Thursday, July 3, 2025 7/3/2025

Development of mRNA-platform vaccines

Award Number: R01AI153250
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/21/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Development of mRNA-platform vaccines - PROJECT SUMMARY Pertussis is a respiratory disease caused by the obligate human pathogen Bordetella pertussis. Two generations of pertussis vaccines have been developed and licensed: whole cell pertussis (DTP) and acellular pertussis (DTaP/Tdap). Pertussis was thought to be a disease of the past but has recently re-emerged. The number of cases of pertussis in 2012 was 48-fold over the lowest year on record (1976), which was also a 50-year high. While the increase of pertussis has multiple potential reasons, epidemiological studies clearly suggest that the duration of immunity of both DTaP and Tdap wanes quickly each year after a booster, and regresses to non- protective levels in humans. Each dose of whole cell vaccine contains hundreds of antigens, of which numerous are immunodominant. Whole cell vaccines also induce T helper 1 and 17 (Th1/Th17) cellular immune responses. On the other hand, acellular vaccines focus Th2-mediated humoral responses exclusively to pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and fimbriae. We aim to develop a vaccine that would induce Th1 responses and include a greater number of antigens than acellular vaccines. mRNA vaccines provide a platform that can be easily modified for the targeted antigen/pathogen and they induce Th1 responses. mRNA vaccines encode the antigen, which once expressed, results in immunity mediated by Tfh responses. We used an mRNA platform to screen antigens of B. pertussis and identified a protective multivalent formulation (mRNA-DTP10; 8 pertussis antigens with diphtheria and tetanus antigens) in a murine challenge model. In this project, we will further extend our studies and investigate the correlates of protection of the mRNA-pertussis vaccine in the murine model with longevity studies and examine DTaP prime / mRNA-boost effects (SA1). Next, we will utilize the coughing rat model of pertussis with whole body plethysmography to compare mRNA, whole cell, and acellular immunity for protection against cough (SA2). We will study the mRNA pertussis vaccine in immunogenicity and challenge experiments using the baboon model of pertussis (SA3). Lastly, we will aim to develop a suite of assays to phenotype antibodies produced by mRNA pertussis vaccines and bridge each of the pertussis models, which will facilitate clinical development. Through these studies, we aim to characterize the mRNA-pertussis immunity and develop a clearer understanding of how this vaccine platform can be used to overcome “complex or difficult” pathogens that employ numerous virulence factors. We expect the data acquired in each aim will result in a deeper understanding of pertussis immunity as well as illuminate the mRNA platform for bacterial vaccines.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $807,427 )
2025	2025	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	12/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$807,427
														Subtotal = $807,427

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $812,208 )
2024	2024	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	12/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$730,988
2024	2024	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	4	5/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$81,220
														Subtotal = $812,208

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $841,516 )
2023	2023	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	12/12/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$841,516
														Subtotal = $841,516

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $833,885 )
2022	2022	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE	MORGANTOWN	WV	26506	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/15/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$833,885
														Subtotal = $833,885

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $826,282 )
2021	2021	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE	MORGANTOWN	WV	26506	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/20/2021	NEW	$826,282
														Subtotal = $826,282

Grand Total All Awards = $4,121,318

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Development of mRNA-platform vaccines

Award Number: R01AI153250

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/21/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer