collects nasal swabs during healthy visits and at the start of acute otitis media to measure bacterial colonization. Researchers will also monitor safety and measure immune responses after vaccination, building on prior testing in adults and toddlers. Reductions in nasal carriage during health or infections would suggest the vaccine could help prevent pneumococcal disease and transmission.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are young children (toddlers and preschool-aged) who are healthy enough to receive routine vaccinations and whose caregivers consent to nasal swabs and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Adults, people with contraindications to vaccination, or children not at risk for pneumococcal exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this vaccine could lower nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcus in children and reduce rates of ear and other pneumococcal infections.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier trials reported that wSp is safe and produces immune responses in adults and toddlers, but using it to reduce nasal colonization in young children is a newer test.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Rochester General Hospital (Ny) — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pichichero, Michael E — Rochester General Hospital (Ny)
- Study coordinator: Pichichero, Michael E
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 below.